The votes are in, and we have a new UK government. I hope you all took the opportunity to make your votes count; I have been so proud and moved by the power of the nursing voice in this general election. And while the election may be over, the hard work has just begun.
I want to see action from the new government - bold action that makes an impact on nursing within its first 100 days – starting from today, the 76th birthday of the NHS. As we remember the incredible history of the NHS, it’s never been more important to protect and fight for its future.
Today, I’ve written to the Prime Minister asking to meet at the earliest opportunity to discuss the priorities for nursing. He has inherited a national emergency in our health and care services, and the new government must make patient safety a priority. To do that, forced reporting of corridor care has to start immediately. It must also introduce safety-critical limits on the maximum number of patients a nurse is responsible for.
He must also deliver fair pay for nursing. Because when you invest in nursing, you invest in patients, and you invest in society. You went to polling booths without having received a pay offer which is now months late. The new government needs to build constructive relationships with trade unions, so that the late NHS pay award for 2024/25 is delivered quickly and nursing staff working in independent health and social care settings receive fair pay and equal working conditions. We also desperately need measures to boost recruitment into the profession, including through government-funded degrees.
I also expect the new Prime Minister to stand by his word. That means repealing legislation that restricts the right to strike and launching a sector-wide investigation into exploitation in social care.
While this situation is not of the new government’s making, it is now their responsibility to address it. Our UK General Election Manifesto 2024 listed 12 nursing priorities that we will continue to raise through this parliament. We are committed to working with the new government as a partner in finding the solutions, and to secure the investment and commitments, our profession desperately needs.
Nursing has been ignored for too long and my hope is that the change in government will give nursing a fresh start – across health and social care. And as the largest profession in the NHS, our contribution will be vital to its continued survival. I will make sure we keep up the pressure so that the voice of nursing rings loud and clear through the corridors of power.
