Press Releases
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11/01/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to increased use of virtual wards in the NHS
RCN Head of Nursing Practice, Wendy Preston, said: “Virtual wards aren’t a silver bullet to solve the crisis in health and social care. Whether they’re in a physical bed or on a virtual ward, patients still need to be able to see a nurse."
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11/01/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the latest NHS England Referral to Treatment (RTT) waiting list data
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “The NHS waiting list remains extraordinarily high and the UK government only has itself to blame. It’s been over a year since the prime minister pledged to bring down the waiting list, yet it remains 400,000 higher than when he made his promise."
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10/01/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the Labour Party’s Child Health Action Plan
Royal College of Nursing General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “Nursing staff lead public health services and will support a focus on prevention and detection for the youngest. They can support the development of this approach with expertise and evidence on the clear benefits to health outcomes, society and communities when you invest in children and parents to break the cycle of disadvantage."
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10/01/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to new government plans to boost domestic care workforce
Royal College of Nursing Director for England, Patricia Marquis said: "We hope ministers are at last getting the message that the only way to fill the significant vacancies in social care is by valuing nursing and care staff, and boosting domestic recruitment. However, the plans announced today will fail if they are not backed up by new funding commitments, further detail, and a comprehensive workforce plan."
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08/01/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to Recruitment and Employment Confederation study showing increasing demand for healthcare staff
Responding to a Recruitment and Employment Confederation study showing an increasing demand for healthcare staff, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “The labour choice that too many are making is not to enter nursing at all - there are falling numbers of students on nurse courses this year. People see the profession is not valued and rewarded fairly and are choosing not to join it, with many others quitting early too."
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07/01/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the Prime Minister's claim that the government reached an agreement with nursing staff on their pay offer
Responding to the Prime Minister’s claim on ‘Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg’ that the government reached an agreement with nursing staff on their pay offer, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “The Prime Minister is forgetting basic facts – he never reached a pay resolution with nursing staff in the NHS. Our members rejected his pay offer and we remain in dispute."
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05/01/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing calls strike action in Northern Ireland and urges politicians to act on nursing pay
Rita Devlin, Director of the RCN in Northern Ireland said: “It has been four years since nurses in Northern Ireland first took strike action to ensure pay parity with colleagues in England and Wales. It is nothing short of immoral that we have been put in this position once again and are the lowest paid nursing staff in the UK. What an indictment on how we treat health care workers and the value we place on them."
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04/01/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing sounds warning over Welsh government introduction of Nursing Associates in Wales
The RCN warning comes after the biggest review of nursing without any mandate, public consultation, or scrutiny by the Senedd.
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29/12/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the New Year Honours
Royal College of Nursing President Sheilabye Sobrany said: “On behalf of the RCN, I would like to share our warmest congratulations to all of those who have been recognised in the New Year Honours. Your work is truly inspiring and represents the very best of nursing."
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29/12/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing comments on TUC warning on anti-strikes law
Royal College of Nursing General Secretary, and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen said: “The Strikes Act is dangerous and unwise. Ministers are seeking to silence nursing staff, stopping them from speaking out over patient safety concerns, or protesting poor pay and working conditions."
Page last updated - 21/02/2025
