RCN points to public support for NHS staffing overhaul in new poll The anger and optimism of the year’s nursing strikes resulted in only modest progress as politicians did enough to ‘save their own skins, not the revolution needed’, Pat Cullen will say.
In a new year message to half a million members today (Thursday), the RCN leader broadens the union’s campaign for 2024 to include seeking commitments on safe staffing levels during the year in addition to a fair pay rise for nursing – asking members to ‘again push ministers further than they want to go’.
To coincide with the message, the union is releasing new polling by YouGov showing public support for nursing staff caring for six patients or fewer. There are currently over 40,000 nursing vacancies in England’s NHS and nursing staff routinely care for 10 to 15 patients, which the RCN warns is unsafe.
Cullen uses the message to call on UK nursing staff to lobby MPs ahead of January’s expected vote on anti-strike regulations and also warns politicians of all parties on the failure to address the concerns of nursing staff in the year’s general election.
Pat Cullen, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary and Chief Executive, will say:
“The nursing year started with an unprecedented amount of anger and optimism. We were on picket lines across the country either side of last Christmas and we’d never been louder as a profession – pushed there because nobody was listening but very firmly believing something positive would come out of it all.
“How did the year go? Politicians only granted us modest progress – enough to save their own skins but not the revolution that nursing needs and patients deserve. Would we do it over again? Yes, by your actions you forced ministers to announce a top-up on the previous year’s pay settlement and give more than they had wanted to for the current year. Me and other RCN negotiators got every penny they were ever going to give – and that was real money in your banks when it’s really been needed most – but their desire to fix nursing was simply not as strong as ours.
“What’s your appetite to campaign for more? Not just a pay rise but a big commitment to improve staffing levels and patient safety. 2024 is a general election year and every party will be challenged by the RCN to demonstrate clear vision and hard cash for nursing, the NHS and social care. Let’s make sure we again push ministers further than they want to go.”
Looking ahead to the regulations expected to be laid in Parliament in January relating to strikes by hospital workers, Cullen will add:
“Despite promises earlier this year that the new Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act would not target nursing staff, we’re now faced with proposals for hospital workers that could see them forced to work during strikes or face the sack. What happens when our politicians turn their backs on us? When governments refuse to hear our concerns about patient safety, pay and safe staffing? We’re forced to strike. This is why my personal plea to each of you is to write to your MP and urge them to protect your right to strike.”
Commenting on the expected general election and expectations of political figures in the new year, Cullen will add:
“In 2024, politicians of every party across the UK must rise to the public’s expectations on safe health and care services. Failure to do so will cost them votes and maybe jobs. To save their own skins in the new year, their answer will have to be better than what’s gone before. Ours is a proud profession with reason to be hopeful – the voice of nursing is a political one and we intend to use it.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
- The RCN is asking its members working for the NHS in England about the challenges they are facing at work, their experience of strike action and their appetite for fresh action in the new year. Early signs from the consultation indicate continued high levels of discontent over pay and staffing levels.
- A report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Health Division in November 2023 showed nursing, on average, is a far more highly paid career in most OECD countries, where full-time nurses working in the hospital sector can expect to earn 20% more than the full-time average wage. In the UK, nurses working in hospitals earn approximately 10% less than the full-time national average, which ranks it towards the bottom of the list of 35 other countries.
- The latest data shows there are 42,306 nursing vacancies in England’s NHS. Source: NHS Vacancy Statistics England, April 2015 - September 2023, Experimental Statistics - NHS Digital
- A YouGov poll of 2,054 adults in Great Britain between 6-7 December 2023 found:
- 65% of people said they thought one nurse should be responsible for just six patients or fewer on non-critical care hospital wards.
- 73% of people polled also believe there aren’t enough nurses to provide safe care to patients.
- 72% of people polled said they support nursing staff taking strike action because of staffing levels. 66% said they would support nursing staff taking strike action over their pay.
The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). A breakdown of the polling results will shortly be available on the YouGov archive.
Pat Cullen's full message to RCN members will appear here when it's published on 28 December: https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/Blogs
