The moment I first addressed Congress as RCN President is one I will never forget. It was my privilege to be amongst friends, colleagues and peers, sharing a common purpose to amplify the voice of nursing and stand proud. To those of you who attended in person or online, thank you. You can watch Congress 2023 recordings online.
Seeing members from across the UK recognised for their incredible achievements in our RCN Awards ceremony was a stand-out moment for me. The way you congratulated one another, acknowledged everyone’s achievements, and raised each other up was uplifting. We must celebrate our successes as it helps us light up during the darker days.
The beautiful voices of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus rang loud and proud on opening night, joyful in song, providing the perfect soundtrack to our opening ceremony.
The next four days of official business of Congress ran smoothly thanks to the planning and hard work of our agenda committee and every member of RCN staff who contributed to the planning and delivery of the event. I want to give a special thanks to Vice Chair of Congress Linda Bailey - what a remarkable job Linda did with her calm authority and transparent leadership. I will also thank the teams organising Congress and ensuring it was a safe, enjoyable event for many of our delegates. During Congress 2023, there were 28 debates, 32 learning events, three keynote speeches, three lectures and too many networking opportunities to mention.
Congress is your opportunity to bring to the fore the issues that matter to you; I invite you to learn how to submit an agenda item or become a voting member, ready for Congress 2024.
Many members took to the stage for the first time, and isn’t this what Congress is all about? It’s about opportunity, accessibility and inclusivity.
I heard from student and nursing support worker members attending Congress for the first time. They reflected that the whole event felt welcoming, friendly and fun. We will build on this and ensure that future events provide a platform for all and a safe place for your voices.
Our keynote speakers – Caroline Lucas MP, disability campaigner and broadcaster Shani Dhanda and our very own Pat Cullen - each brought their heartfelt messages to Congress, recognising just how far the nursing profession has come and celebrating the difference nursing makes. I must take this opportunity to thank Dame Elizabeth Anionwu and Professor Carol Baxter, MBE, for their time in the hot seat during the Mary Seacole Lecture; hearing from such a pioneer in our profession was a highlight for me and many others. I’d also like to thank RCN member Michelle Cox for her courage in sharing her story of winning a race-discrimination case against her employer. Her determination to pave the way to a brighter future for nursing staff from Black and Ethnic Majority backgrounds is inspirational.
Our strike ballot in England opened earlier this week, on the same day as Pat met with Health Secretary Steve Barclay. The ballot is your opportunity to vote for strike action after eligible members in England rejected the latest offer in April. Your ballot paper is in the post and will be with you soon. Please return your ballot paper as quickly as possible, well ahead of the closing date of Friday, 23 June.
I believe we have begun to tackle issues raised in the Carr report head-on and implemented measures that meant this year’s Congress was safe, professional, enjoyable and memorable for all the right reasons.
From June 2-6, 2024, RCN Congress will reside at the ICC in Newport, Wales. Please save the date and check out our web page and socials for updates
Congress may be just one moment in our annual calendar, but the ripples can be felt far and wide for years. Be part of the RCN Congress next year to learn, lead, engage and be the voice of nursing.
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