King’s Speech response: policy programme is step towards nursing reset and renewal

The King’s speech was delivered in parliament today (17 July), setting out the new UK government’s priorities for the coming parliamentary session. A total of 40 bills were announced, with planned changes across health and care services, several of which relate to the RCN’s campaigning priorities.

A crucial piece of legislation for our members will be the Employment Rights Bill that underpins the commitments made in Labour’s New Deal for Working People. It will update trade union legislation, removing unnecessary restrictions on trade union activity, including the previous government’s approach to minimum service levels, which severely limited workers’ freedom to strike.

The Mental Health Bill aims to modernise the Mental Health Act to make it fit for the 21st century. The government also specified mental health support for young people.

The draft Conversion Practices Bill seeks to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices relating to both sexual orientation and gender identity. This was previously debated at RCN Congress in 2022 with a resolution passed calling for a full ban on conversion therapy.

While there has been positive forward focus on reforming and rebuilding health care, efforts to stop current unsustainable practices such as corridor care and the exploitation of social care staff failed to make an appearance.

In response, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “Nursing staff are expecting a period of renewal for our health and care services and a reset with government – today’s policy programme is a move towards delivering that. We particularly welcome the new government’s commitment to repealing anti-trade union legislation, which silences NHS and care workers from speaking up for themselves and their patients.

“The New Deal for Working People and the potential for a historic fair pay agreement in social care can help begin the journey to pay parity with NHS colleagues. The government must honour its pledge to launch an investigation into the exploitation of migrant care workers across the sector, which we will support.

“Reforms to the Mental Health Act are long overdue and could improve care for vulnerable people, raising the focus given to mental health and giving patients more of a say in their treatment – but investment in mental health nursing is needed to boost workforce numbers and transform outcomes.

“The new government is right to focus on our ailing NHS, but measures to increase recruitment into nursing, that are not legislative and not present today, should follow soon. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan is off target, and it needs fresh political energy and investment. Applications to study nursing have collapsed, and ministers should introduce government-funded degrees in the interests of patient safety.

“A corridor care national emergency is claiming lives and requires immediate government intervention. The first step must be to introduce mandatory reporting to reveal the extent of hospital overcrowding. Ministers must also work with clinical leaders at the RCN to look at the evidence that supports the introduction of safety-critical nurse-patient ratios.”