Press Releases
-
29/11/2022
Press Release
RCN confirms the locations of December strikes across the UK
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “Ministers have declined my offer of formal pay negotiations and instead chosen strike action. It has left us with no choice but to announce where our members will be going on strike in December."
-
27/11/2022
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to Transport Secretary's comments that public sector pay rises in line with inflation are “unaffordable”
Responding to comments from Transport Secretary Mark Harper that public sector pay rises in line with inflation are “unaffordable”, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “While billions of pounds is being spent on temporary measures like agency staff to stick a plaster on the NHS workforce crisis, we are told a pay rise for nursing staff is unaffordable."
-
26/11/2022
Press Release
‘Negotiations or nothing’, nursing union tells government over strike
In a fresh exchange of letters on Saturday afternoon between the RCN’s General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay MP, the union leader has reiterated the call for negotiations to settle the dispute over NHS pay and patient safety.
-
25/11/2022
Press Release
First strike dates announced by Royal College of Nursing after UK government declines NHS pay negotiations
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: "Ministers have had more than two weeks since we confirmed that our members felt such injustice that they would strike for the first time. My offer of formal negotiations was declined and instead ministers have chosen strike action. They have the power and the means to stop this by opening serious talks that address our dispute".
-
24/11/2022
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the latest NHS England urgent and emergency care daily situation reports
Responding to the latest NHS England urgent and emergency care daily situation reports, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: “These figures highlight the severe strain the health secretary himself recently admitted that the healthcare system is under. It doesn’t bode well when adult bed occupancy in hospitals is already at 95%, well above the recommended safe level."
-
23/11/2022
Press Release
Nursing confirmed as ‘most trusted profession’ as strike risk grows
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “This huge vote of confidence from the public will boost the morale of nursing staff as we head for strikes in December. The profession at the bottom of the list should be careful how it speaks to and about the one at the top."
-
20/11/2022
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to health secretary’s comments on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Responding to health secretary Steve Barclay’s comments on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: “The health secretary’s lack of intention and inability to see the urgency of this situation will trouble every nurse.”
-
17/11/2022
Press Release
Five days for Government to open formal negotiations before strike dates confirmed, RCN says after Autumn Statement
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen said: "It is now more than a week since we announced our ballot outcome and your department has dedicated more time to publicly criticising our members’ expectations than finding common ground and a satisfactory conclusion."
-
16/11/2022
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the health and social care secretary setting out key priorities ahead of this winter
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “The storm engulfing the NHS is one of staffing shortages. Soaring numbers of people quitting and unfilled jobs is because staff are neither valued nor treated fairly."
-
16/11/2022
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to Health Secretary’s remit letter to the Pay Review Body
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: "This letter suggests the government is in denial. Ministers are in a rush to talk about next year when hundreds of thousands are saying they need action immediately and are struggling to live on the current pay award."
Page last updated - 22/03/2024