As 2023 draws to a close, I wish to thank you for all your efforts over the past year. In addition to contending with the enormous daily pressures of your working life, the last 12 months has seen a huge surge in activism and engagement in our fair pay and safe staffing campaigns, with members coming out in their thousands to support strike action across both the NHS and independent sector.
This commitment came at personal, and literal, cost. Our strike fund plugged the gap with your loss of earnings as much as it could but there was still a financial hit that few could easily take. That so many of you were prepared to take that step is testament to your belief that there is another way, a better way, for our healthcare services to be run. I take my hat off to you all for putting your belief in the power of our collective voice and for some, the agreed pay settlements that ended strike action will have been a small victory. We do, however, have a long way to go until all nursing staff fully receive the recognition they deserve.
In the North West, strike action was not reserved only for those employed by the NHS. Our members on the Isle of Man, so long in dispute over pay with their employer Manx Care, also took to the streets to call for an improved offer. Once again, our members were a credit, taking to their picket line with an inward steely determination but an outward good humour. This action brought Manx Care back to the table once more and, just last month, our members on the island voted to accept the latest offer. Although there are still many issues to be resolved, not least some contention over backpay, it was a wonderful result and testament to the hard work of both our newly galvanised branch members on the island and our wonderful RCN staff here in the North West, who worked tirelessly to support this action.
We are only too aware of the continuing economic pressure that so many of you are facing. There can be no clearer indicator of the financial issues at the heart of our healthcare system than the fact that so very many of you are having to juggle two jobs or take on extra shifts merely to make ends meet. You have tough choices to make, and I urge you to consider your own health and well-being as you strive to balance your financial and family commitments.
At this time of year, pressure seems to increase so I remind you of the myriad support services we provide as part of your membership. Alongside independent financial and legal advice, you can access confidential counselling services by contacting RCN Direct. Additionally, the RCN Foundation awards grants from its Benevolent Service for those in dire financial distress. Do not struggle on alone, there is help to be found if you seek it out.
In the year ahead, with the next round of pay awards on the horizon, we can unequivocally promise to continue the fight for improved pay and conditions for all nursing staff. We are committed to campaigning for safe staffing, to ensure that nursing staff with the correct blend of knowledge, skills and experience are deployed in the right numbers and with the right resources. The rationale behind this campaign is two-fold – it is for the protection of our patients, certainly, but also for the protection of our members’ health and well-being. A burnt-out workforce will, inevitably, lead to a continually depleting workforce. The government has repeatedly shown itself unwilling to act. In this coming year, an election year, let’s make sure safe staffing is at the top of the political agenda.
Despite the tremendous strain put on healthcare professionals, your commitment to care has not been diminished and you continue to bring the same level of compassion and care to your workplace and service user experiences every day. Know that we see you and, as our recent poll showed, the general public sees you too and continues to support your right to fight for pay that reflects your skills and experience. Together, we can make a difference.
Away from the topics of fair pay and industrial action, our region was proud to secure a victory of a different kind. Liverpool nurse Michelle Cox, with the support of our regional legal colleagues, won a landmark race relations case against her employer, NHSE. This case alone has proved a catalyst for change and Michelle, as both advocate and champion, has now launched an award with the RCN Foundation to support new anti-racism initiatives in the workplace.
Our continued collective efforts to create a platform for our members from the global majority was somewhat strengthened with the launch of the NW Multicultural Nursing Group towards the end of this year. We hope that many more of you will join the group, which plans to come together again in January. Please keep an eye on your email for further details.
As always, our staff will be taking a few days of well-earned rest over the coming two weeks, with our offices closing from 4pm on 23rd December and reopening on Wednesday 3rd January. Should you need urgent support in that time, our colleagues at RCN Direct will still be available to help. You can find all the details of our advice line and opening times here on our website, and those of us in the region will be back and ready to support you in the new year.
Whether you celebrate the festive season or not, the turning of the year is always a reason to both reflect on the year gone by and to look ahead with hope and belief for a positive future. I send you all our very best wishes for your health and happiness in the year ahead, from us all at RCN North West.
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