Earlier this month I attended the Joint Reps’ conference in Leeds, my first time as RCN President. I was given such a warm welcome and was heartened to meet so many of our passionate and dedicated reps who are committed to improving workplaces for other members and colleagues. I particularly enjoyed hearing from reps about the work they are doing to challenge inequality in their workplace and to address systemic issues.
The conference was full of lively debate and discussion and provided a great opportunity to pause and reflect on everything that our reps have achieved on the campaign for fair pay to date. From getting the vote out, to supporting the picket lines, our reps have done themselves and the College proud. It also created a space for reps to learn more about the campaign and start strategising about the next steps.
I left the conference feeling energised and reminded that when we come together as nursing staff, real change is possible. Nowhere was this more evident this month than in the ground-breaking case of Michelle Cox, who with RCN support won a landmark case against her employer for racial discrimination. Michelle, like too many others, had been on the receiving end of years of institutional racism in her workplace. She was excluded from team events and even the recruitment process for a promotion simply because the colour of her skin. Michelle is an inspiration to all of us to stand up and refuse to accept discrimination and her story is a reminder that such cases can and must be won if we want to change workplace cultures.
Following this I travelled to Belfast and met with Rita Devlin and the RCN Director of Northern Ireland and the nursing teams in care homes, cancer care and community nurses. I am inspired by the progress and determination of our nursing workforce in this region of the UK.
Last week I was privileged to address an event with exactly this in mind - Tuesday 21 March marked International Day of Eliminating Racism and Discrimination. On this day, the RCN held an event led by Bruno Daniel and Joan Saddler, in conjunction with the NHS Confederation to explore the language of racism past and present. Speakers explained how the words we use matter, and how we must all work towards challenging discrimination by adopting a pro-active, anti-racist position.
In addition, I travelled to the South West region attending the Chief Nursing officer’s Black Minority and Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group Nurses and Midwives Conference ‘Time for Change Together we Thrive’, led by Felicia Kwaku OBE, where it was inspiring to meet the South West Region RCN staff and RCN Director of Nursing Lucy Muchina. Lots of members were in attendance and working together to improve the experiences of racism in the workplace. They listened to Jaqueline Dunkley-Bent CMO state clearly there is a need for up-standers and not by-standers in taking action on racism.
Every year, in March we celebrate Women’s History Month. Activities have taken place across the RCN to acknowledge and highlight the incredible contribution that women, past and present, have made to the nursing profession and to health care.
As our General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said in her address for International Women’s Day on 8 March: “Together, we are the voice of nursing and we are the advocates for our patients - and like our sisters before us, we will not be silenced.”
These words have very much been the theme of the month for me, and I was delighted to see so many of you involved in activities to demand better for your profession and your patients and to challenge discrimination in all its forms.
On Thursday 23 March, the National Day of Reflection, we joined the nation in marking the third anniversary of the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a time for us to pause and think about our friends, family members and colleagues who lost their lives during the pandemic.
Moreover, it was an opportunity to reflect on the continuing impact of the pandemic not least on the members of our profession living with long-COVID. Nurses like Cass and Rachel who last week delivered their petition for a long-COVID compensation scheme directly to Downing Street. For them, contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty changed their lives forever and it is vital that the uncertainty they are facing is addressed.
Earlier this month negotiations on pay in England came to an end and details of the NHS pay offer in England were revealed. Voting on whether to accept or reject the offer is now open, I urge you all to find out what the offer means for you and to cast your vote before 9am on 14 April. I hope you are all proud of the action that we as nursing staff took to bring the government to the table and I hope you all know that this offer is not the end of the campaign for fair pay. The offer – which RCN Council is recommending that you accept on balance – is now in your hands. It is critical that as many members as possible take part in the consultation, so please find out what the offer means to you and have your say.
It has been a joy and privilege to meet so many of you this month and to witness first-hand the work that you are doing to improve your workplaces and to challenge discrimination. When the nursing profession comes together, we really can achieve anything. I am looking forward to attending my first ever Congress as RCN President in May and to the many engaging debates and networking opportunities that it offers. If you haven’t already booked your place, do so now to be part of the conversation about what is next for the College and the priorities for the profession in the year ahead.
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