Martina Cummins

RN, Diploma Social Science, BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies, BSc Infection Control, MSc Interprofessional Healthcare.

Martina Cummins has been a driving leadership force in the field of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for over 25 years. Martina qualified as a nurse in 1991 and following a clinical career primarily in critical care nursing, moved into the field of infection prevention and control in 1999. Martina has worked in several nurse specialist, management, and nurse consultant roles in the specialty and was appointed to the role of Clinical Director, Infection Prevention and Control at Bart’s Health NHS Trust in December 2014.

Martina has led the development of a dynamic IPC team at Barts Health NHS Trust and championed a robust approach to IPC that impacts directly on patient safety. She worked tirelessly to standardise clinical IPC practice across one of the largest healthcare trusts in the country, ensuring its visibility from ward to Board.

Throughout her career she has been a key leadership voice for IPC, providing insights into the frontline experience which has informed regional and national policy and practice.

Martina has contributed to the many aspects of the infection prevention and control vision, strategy and body of knowledge. Martina was awarded a prestigious honorary contract as Consultant Nurse with Public Health England [PHE] (now the UK Health Security Agency [UKHSA]) in 2015 and has made major contributions to a number of national (Ebola, Zika Virus, Candida auris) and regional incidents (invasive Group A streptococcus); in addition, she leads and supports clinical peer reviews of external organisations and outbreak investigations.

Martina has been highly active in provision of scientific evidence to inform government policy as a core member of the national Mycobacterium chimeara Incident Management Team and the national Candida auris Incident Management Team.

In 2022, Martina was recognised for her hard work, dedication and commitment to Infection Prevention & Control and her profession, she was presented with the prestigious Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Gold Award. These national awards recognise a lifetime achievement for nurses and midwives.