Press Releases
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17/01/2024
Press Release
Nursing union leader vows to fight for NHS on the eve of strike in Northern Ireland
On the eve of strike action in Northern Ireland, ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ (RCN) General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, has given a video message to members: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œColleagues, itÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™s been four years since you first took to the picket lines in Northern Ireland. The first-ever nursing strike here."
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15/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to Hft and Care England report on social care funding
RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œYet another report shows adult social care buckling under the pressure brought about by years of neglect. Quick fixes wonÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™t remedy the catastrophic failure to invest in a system weÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™ve been repeatedly told there was a plan of reform for."
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15/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to Liberal Democrats' analysis showing a record 420,000 patients waited more than 12 hours in A&E in 2023
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œThe government is refusing to get to grips with the crisis plaguing our NHS, leaving patients frightened and nurses overstretched. Behind the numbers are people suffering for hours ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥“ with no privacy and left in danger of their health drastically deteriorating."
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11/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to the opening of the consultation on a pay spine for nursing staff in the NHS
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œThe current pay scale turns 20 years old this year and no longer reflects the skills and expertise in nursing today. Despite many years of experience, the vast majority of nurses are on the lowest pay bands possible. The current system only rewards people the further away they get from patient care. This approach is poor for patients and works against career progression for a nurse. Automatic pay band progression is afforded to some staff groups and never to nurses ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥“ it is unfair and unsustainable."
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11/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to increased use of virtual wards in the NHS
RCN Head of Nursing Practice, Wendy Preston, said: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œVirtual wards arenÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™t a silver bullet to solve the crisis in health and social care. Whether theyÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™re in a physical bed or on a virtual ward, patients still need to be able to see a nurse."
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11/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to the latest NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting list data
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œThe NHS waiting list remains extraordinarily high and the UK government only has itself to blame. ItÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™s been over a year since the prime minister pledged to bring down the waiting list, yet it remains 400,000 higher than when he made his promise."
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10/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to the Labour PartyÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™s Child Health Action Plan
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œNursing staff lead public health services and will support a focus on prevention and detection for the youngest. They can support the development of this approach with expertise and evidence on the clear benefits to health outcomes, society and communities when you invest in children and parents to break the cycle of disadvantage."
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10/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to new government plans to boost domestic care workforce
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ Director for England, Patricia Marquis said: "We hope ministers are at last getting the message that the only way to fill the significant vacancies in social care is by valuing nursing and care staff, and boosting domestic recruitment. However, the plans announced today will fail if they are not backed up by new funding commitments, further detail, and a comprehensive workforce plan."
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08/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to Recruitment and Employment Confederation study showing increasing demand for healthcare staff
Responding to a Recruitment and Employment Confederation study showing an increasing demand for healthcare staff, ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œThe labour choice that too many are making is not to enter nursing at all - there are falling numbers of students on nurse courses this year. People see the profession is not valued and rewarded fairly and are choosing not to join it, with many others quitting early too."
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07/01/2024
Press Release
ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ responds to the Prime Minister's claim that the government reached an agreement with nursing staff on their pay offer
Responding to the Prime MinisterÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™s claim on ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥˜Sunday with Laura KuenssbergÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥™ that the government reached an agreement with nursing staff on their pay offer, ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥ General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥œThe Prime Minister is forgetting basic facts ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥“ he never reached a pay resolution with nursing staff in the NHS. Our members rejected his pay offer and we remain in dispute."
Page last updated - 23/09/2024