With the introduction of the Health and Social Care bill, the challenge to district, community and public health nurses has never been greater. Strong leadership is required at all levels from the government down to team leaders.

As the architecture is put into place, one of the key appointments, the Director of Nursing and the Government's Principal Advisor on Public Health Nursing has been filled.

Here, Deborah Glover, JCN's editor, reports on her recent meeting with the post holder, Professor Viv Bennett, outlining her role and how she sees the future for JCN readers