The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has appointed Lucy Muchina as regional director for the South West.

Lucy is a registered nurse with extensive experience working in the South West. She has over 21 years' experience in both acute and community health settings, including nursing homes.

Lucy qualified as a registered nurse and midwife in Nairobi, Kenya in 1992, before moving to England. Her postgraduate qualifications include a BSc in Health and Community studies and an MSc in Public Health, both from the University of the West of England. She has also completed her training as a public health practitioner.

In addition to the clinical roles Lucy has undertaken during her career, she has worked for several years in senior safeguarding roles in acute and community health settings, including the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.

Lucy said: "I am keen to grow the RCN community, while continuing with the good work that already takes place supporting nursing across our diverse region. I believe there is strength in numbers and that when we work together we can achieve great things.

"The unique nature of nursing is that it meets the needs of patients when they are at their most vulnerable. The ability to change lives at such a point in people's lives can be very rewarding. In my years of work as a nurse and particularly in safeguarding, I have advocated for patients including those at risk of abuse. This new role gives me great opportunity to use these skills to support patient care by providing advocacy for our nurses and nursing staff who are doing an excellent job, often in very difficult circumstances.

"I feel privileged to take on the role of regional director of the Royal College of Nursing South West and will endeavour to ensure that the nursing voice is heard across the region. I look forward to working alongside our nurse leaders to support and raise the profile of nursing.

"I very much look forward to working with the South West RCN team to further the work of the organisation across the region, for our members and their patients."