Tributes have been paid to Ruth Walker, a widely respected NHS nurse leader known for her thoughtful communications, compassion, calmness and humour, who died last week.
Ms Walker, until her retirement in 2022, was executive nurse director of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, having worked as a nurse for more than four decades.
“She was highly regarded for her leadership, thoughtful communications and sense of humour”
Lynne Wigens
Her death was announced on social media, where it was stated that she died of lung cancer on 16 July and those who knew her were encouraged to donate to Cancer Research UK in her memory.
Having served as a nurse since 1986, Ms Walker worked at Cardiff and Vale from 2009 until she stepped down 13 years later.
In 2019, she was recognised in Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday honours list, where Ms Walker was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to nursing.
Ms Walker continued to serve the profession after she stepped down from the Cardiff health board, despite her ill health.
From 2016 until 2024, she was a registrant council member at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), where she was designated member for Wales.
At a meeting of the NMC Council today, council member and nurse academic Dr Lynne Wigens paid tribute to Ms Walker.
“[Ms Walker] was an exceptional nurse leader who dedicated her working life to patient care, nursing and the NHS,” said Dr Wigens.
“She was highly regarded for her leadership, thoughtful communications and sense of humour, not only by our council colleagues… but to all those who work with her, particularly in Wales, where she led the safer nurse staffing programme and the creation of a leadership programme for aspiring executive directors of nursing.”
Dr Wigens added: “Despite her ill health, [Ms Walker] remained interested, engaged in nursing and health care.
“Her invaluable contribution will be sorely missed by all who knew her, and her legacy is assured,” she said. “Our thoughts are with her husband, Steve, [and her] son, family and friends at this time.”
Cardiff and Vale health board, similarly, paid tribute to the former nurse.
“In a long and illustrious career that has spanned four decades, Ruth worked continuously in the NHS in both England and Wales,” the board wrote in a statement.
“She was a key leading figure for the health board during 2009-22 and we will remember Ruth for her professionalism, commitment and caring nature, always putting patients at the heart of her work.
“She was incredibly proud to be a nurse, serving the public and believed it was a privilege to be able to treat and care for people when they are often at their most vulnerable,” the board said.
“A calm and resolute character and a supportive colleague, Ruth was a compassionate leader, and many colleagues have messaged relaying the impact she has had on them in their nursing careers.”
Ms Walker was also active in the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the Welsh branch of which responded on social media following news of her death.
It said: “Ruth was a proud nurse and showed great support to the RCN and our members, a fantastic leader and advocate for patients. You will be missed, Ruth.”
Dozens of people have since shared their fond memories about, and tributes to, Ms Walker on social media.
