Consultant Primary Healthcare Nurse
RGN; BSc (Hons)
Overview
Areas of expertise
Clinical Practice & Experience
Janette Cooper is a seasoned Senior Healthcare Leader with over 34 years of clinical experience in Primary Healthcare, spanning the NHS and Military Medical Services. From delivering frontline care as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner to holding strategic command roles—including former Commander in Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Jannette has led at every level. Ms Cooper’s medico-legal and regulatory expertise includes managing complex clinical negligence and professional misconduct investigations, providing expert witness testimony in high-profile military cases, and advising on patient safety, complaints, and regulatory compliance across multidisciplinary teams.
As the Royal Navy’s Lead Medico-Legal Adviser, Ms Cooper represented the Service in judicial and regulatory forums, authored key clinical and legal policies, and shaped healthcare governance across Defence Medical Services. Their leadership is defined by core professional values: patient safety, integrity, informed discipline, respect, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to care excellence.
Clinical Interests
Ms Cooper is a deep specialist regarding Military and NHS primary healthcare delivery and operations. Ms Coopers is a role model and advocate of training and development of Primary Healthcare staff, and in particular nurses working towards Advanced Practice roles. She was the lead author of DPHC Nurse Training Development and Competency framework (Band 2 Health Care Assistants through to Band 8c Consultant Nurse); and latterly the Professional Profiles (Knowledge, Skills, Competencies and Behaviours) for all DPHC Nurses and AHPs.
With a deep interest in primary prevention of incidents and errors that may compromise patient safety, duty of care and duty of candour, she has a forensic eye for lessons identification, and required strategic organisational learning from such.
Ms Cooper is also passionate about Clinical Policy and Guidance and the development or summarisation of same to ensure best functionality for organisational users at all levels.
Management Experience
Ms Cooper is currently working a 80:20 split roles in Senior Healthcare Leadership: Advanced Nurse Practitioner. The former is with Defence Primary Healthcare Headquarters (Military equivalent to NHS Integrated Care Board), undertaking some consultancy work for the gapped Civilian Chief Nurse (Band 8c) priority projects: the latter is self-employed contract under an NHS Out of Hours GP service provider to retain clinical competency and credibility.Other senior leadership role responsibilities Ms Cooper has previously held, have included:
• Surgeon General's Defence Specialist Advisor in Primary Healthcare (NHS Analogie Band 8c equivalence).
• Head Royal Navy Medical Services (RNMS) Specialist Nurse Advisor in Primary Healthcare.
• RNMS Lead for Medical Complaints and Medico-Legal at Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ).
• Lead for Medical Records Disclosure for RNMS at NCHQ
• Lead for Command and Plans at Headquarters Defence Primary Healthcare (HQ DPHC).
• Lead for Clinical Governance and Patient Safety for RNMS at NCHQ and DPHC South Regional HQ.
• Healthcare Assurance and Validation Inspection Team Lead in Primary and Pre-Hospital Care (CQC standards) for RNMS at NCHQ and HQ DPHC.
• Lead NHS Policy and Regulatory Frameworks (NMC, HCPC, GPhC and NHS Resolutions Maintaining High Professional Standards) for RNMS at NCHQ and DPHC South Regional HQ.
• Lead Clinician Performance Review Panels (Health, Welfare, Competence and Discipline), Performance Management & Regulatory Professional Conduct referrals/ liaison /engagement (NMC, GPhC, HCPC) for RNMS at NCHQ, DPHC South Regional HQ and the Surgeon Generals Department.
• Lead for Strategic Workforce Requirements and Change Management Processes HQ DPHC.
• Clinical practice as Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Defence and NHS Primary Care/ Urgent and Unscheduled Integrated Care and in remote operational, under-resourced and undermanned environments. (NHS/ Analogue Band 8a).
• Nurse Independent Prescriber/ Non-Medical Prescribing.
• Ltd Company Director and Professional Consultancy Portfolio.
Teaching & Training
Ms Cooper has led teaching and training in military and healthcare settings, focusing on pre-hospital emergency care, prolonged field care, and simulation-based scenario training. Her work supports clinical readiness and autonomous practice in high-pressure environments.Ms Cooper holds qualifications in coaching, mentoring, and clinical education, and has delivered training across UK and overseas deployments. Ms Coopers leadership in professional development has shaped safe, effective practice within multidisciplinary teams in both operational and regulatory contexts.
Prizes and Awards
Honorary Queen’s Nurse title by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) (Queens Institute of Community Nursing) for Services to Primary Care - 2016.
Endeavour Prize from the Centre for Defence Studies, for professional achievement on the Intermediate Command and Staff Course.
Military Medals for Long Service and Good Conduct and Operation Herrick (with clasps and rosette)
Memberships of Professional Bodies & Learned Societies
Nursing and Midwifery Council since (1987- to date)
Royal College of Nursing since (1987 – to date)
Honorary Queen’s Nurse - Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) for Services to Primary Care (2016–Present)
Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service Commissioner Officer – Commander (Nov 2003 - Nov 2023)
Queen’s Nurse Executive Nurse Leadership Programme, QNI (2019 Alumni)
Armed Forces Veteran – Royal Navy
Contact Janette
To appoint Janette call us on +44 (0)161 218 0223.
Email Janette here or use the contact form below.