Press Releases
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19/09/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the minimum service level consultation
RCN Chief Nurse, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “The RCN has always been responsible in taking safe strike action, with concerns for patient safety at its core. However nursing staff will tell you there are not safe staffing levels on non-strike days - and they are sometimes unable to provide the level of service and care patients need."
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14/09/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to new record NHS waiting lists
RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: “Nurses across the country will be concerned that the Prime Minister has again missed his target to cut waiting times. It’s bad news for patients - since making his pledge to cut waiting lists in January, they have increased by nearly half a million."
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13/09/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the Health and Social Care Secretary and Prime Minister meeting on NHS winter pressures
RCN Chief Nurse, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “We need to have a long-term conversation of how we protect the NHS whatever the time of year so we do not need to reach this point every winter, investing in the nursing workforce must be at the heart of this.”
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01/09/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to new financial support allocations announced for student nurses in England
Responding to the announcement by the Department for Health and Social Care, RCN Deputy Director for Nursing, Dr Nichola Ashby, said: "We have been campaigning on this and it is an important step in improving nursing students' ability to afford to fulfil their placements, but more radical changes are needed to address the shortage of nursing students."
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30/08/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to new IFS research on the NHS Workforce plan
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: "These independent experts are laying down the challenge to the government and all parties over the significant boost needed - there are some difficult decisions and the service can ill-afford cans to be kicked further down the road."
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24/08/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the latest NHS England Vacancy Statistics
RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis, said: “As we head towards another challenging winter there are still over 40,000 nursing vacancies in the NHS in England. It is leaving our health and care system underprepared for the months ahead."
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17/08/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to fall in nursing courses acceptance rate
RCN Deputy Director for Nursing, Dr Nichola Ashby, said: “The UK Government has stumbled at the first hurdle of their NHS Workforce Plan, with 13% fewer people expected to take up nursing courses this year in England."
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10/08/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to a record number of patients sitting on an NHS waiting list
RCN Chief Nursing Officer, Nicola Ranger, said: "With a record number of patients now on a waiting list in England, the NHS is falling into deeper crisis."
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03/08/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing respond to NMC Spotlight on Nursing and Midwifery report
RCN Chief Nursing Officer, Nicola Ranger, said: “It is completely unacceptable that any internationally educated nurse would face abuse, racism and discrimination and all organisations need to work together to do more to protect staff."
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02/08/2023
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the Prime Minister's comments on strike action and waiting lists
Responding to the Prime Minister’s comments on strike action causing waiting lists to increase, RCN Director for England, Patricia Marquis said: “This comment adds insult to injury. Blaming nurses for the state of the NHS is a low blow. Nursing staff voted to strike last year out of concern at deteriorating care standards and spiralling waiting times."
Page last updated - 22/03/2024
