This week I wrote to the Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay, to demand that he puts a stop to the two-tier system that means some nursing staff delivering NHS services in England will miss out on the government-funded pay award.
Many of you have discovered that you will not receive the one-off non-consolidated payments announced by government earlier this year, which is deeply disappointing. As the pressure on our NHS has increased, so has the complexity of how and where care is delivered. Nursing staff, no matter where they work, deserve fair pay and to be treated equally, it is as simple as that. The Westminster government can fix this issue by providing the central funding needed by organisations providing these services for the NHS.
This week, we received the heartening news that public support for you taking strike action is still rising. In fact, it’s higher than before our first strikes back in December. This powerful endorsement from patients and their families shows just how much they value you and the expertise you demonstrate, day in, day out.
The strike ballot in England closes in one week’s time on 23 June and I urge you to get your ballot paper in the post now. How you choose to vote is entirely up to you, but please, do not miss out on this opportunity. On Monday 19 June, we are holding a day of action when we’ll be coming into workplaces to make sure every member knows this really is the final chance to vote. If you’re still unsure about voting or have questions, please stop by for a chat. Regardless of how you intend to vote, it’s so important you do.
To start the week, I spent time in the north west of England hearing from members in Manchester and Blackpool about their priorities for our profession. Hearing how they manage the ever-increasing demands of their role, exacerbated by a lack of central government investment in vital nursing staff is both humbling and infuriating, and it is why I am more determined than ever to help drive the change our profession and our patients so desperately deserve.
Staying with the north west for a moment longer, if you are a member in the Isle of Man working for Manx Care, please vote in the current strike ballot, before 21 June to have your say.
The long-awaited COVID-19 inquiry opened this week. I know countless numbers of you were, and remain, impacted by the pandemic and my thoughts are always with you as you continue to manage the aftermath, both professionally and personally. We are actively participating in the inquiry, and I sincerely hope our contribution helps shape the recommendations that emerge as time goes on.
Our 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 10 July in Manchester. More information is available here, including the agenda, details about voting, and how to attend in person or online.
This week marks men’s health week, which is a reminder for us to check in with our family and friends to ask how they are. We have some great to support you in helping men gain access to the right mental health information and guidance for them.
As you continue to work through the current hot weather, I’d like to remind you that we have useful guidance on what your employer should be doing, and handy resources to help you remain well while at work and home.
In Scotland this week, we met with the new Cabinet Secretary for NHS recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson, to discuss the pressing need for the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce, and Agenda for Change Review, to deliver positive and sustainable change for the nursing profession. The Cabinet Secretary agreed on the urgent need to improve retention and recruitment, particularly considering last week’s figures showing spiralling agency spending.
I am very much looking forward to visiting Scotland next week to celebrate the dedication and outstanding professional care of nursing staff across Scotland at the first RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards.
RCN Wales this week hosted a focus group with the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Finance Committee on the impact on members of the Welsh Government budget. The focus group gave RCN Wales members from across the NHS and independent sector an opportunity to share their priorities for the Welsh Government budget and to reiterate the importance of fair pay for nursing.
Thank you for your showing solidarity for our LGBTQ+ colleagues and patients, not just during Pride season, but always. Dignity, respect, compassion and allyship are vital not just in nursing, but in society at large. Our website has resources to help you celebrate and support LGBTQ+ colleagues and communities and next week, you’ll be able to order your Pride badges, so please check out our website for updates.
The RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards took place yesterday evening. This is the 27th year of the awards which were an inspirational celebration of nursing. The overall winner was Vicky Burns, a nurse hysteroscopist based in the Northern Trust.
Passionate about women’s health, Vicky has improved access to the investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding and has been instrumental in reducing cancer waiting times for hysteroscopy. The commitment she has for her patients is clearly demonstrated through her pioneering approach to finding a solution to improve the treatment of women in her care.
Congratulations to all the finalists who demonstrate the skills and expertise of nursing staff and the commitment to improving services and care for patients.
A final personal plea from me: if you’re in England and eligible, please post back your strike ballot paper and encourage your colleagues to vote. Every single vote counts and every conversation is critical. We can do this.
Many of you have discovered that you will not receive the one-off non-consolidated payments announced by government earlier this year, which is deeply disappointing. As the pressure on our NHS has increased, so has the complexity of how and where care is delivered. Nursing staff, no matter where they work, deserve fair pay and to be treated equally, it is as simple as that. The Westminster government can fix this issue by providing the central funding needed by organisations providing these services for the NHS.
This week, we received the heartening news that public support for you taking strike action is still rising. In fact, it’s higher than before our first strikes back in December. This powerful endorsement from patients and their families shows just how much they value you and the expertise you demonstrate, day in, day out.
The strike ballot in England closes in one week’s time on 23 June and I urge you to get your ballot paper in the post now. How you choose to vote is entirely up to you, but please, do not miss out on this opportunity. On Monday 19 June, we are holding a day of action when we’ll be coming into workplaces to make sure every member knows this really is the final chance to vote. If you’re still unsure about voting or have questions, please stop by for a chat. Regardless of how you intend to vote, it’s so important you do.
To start the week, I spent time in the north west of England hearing from members in Manchester and Blackpool about their priorities for our profession. Hearing how they manage the ever-increasing demands of their role, exacerbated by a lack of central government investment in vital nursing staff is both humbling and infuriating, and it is why I am more determined than ever to help drive the change our profession and our patients so desperately deserve.
Staying with the north west for a moment longer, if you are a member in the Isle of Man working for Manx Care, please vote in the current strike ballot, before 21 June to have your say.
The long-awaited COVID-19 inquiry opened this week. I know countless numbers of you were, and remain, impacted by the pandemic and my thoughts are always with you as you continue to manage the aftermath, both professionally and personally. We are actively participating in the inquiry, and I sincerely hope our contribution helps shape the recommendations that emerge as time goes on.
Our 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 10 July in Manchester. More information is available here, including the agenda, details about voting, and how to attend in person or online.
This week marks men’s health week, which is a reminder for us to check in with our family and friends to ask how they are. We have some great to support you in helping men gain access to the right mental health information and guidance for them.
As you continue to work through the current hot weather, I’d like to remind you that we have useful guidance on what your employer should be doing, and handy resources to help you remain well while at work and home.
In Scotland this week, we met with the new Cabinet Secretary for NHS recovery, Health and Social Care, Michael Matheson, to discuss the pressing need for the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce, and Agenda for Change Review, to deliver positive and sustainable change for the nursing profession. The Cabinet Secretary agreed on the urgent need to improve retention and recruitment, particularly considering last week’s figures showing spiralling agency spending.
I am very much looking forward to visiting Scotland next week to celebrate the dedication and outstanding professional care of nursing staff across Scotland at the first RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards.
RCN Wales this week hosted a focus group with the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Finance Committee on the impact on members of the Welsh Government budget. The focus group gave RCN Wales members from across the NHS and independent sector an opportunity to share their priorities for the Welsh Government budget and to reiterate the importance of fair pay for nursing.
Thank you for your showing solidarity for our LGBTQ+ colleagues and patients, not just during Pride season, but always. Dignity, respect, compassion and allyship are vital not just in nursing, but in society at large. Our website has resources to help you celebrate and support LGBTQ+ colleagues and communities and next week, you’ll be able to order your Pride badges, so please check out our website for updates.
The RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards took place yesterday evening. This is the 27th year of the awards which were an inspirational celebration of nursing. The overall winner was Vicky Burns, a nurse hysteroscopist based in the Northern Trust.
Passionate about women’s health, Vicky has improved access to the investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding and has been instrumental in reducing cancer waiting times for hysteroscopy. The commitment she has for her patients is clearly demonstrated through her pioneering approach to finding a solution to improve the treatment of women in her care.
Congratulations to all the finalists who demonstrate the skills and expertise of nursing staff and the commitment to improving services and care for patients.
A final personal plea from me: if you’re in England and eligible, please post back your strike ballot paper and encourage your colleagues to vote. Every single vote counts and every conversation is critical. We can do this.
