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Suffolk

RCN Suffolk branch

If you're an RCN member working in Suffolk, you're automatically a member of our Suffolk branch. Welcome to your nursing community.

Our branch includes members at major NHS trusts covering the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich Hospital, as well as independent sector providers and care homes.

Getting involved in our branch means more than attending meetings. Whether you’re organising for better conditions, supporting a colleague or pushing for systemic change, your involvement helps turn shared concerns into collective action.
If you're an RCN member working in Suffolk, you're automatically a member of our Suffolk branch. Welcome to your nursing community.

Our branch includes members at major NHS trusts covering the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich Hospital, as well as independent sector providers and care homes.

Getting involved in our branch means more than attending meetings. Whether you’re organising for better conditions, supporting a colleague or pushing for systemic change, your involvement helps turn shared concerns into collective action.

Contact us

eastern.region@rcn.org.uk

Your branch team

  • Chair: Laura Bird
  • Vice chair: Vacant
  • Treasurer: Vacant
  • Secretary: Tracey Risebrow

Join our Suffolk Facebook group

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Be the first to know about meetings and connect with your fellow branch members

View all RCN branches in the Eastern region

All branch events

Our branch annual general meeting (AGM)

Every year, our branch holds its annual general meeting (AGM). We review our branch activity over the past twelve months, before mapping out what we want to achieve over the next year. It's also a chance to discuss with your fellow branch members the issues which are most important to you right now.

This is your chance to help set the nursing agenda. Details of 2025's AGM will be posted here as soon as available.




Our branch and RCN Congress

Branches play a key role in RCN Congress. Our members can submit debate topics for the annual conference, which are then discussed and voted on by the wider membership, influencing the RCN's future work.

All members can attend RCN Congress for free. There are also fully funded voting places for members, where travel, accommodation and food are provided. Voting members are there to listen, participate and vote on resolutions that are proposed by RCN branches, forums and committees across the UK.

This year's applications for funded voting places are closed. Details of 2026 funded places will be posted here as soon as available.

Branch policies and processes

Hear from members across our region



492 blog posts
  • Amanda Epps Amanda Epps 24 Apr 2025

    ATTD 2025: Technological Innovation and Collaborative Care

    Nurses specialising in diabetes need to be aware of the technological advancements for treatments impacting patient care. Here in this blog, Amanda Williams Vice Chair for the Diabetes Forum, summarises the key findings from the The 18th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments.

  • Tiago Horta Reis da Silva Tiago Horta Reis da Silva 24 Apr 2025

    Emotional Intelligence for Nursing Older People

    This blog explores the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in providing compassionate and effective care for older adults. EI is a critical skill in geriatric nursing, helping nurses manage the emotional and psychological needs of older patients.

  • Elsa Afonso Elsa Afonso 24 Apr 2025

    Global Health Nursing: It's not them, it’s us.

    Head of the International Academy, Elsa Afonso reframes how we should understand internationalism and global nursing. 

  • Samantha Spence Samantha Spence 23 Apr 2025

    Being on Agenda Committee was the RCN experience of a lifetime

    Samantha Spence, former member of Agenda Committee, reflects on her experience and encourages members to go for election.

  • Gary Jones CBE Gary Jones CBE 23 Apr 2025

    History of Orsett Workhouses and Orsett Hospital, Essex

    This Blog looks at the history of Orsett Hospital in Essex developed from a workhouse built in 1837 to a 500 bed acute hospital. This blog highlights how many hospitals developed from workhouses and by using Orsett as an example I hope it will inspire readers to research their own local hospital history.  

Elections and appointments

Get more involved by putting yourself forward as a candidate for Council, a board, a committee or a forum. You can also make your voice heard by voting in our current elections.
View our elections and appointments
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Put forward an agenda item for Council

Members can submit an agenda item for Council to discuss at one of their meetings. If your submission is accepted, you can present it to Council during the meeting, either remotely or in person.
Submit an agenda item
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Page last updated - 22/04/2025

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