Press Releases
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19/03/2024
Press Release
NHS budget must take account of our ageing population and increasing demand, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN Director for England Patricia Marquis said: “The NHS budget must take account of our ageing population and increasing demand – failing to do so means stealth cuts for the NHS which could have profound consequences for patient care."
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18/03/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to The King's Fund's analysis - 'Illustrating the relationship between poverty and NHS services'
RCN Deputy Chief Nurse, Dr Nichola Ashby, said: “Every day, nursing staff see the impact poverty has on people’s health. But despite working in every possible setting – from people’s homes to social care and emergency departments – they are often powerless to stop the root causes of poverty that lead to poor health."
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18/03/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to Workforce Race Equality Standard and Workforce Disability Equality Standard reports
Professor Pat Cullen, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said: “Discrimination in the NHS is systemic - and it’s clear the health service still has a long way to go in overcoming the prejudices that both patients and staff face. It’s promising to see some progress – including an increase in the number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff at senior manager level – but it is not nearly fast enough, and the NHS can ill afford to waste more time moving at this glacial pace."
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14/03/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) report on patient safety investigations
Responding to the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) report on patient safety investigations, RCN Director for England Patricia Marquis said: “When things go wrong in the NHS it is vital they are investigated so lessons can be learnt, and steps taken to prevent them from happening again. All nursing staff, no matter their contractual status or role, should have an opportunity to input into investigations."
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14/03/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to NHS performance figures
Responding to the latest NHS performance figures, RCN Director for England Patricia Marquis said: “Horrendous waits are becoming normalised in a system that cannot cope with demand. Whilst the NHS continues to battle chronic nursing workforce shortages, the number of those waiting the longest has grown and waiting times for urgent cancer referrals are still way below target. Having the right amount of staff is intrinsically linked to providing quick, safe and effective care."
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14/03/2024
Press Release
Ministers should listen to NHS staff, not create false divisions, says RCN
Professor Pat Cullen, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said: “Nursing staff agree with NHS leaders that Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is vital to improving both the culture of the NHS and patient care. Ministers on a culture war crusade have no business lecturing NHS staff on what their services need."
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13/03/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to The King’s Fund’s annual social care review
RCN Director for England Patricia Marquis said: “Record demand for services and the second ever highest social care workforce vacancy rate paints a picture of a sector simply unable to meet the needs of an ageing population with increasingly complex needs."
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13/03/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to Nuffield Trust report on learning disability
RCN Professional Lead in Learning Disabilities Nursing Jonathan Beebee said: “It is a damning indictment of the way health inequalities have been allowed to flourish that those with learning disabilities are dying much sooner and from preventable causes."
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09/03/2024
Press Release
Nursing Exodus: Nurses fleeing England for better pay
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Pat Cullen said: “Low pay and poor working conditions are driving chronic workforce shortages. With the prospect of better pay and working conditions abroad, it should be little wonder why nurses are opting to use their skills elsewhere."
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07/03/2024
Press Release
NHS Staff Survey shows nursing and midwifery staff facing almost every type of abuse
RCN Director for England Patricia Marquis said: “The findings provide an urgent reality check for government ministers and lay bare the impact of workforce shortages. Nurses remain unhappy with their pay and say there isn’t enough time or staff to do their job properly."
Page last updated - 22/03/2024
