If you’ve been involved in the Cambridge Children’s Hospital project in any way over the last few years, one face will be very familiar. For International Nurses Day, we spoke to Lead Nurse Vicky Amiss-Smith about her passion for children's healthcare.
Vicky Amiss-Smith brings thirty years' experience of nursing to the Cambridge Children's Hospital project team. She knows what works well in children's healthcare now, what doesn’t, and how we can create a hospital and new model of care that truly serves our future patients and their families. You’ll find Vicky at design meetings, fundraising events, working with staff, children, young people and carers, hosting visits, touring other hospitals and presenting at healthcare conferences.
Tell us about how nursing as a career came onto your radar.
As a little girl at school, I always thought I would like to be a nurse. Reading ‘Topsy and Tim Go to the Hospital’ was a favourite book, plus I was always very good at talking. I now know this is a key strength when working with people.
What made you want to specialise in children’s healthcare?
I had my first work experience placement on a care of the elderly ward, but I think I just decided that being with babies and children would be more my thing, with more noise, more chat, and some playing too! Since then, I’ve worked on Ward D2 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, been a community nurse, and then back on the wards as a nurse specialist, managing complex discharge across paediatrics, building up networks and relationships across the local and regional services.
When COVID hit, that was challenging. Healthcare providers had to amend their practice overnight and manage very stressful situations. We all showed up to work every day, managing as calmly and effectively as we could to support the children and families in our care. I believe we made a huge difference to them.
Why did you want to take on the Lead Nurse role for Cambridge Children’s Hospital?
I have always been struck by the resilience that children and families show during the toughest times. With Cambridge Children’s Hospital, we will look after the whole child and the whole family, which I believe is so important. It will also be a place where staff can enjoy coming to work, knowing the facilities will be excellent and purpose built with them and their patients in mind. Playing a part in creating that is a key driver for the work I do.
I’ve been lead nurse for six years now. It really is a once-in-a-career opportunity to shape the direction of children’s healthcare.
Vicky Amiss-Smith, Cambridge Children's Hospital Lead Nurse
Why is a Lead Nurse role so important on a project like this?
From day one, the project has had a nurse at the table, central to the team. I have sat across all areas of the project to build and review the hospital design, plan for the future workforce, engage with staff and families, strategically plan and, crucially, help develop a new model of care that will enable Cambridge Children’s Hospital to do something that has not been done anywhere else. I have had the opportunity to visit new hospitals in the UK and overseas, bringing that learning back into the project. I am proud to have been the voice of nursing throughout the process.
An important part of what I do is talk to people. As I said, I love to talk! I work hard to build and maintain strong relationships across clinical and operational teams at our partner organisations, as well as representing Cambridge Children’s Hospital with a wide range of stakeholders – our regional NHS colleagues, our volunteers, our Campaign Ambassadors, our children, young people and families.
I enjoy sharing the story of Cambridge Children’s Hospital, talking through our amazing hospital design that has been coproduced with patients, carers and staff.
What are you hopes for Cambridge Children’s Hospital?
To have been part of the process to make Cambridge Children's Hospital, both the building and the new model of care, a reality for the East of England is an incredible feeling. I know it will be something to be proud of, up there with other big names, like Evelina, Great Ormond Street, and Alder Hey children's hospitals.
When future staff, patients and families walk through our doors, I want them to feel like they are in a hospital that has been built for them. They should feel that it’s been thought through, that it makes sense.
Vicky Amiss-Smith
It’s been incredible to be part of the journey, but it’s not over yet. There is so much more to come with the submission of our Full Business Case to Government later this year and then a three-year build starting in 2027. To see Cambridge Children’s Hospital rise from the ground will be very exciting, a symbolic milestone of what’s to come. I can’t wait!
