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Category: Press Releases

  • PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to the Prime Minister’s comments during PMQs [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to the Prime Minister’s comments during PMQs [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the RCN on 7 December 2022.

    Responding to the Prime Minister’s comments today, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:

    “The government should negotiate with nurses and stop these cheap and divisive political games. For the first time in their working lives my members are saying enough is enough.

    “Hundreds of thousands of hard working, decent people should not be cast aside as ‘unreasonable’ for expecting better for themselves, their families and their patients. The Prime Minister appears out of touch with the public if he is intent on attacking nursing staff like this.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Sheila Sobrany elected as new Royal College of Nursing President for 2023 [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Sheila Sobrany elected as new Royal College of Nursing President for 2023 [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the RCN on 6 December 2022.

    Sheilbye (Sheila) Sobrany has been announced as the Royal College of Nursing’s new President after receiving the most member votes out of the four candidates standing for election to the high-profile role. 

    After taking over from current President Dr Denise Chaffer, Sheila Sobrany will begin the role from 1 January 2023 for two years and act as an ambassador for the nursing profession, representing the RCN to its members, stakeholders and the public both across the UK and internationally. She will also serve as a full member of RCN Council.  

    Sheila’s key priorities are securing fair pay for nursing staff, reducing pressures on the profession and tackling racism, bullying, harassment and discrimination of health care workers.

    RCN President–elect Sheila Sobrany said: 

    “I am humbled by the support I have received and deeply honoured to take on the role of President at a critical time for nurses, nursing and our Royal College. 

    “I will lead on the core issues identified in my campaign: making the RCN strong for members, not least in our campaigns for fair pay and patient safety, and advocating clearly for diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

    “As a professional college and trade union, we must foster a strong sense of unity and belonging for our members in their work and our organisation. As your new RCN President, I cannot do this without you and I need your support to make this possible.”

    A course leader in adult nursing at the University of East London, Sheila also currently sits on the RCN London Board. 

    Her election follows the publication of findings from an independent review into the culture of the RCN, led by Bruce Carr KC. 

    On this, Sheila said: “I will work each day of my term to lead the RCN in tackling and rooting out the poor behaviours identified in the Carr Review and hold to account anybody who tries to perpetuate them. 

    “The culture of the organisation and how it works must change, and I will dedicate myself to that ambition, carrying with me the support and aspiration of each member.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing sets out protected areas during strikes [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing sets out protected areas during strikes [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the RCN on 2 December 2022.

    Chemotherapy, dialysis, critical care units such as ‘intensive care’ and ‘high dependency’, neonatal and paediatric intensive care are the areas the RCN is confirming will be exempt from the strike action later this month.

    In formal letters to NHS employers today, the College has set out what it means by a commitment to a ‘life-preserving care model’ during industrial action.

    Other services, which do not meet these criteria, may be reduced to a ‘Christmas Day’ or ‘night duty’ level.

    The strikes will take place on Thursday 15 and Tuesday 20 December unless government negotiations are able to pause the action.

    RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:

    “Every nurse feels a heavy weight of responsibility to make this strike safe. Patients are already at great risk and we will not add to it.

    “This list of exemptions shows how seriously we take our commitment and it should put patients’ minds at ease.

    “Nursing staff do not want to take this action but ministers have chosen strikes over negotiations. They can stop this at any point.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to the latest NHS England vacancy statistics and urgent and emergency care daily situation report [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to the latest NHS England vacancy statistics and urgent and emergency care daily situation report [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the RCN on 1 December 2022.

    Responding to the latest NHS England vacancy statistics and urgent and emergency care daily situation report, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said:

    “With more than 13,000 patients a day stuck in hospitals because the community and social care they need to be safely discharged is unavailable, it’s easy to see why health and care is at breaking point.

    “Combined with a record 47,000 nurse vacancies across the NHS in England, this is precisely the reason why our members have decided to strike – because the workforce gaps and being underpaid have made care unsafe.

    “Ministers have repeatedly ignored our calls to address the workforce crisis and to put serious investment in nursing, including fair pay.

    “They’ve also dismissed our offer of serious negotiations on pay and patient safety – unless the health secretary changes course 100,000 nurses will be walking out in two weeks’ time.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : RCN confirms the locations of December strikes across the UK [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : RCN confirms the locations of December strikes across the UK [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the RCN on 29 November 2022.

    Up to 100,000 nursing staff will take part in strikes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland next month, the RCN has confirmed.

    Members of the union will take action at half of the locations in England where the legal mandate for strikes was secured in November. The number of NHS employers affected by action will increase in January unless negotiations are held.

    There will be strike action at every NHS employer in Wales except one and throughout Northern Ireland.

    The strikes will take place on December 15 and 20. The Scottish government has engaged the RCN in negotiations and a separate pay offer has been made.

    The union has repeated calls on the UK government to accept its request for negotiations to resolve the dispute over pay and patient safety.

    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.

    “Nursing is standing up for the profession and their patients. We’ve had enough of being taken for granted and being unable to provide the care patients deserve.

    “Ministers still have the power and the means to stop this by opening negotiations that address our dispute.”

    Despite this year’s pay award, experienced nurses are worse off by 20% in real terms due to successive below-inflation awards since 2010.

    The Fair Pay for Nursing campaign is calling for a pay rise of 5% above inflation (measured by RPI).

    The RCN says the economic argument for paying nursing staff fairly is clear when billions of pounds is being spent on agency staff to plug workforce gaps.

    Also, independent research commissioned by the RCN has shown the Exchequer would recoup 81% of the initial outlay of a significant pay rise in terms of higher tax receipts and savings on future recruitment and retention costs.

    In the last year, 25,000 nursing staff around the UK left the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. Poor pay contributes to staff shortages across the UK, affecting patient safety. There are 47,000 unfilled registered nurse posts in England’s NHS alone.

    Ends 

    Notes to Editors 

    Royal College of Nursing members working on Agenda for Change contracts at the following employers will take strike action on December 15 and 20:

    England

    East Midlands Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    East Midlands NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB

    East Midlands Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    East Midlands Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

    East Midlands Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    Eastern Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    Eastern Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

    Eastern Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

    Eastern Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

    Eastern NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB

    Eastern Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    London Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation

    Trust

    London Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust

    London Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

    London NHS North Central London ICB

    London Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

    North West Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

    North West Health Education England

    North West Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Found Trust

    North West Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    North West Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust

    North West Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

    North West The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Found Trust

    North West The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

    Northern Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

    Northern Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    Northern The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    South East Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

    South East Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    South East Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

    South West Devon Partnership NHS Trust

    South West Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust

    South West Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    South West Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    South West NHS Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB

    (BSW Together)

    South West NHS Devon ICB (One Devon)

    South West NHS Gloucestershire ICB (One Gloucestershire)

    South West North Bristol NHS Trust

    South West Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    South West Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

    South West Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

    South West University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation

    Trust

    South West University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

    West Midlands Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

    West Midlands Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS

    Trust

    West Midlands NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB (BSol ICB)

    West Midlands The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    West Midlands University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

    West Midlands Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

    Yorkshire & Humber Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Yorkshire & Humber Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

    Yorkshire & Humber NHS England

    Yorkshire & Humber The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

    Wales

    Wales Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

    Wales Powys Teaching Local Health Board

    Wales Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust Headquarters

    Wales Hywel Dda University Health Board

    Wales Swansea Bay University Health Board

    Wales Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

    Wales Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board

    Wales Velindre NHS Trust

    Wales Public Health Wales

    Wales Health Education and Improvement Wales Health Authority

    Wales NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

    Wales Digital Health and Care Wales

    Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council

    Northern Ireland Southern Health and Social Care Trust

    Northern Ireland Western Health and Social Care Trust

    Northern Ireland Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

    Northern Ireland Business Services Organisation

    Northern Ireland Regulation & Quality Improvement Authority

    Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service

    Northern Ireland Public Health Agency

    Northern Ireland Northern Health and Social Care Trust

    Northern Ireland South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

    Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

  • PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to UK Statistics Authority letter on nurse pay confirming that government had been “misleading” and “exaggerated” [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to UK Statistics Authority letter on nurse pay confirming that government had been “misleading” and “exaggerated” [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the RCN on 29 November 2022.

    In response to a UK Statistics Authority letter on nurse pay confirming that government had been “misleading” and “exaggerated”, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:

    “This is a damning letter that warrants an official response from Steve Barclay without delay.

    “Sir Robert Chote has used the strongest terms here to cut through the government’s spin. Ministers have been found out and need to come clean.

    “The government’s figures did not fool nursing staff who are sharing very difficult stories of personal financial hardship. A new and honest debate on nursing pay should show how experienced nurses have lost 20% in real terms in the last decade.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to Transport Secretary’s comments that public sector pay rises in line with inflation are “unaffordable” [November 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Royal College of Nursing responds to Transport Secretary’s comments that public sector pay rises in line with inflation are “unaffordable” [November 2022]

    The press release issued by the RCN on 27 November 2022.

    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.

    “With 47,000 nurse vacancies in England’s NHS alone, a pay rise for nurses isn’t just about fair pay – it’s about retaining and recruiting enough nurses to safely care for patients.

    “Strike action is always a last resort but for too long we have been ignored. Nursing staff won’t stand by while their patients are put in harm’s way – they are doing this for themselves and for their patients.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Priorities for the Scottish Budget [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Priorities for the Scottish Budget [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 11 December 2022.

    Helping families and services through the cost of living crisis.

    Eradicating child poverty, transforming the economy to deliver net zero and creating sustainable public services will be the key aims of the Scottish Budget 2023-24.

    Deputy First Minister John Swinney warned relentless prioritisation was needed to tackle the combined impact of high inflation, the ongoing economic consequences of Brexit and the UK Government’s plans to reduce expenditure in future years, which are projected to reduce the Scottish Government’s funding under the Barnett formula from 2025.

    He said the Budget would channel support to where it was most needed while beginning a process of reform to help public services face the future with strength and resilience.

    Mr Swinney said:

    “Families, businesses and our public finances are under sustained economic pressure and the Scottish Government has acted decisively to provide what support it can within its limited resources. We have allocated £3 billion in 2022-23 to mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis, including targeted help such as increasing the game changing Scottish Child Payment to £25 per eligible child per week – a 150% increase within eight months.

    “However, given the fiscal constraints of devolution, it is not possible to go as far as we would like and so the Budget will prioritise three areas – eradicating child poverty, transforming the economy to deliver net zero and creating sustainable public services.

    “Difficult decisions are required and resources will be targeted where they are most needed and can secure maximum value from every pound spent.

    “The economic challenges we face also require a fundamental change in the way we manage public spending. The Bank of England is predicting the longest recession for a century so this Budget will set in motion reforms that will place our finances and public services on a more sustainable and resilient footing for the future.

    “This is a time for firm leadership and bold decision making. Steps we take now will help ensure Scotland emerges from the current crisis a stronger, fairer, greener country.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Fisheries talks conclude between UK, EU and Norway [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Fisheries talks conclude between UK, EU and Norway [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 10 December 2022.

    UK, EU and Norway deal agreed.

    Trilateral fisheries negotiations between UK, EU and Norway have concluded, with the deal including increased quotas for most North Sea stocks.

    The agreement sets out Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and management measures for North Sea cod, haddock, whiting, saithe, plaice and herring.

    The deal reflects the advice of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, which has been able to recommend increased catch sizes following action to improve North Sea stocks.

    Negotiations on catch limits with coastal States in the North East Atlantic on mackerel, blue whiting, and Atlanto-Scandian herring have also concluded.

    The agreement also underlines the importance of continuing discussions in early 2023 to agree new comprehensive sharing arrangements for these stocks.

    Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:

    “It is good to see the action that has been taken to protect North Sea stocks in recent years paying off, leading the way to increased access for Scotland’s fishers.

    “These stocks are of key commercial importance to Scotland and the increase in cod is a result of Scottish fishers’ efforts on recovery.

    “The success of those efforts is reflected in the latest scientific advice, which has permitted significantly greater catches than last year.

    “That is good news for Scotland’s fishers, who will have access to considerably greater whitefish quotas this year, with a positive economic effect for our fishing communities.”

  • PRESS RELEASE : Addressing racial inequality in the workplace in Scotland [December 2022]

    PRESS RELEASE : Addressing racial inequality in the workplace in Scotland [December 2022]

    The press release issued by the Scottish Government on 9 December 2022.

    Plan to improve fairness in the labour market.

    Employers across Scotland are being encouraged to close the employment and pay gaps for all ethnicities under a new strategy launched today.

    A Fairer Scotland for All: An Anti-Racist Employment Strategy sets out the actions the Scottish Government will take and how it will work with employers to help make Scotland’s workplaces more diverse, fair and inclusive.

    The strategy will support employers to:

    • improve their collection of workforce data, including reporting their pay gap, and take action on the findings
    • take an anti-racist approach to remove barriers in their recruitment, retention and progression practices to improve representation of workers
    • drive cultural, attitudinal and organisational change through building an understanding of the impact of institutional racism and the processes and practices in an organisation that lead to the unfair treatment of people on the basis of race

    Labour market data and research shows that ethnic minorities are more likely to be paid less than their white counterparts, be underemployed or underrepresented at senior level roles, and experience workplace discrimination.

    The new strategy will sit alongside the refreshed Fair Work Action Plan, which brings together the Scottish Government’s existing Fair Work, Gender Pay Gap and Disabled People’s Employment action plans.

    Both have been developed following extensive consultation and engagement with the public, private and third sectors along with trade unions.

    Employment and Fair Work Minister Richard Lochhead said:

    “Our ambitious plans for Scotland’s economy are built on ensuring that everyone can thrive in a diverse, safe and inclusive workplace. The refreshed Fair Work Action Plan and anti-racist employment strategy will further drive these ambitions.

    “All employees should have the opportunity to succeed and, in cooperation with businesses, we are making great progress in spreading fair work principles across the workplace.

    “More people in Scotland receive the real Living Wage and above than in any other part of the UK, while the disability employment gap is at its lowest since our baseline year of 2016. Meanwhile, the latest gender pay gap figures for full-time employees show Scotland is outperforming the UK as a whole.

    “However, we recognise more needs to be done to address racial inequality in the workplace. The anti-racist employment strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment to work with business to develop a diverse and inclusive workforce, recognise the skills of hidden talent pools and drive productivity to grow the economy.”