The Royal College of Nursing yesterday appointed a male nurse as its general secretary. Peter Carter will take over in December from Beverly Malone, who is returning to the US after nearly six years leading the RCN, the world's largest nursing union.

Dr Carter started his career as a psychiatric nurse and moved into general nursing in St Albans and London. He has been chief executive of Central and North West London mental health trust since 1995. Dr Carter will be the third man to lead the nursing profession since the RCN was founded in 1916.