Critical care nurse and President of the Royal College of Nursing, Bejoy Sebastian, visited East Anglia today to see the work being undertaken by skilled nurses in Suffolk and Norfolk care homes owned by Stow Healthcare.
Mr Sebastian, who took over as President of the RCN in January 2025 is a strong advocate for nurses working across social care and the NHS and was keen to learn more about the innovative practices of Stow Healthcare, who were crowned Small Residential Care Provider of the Year 2024 in a national ceremony.
As a nurse who began his career in India, Mr Sebastian has a strong interest in supporting internationally educated nurses and was able to meet with both homegrown and overseas talent on his visits to Stowlangtoft Hall Nursing Home in Suffolk, and Ford Place Nursing Home in Norfolk, both owned by the Stow Healthcare group.
With opportunities for both talking to nurses and those they care for, the visit enabled Mr Sebastian and his team from the RCN to understand some of the award winning work that has been done by Stow Healthcare on innovations such as falls prevention and reducing hospital admissions, as well as supporting complex care, including for younger adults at some homes.
Director of Stow Healthcare, Ruth French, said, ‘It was a pleasure to host RCN President Bejoy Sebastian and his team at our homes. We are tremendously proud of the work we have done to support our valued nursing teams, and in supporting home grown talent to achieve nursing and nursing associate qualifications. We have also been recognised for our ethical recruitment of overseas nurses, which the RCN were delighted to hear about. We were pleased to have constructive discussions about how the RCN can champion the role of social care nurses.’
RCN President Bejoy Sebastian said: “I am deeply inspired by the kindness, expertise and commitment demonstrated by the nursing staff at Stow Healthcare. Their collaborative work with NHS partners, alongside their ability to translate evidence-based research into everyday nursing practice, stands as a shining example of how integrated care can transform outcomes for residents and communities alike.
“Through close partnership with acute trusts, they are not only improving patient flow and easing pressure on NHS services but also ensuring that care is delivered in the right place, at the right time, and tailored to each resident’s needs. Their innovative approaches are already delivering measurable improvements—reducing patient harm and setting new benchmarks for patient safety in nursing homes.
“At the Royal College of Nursing, we are proud to support our members as they rise to meet the demands of increasingly complex care. I am also grateful for the opportunity to hear some of the inspiring career journeys shared by their staff members.”
