Exciting times ahead for the RCN

I want to start this blog with a bit of personal news. I’m very proud and fortunate to say that I’ve accepted an offer to stay on as RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive until the end of 2024. This is an extension of my current contract, which was due to end this December. 

It’s been an incredibly busy and professionally challenging couple of years, leading historic strike action and navigating internal issues related to our culture and governance. But it’s also been exhilarating and humbling to serve you, our members.  

I’m excited about what lies ahead over the next 16 months as we build the new RCN Institute of Nursing Excellence, delivering on all five of its fronts to push our great profession to new frontiers. I’ll be here to embed that ambition, and recruitment will begin for a permanent General Secretary and Chief Executive next year. 

I also wish to thank Paul Vaughan, the Vice Chair of Council, for stepping up in the absence of the Chair, Carol Popplestone, who is now in the process of returning to her role.

Like all of you, I have been shocked and deeply saddened by the Lucy Letby case and hearing the harrowing reports of what happened. The families have suffered unbelievable losses because of this person’s actions and the failure of the system to pick up and act on it sooner. Our profession, everybody in health care and those associated with it will learn the very grave lessons this case teaches us. With our legal teams, we will stay abreast of developments and participate in any way required at the inquiry that results from it.

In the meantime, I’d like to remind you of the support the RCN offers to all members who may be struggling with recent events and to highlight our guidance on safely raising concerns at work.

As we head into autumn, I know many of you will be concerned about winter pressures and the impact of emerging COVID-19 variants. We’re keeping a close eye on developments and influencing behind the scenes to ensure you get the protection and support you need. You can find our latest information and guidance on our COVID-19 webpage where you’ll also find a link to our work related to the COVID-19 inquiry. Submissions to the inquiry remain open and I’d urge all of you to consider sharing your experiences during the pandemic.

Though nursing faces many challenges, I believe it remains one of the most rewarding and diverse careers. I want to extend my congratulations and welcome to all our new student members who received results last week and will shortly be commencing their nursing degrees. You have joined the world’s largest nursing union and professional body, and in doing so have embarked on a relationship that will support you through your studies, the first steps in your nursing career and beyond. If you haven’t already, do take a look at our resources for students and be sure to come and say hi to us in person at your campus freshers’ fairs.

I’d also encourage you to attend our annual Congress, which we’ve just announced the dates for. RCN Congress 2024 will take place between 2-6 June in Newport. Make sure you save the date!

Our consultative ballot in Wales closes at 12 noon on Thursday 31 August. Our colleagues in Wales have been visiting workplaces to answer members’ questions on the non-pay elements of the Welsh government offer. Your vote, and those of your colleagues, will help shape the future of our profession. Make sure you have your say, and thank you in advance for helping many others do the same.

It really is the case that every vote counts in this ballot. In the year since we started mobilising for strike action, we have helped members win revised pay awards and taken on employers at local level too. Recently, we were able to successfully support members working at West Midlands Hospital when their employer unfairly tried to deny them the recent NHS lump sum payment awarded in England. Short-changed for taking unpaid career breaks to recover from the strain of working in ICU as newly registered nurses during the pandemic, we helped them get the full pay award. Remember, if you work for the NHS in England, you have the right to challenge your employer if you’ve not got what you were promised.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, the Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce secured as a direct result of members’ campaigning on fair pay and safe staffing meets again next week. From the outset we have been clear that listening to, and engaging with, the profession will be key to developing actions that will make a difference in the face of the current nursing workforce crisis. The listening project has been set up to give members that opportunity to engage and I would encourage you to take the time to respond to the Scottish government survey which opened this week.

Lastly, I want to remind you that nominations are open for seats on our Professional Nursing, International, and Trade Union committees. These committees provide the backbone of our organisation and are at the forefront of leading on workplace and clinical matters. They also provide a great opportunity for networking and career development. So, if you’re interested in becoming more involved with our work, make sure you get your nominations in before the closing dates in early September.