Press Releases
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11/09/2024
Press Release
Specialist nurse workforce on track to halve in size compared with two decades ago, as RCN urges government to intervene on eve of Darzi review
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “A shift to delivering preventative care is vital for patients and our NHS. Prevention helps keep people healthy in their communities, eases the pressure on hospital services and is much more cost effective. But the nurse numbers we need to deliver this shift have collapsed and we’re set to have thousands fewer than we did 20 years ago. That is shocking."
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10/09/2024
Press Release
Warnings about COVID-19 transmission ignored until it was ‘too late’, Royal College of Nursing tells Inquiry
Rose Gallagher, RCN Professional lead for Infection Prevention and Control, said: “Throughout the pandemic, the Royal College of Nursing regularly raised concerns and provided detailed evidence on how the virus was spreading and the need for greater, more specific protection."
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10/09/2024
Press Release
NHS employers must reduce work pressures, as new figures show rise in nursing staff experiencing suicidal thoughts
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “It’s becoming increasingly clear that workplace pressures are contributing to a rise in suicidal thoughts among nursing staff. This is a very serious issue that requires the full attention of ministers and employers."
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10/09/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing response to NHS pay announcement for nursing staff in Wales
Responding to the NHS pay announcement for nursing staff in Wales, RCN Wales Executive Director Helen Whyley said: “The RCN today welcomes the Welsh government announcement that it will implement the recommendations of the independent pay review body (PRB) for NHS Agenda for Change staff in Wales. Nursing staff have been eagerly awaiting the Welsh government decision since early July, which applies from April 2024."
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07/09/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the Prime Minister’s remarks ahead of BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg interview
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “Whether it’s the youngest or oldest in society, patient care is not at the standard it should be. And nursing staff feel professionally compromised."
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05/09/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to HSSIB workforce and patient safety report
RCN Chief Nursing Officer Lynn Woolsey said: “The findings that temporary nursing staff, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds, are being discriminated against and prevented from raising concerns about patient safety are extremely serious. This requires swift and decisive action from NHS leaders."
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27/08/2024
Press Release
RCN calls for unfair benefit rules to be scrapped, as new report shows migrant nursing staff twice as likely to be in financial difficulty
Executive Director for RCN England, Patricia Marquis, said: “Migrant nursing staff are part of the DNA of our health and care services, they always have been. Every day patients in our hospitals and communities rely on their outstanding care, and they deserve to be treated equally to those educated in the UK."
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15/08/2024
Press Release
Nursing recruitment still going backwards, as RCN urges ministers to intervene
Executive Director of RCN England, Patricia Marquis, said: “Every student accepted onto a nursing course today is starting the journey towards an incredible and fulfilling career, but the reality is we need many, many more to do the same. The numbers joining the profession have fallen once again, down 20% in just three years. Nurse recruitment policy is failing right in front of our eyes and a workforce crisis is deepening."
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15/08/2024
Press Release
RCN Wales responds to increase in acceptances onto nursing courses in Wales
RCN Wales is thrilled to see a remarkable 23% increase in acceptances onto nursing courses in Wales.
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08/08/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing launches NHS pay consultation
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said “When it comes to pay in the NHS, all professional groups deserve a clear route to fair pay restoration – starting to make up for a very serious loss of earnings in the last 15 years. Stagnant salaries at a time of spiralling prices forced too many to leave and deterred others from joining."
Page last updated - 21/02/2025
