Press Releases
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06/03/2024
Press Release
Chancellor's budget lays ground for nursing crisis to worsen, says RCN
Professor Pat Cullen, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said: “The Chancellor’s tax cut is enough to cover the student loans of NHS nurses for the next four decades. The public do not back his agenda – they want the health service turned around more than they support tax reduction."
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05/03/2024
Press Release
Write off NHS nurse loans, Tory voters tell Chancellor
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Pat Cullen, said: “There is an undeniable consensus for the Chancellor to act at the budget on Wednesday. A loan forgiveness scheme for nurses working in the NHS and public services can stop students being shackled with debt and help attract and retain more nurses – it has huge support among the public too."
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29/02/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the new GP contract for 2024/25
RCN Director for England Patricia Marquis said: "General practice is the bedrock of the NHS in England, and its nursing workforce are highly-skilled professionals who keep communities safe and healthy. But sadly, the new contract fails to recognise this, devaluing nursing, undermining patient services and further damaging general practice."
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27/02/2024
Press Release
Early support hubs good first step, but needs to be the first of many, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN Head of Nursing Practice and Professional Lead for Mental Health Stephen Jones said: "The RCN has repeatedly pushed the government to invest in early mental health intervention and we’re pleased to see these calls recognised with additional funding for early support hubs. But as demand continues to rise, this must be one step of many."
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26/02/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to Royal College of Emergency Medicine report on infection prevention and control
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Pat Cullen said: "Emergency departments are crowded, undignified and dangerous. Nursing staff are doing everything possible to keep their patients safe but mounting pressures make everything a relentless battle."
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23/02/2024
Press Release
Urgent clarification needed on new Immigration Salary List, says Royal College of Nursing
Professor Pat Cullen, RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive, said: “These recommendations risk driving away overseas nursing staff from the health and care sector, just as services grapple with chronic workforce shortages."
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23/02/2024
Press Release
‘Top-up' nursing salaries to combat dangerous staffing crisis, RCN demands
The government should make additional payments worth ‘several thousand pounds’ on top of salaries to prevent nursing staff leaving the NHS and tackle an ‘ever-worsening’ workforce crisis, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) says today [Friday 23 February].
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21/02/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to The King's Fund review on mental health care in England
RCN Head of Nursing Practice and Professional Lead for Mental Health Stephen Jones said: “It’s positive to see increased access and investment in mental health services in England, but the size of the mental health nursing workforce is only just returning to 2010 levels as demand continues to rise."
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21/02/2024
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the roll out of Martha’s Rule to hospitals in England
Royal College of Nursing Director for England Patricia Marquis said: “Nursing staff are patients’ greatest advocates and stand ready to ensure Martha’s Rule has an immediate impact and leaves a lasting legacy."
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15/02/2024
Press Release
‘Emergency package of measures’ needed following collapse in nursing applicants, RCN tells government
The government must use the budget to introduce an emergency package of measures to support nurse recruitment, says RCN leader Pat Cullen after new official figures from UCAS show a further sharp drop in applicants to nursing courses for the next academic year.
Page last updated - 22/03/2024
