Does leadership style of modern matrons contribute to safer and more effective clinical services?

At the time of writing, the author was a modern matron in a surgical division of an NHS teaching hospital in London. This article considers the differences between leadership and management, and discusses the skills required by modern matrons to lead safe and successful clinical services. It also examines three leadership styles - transactional, transformational and situational - and their relevance to the role of modern matron.