Welcome to the RCN London region - representing 52,000 nurses across the capital
Regional Director Bernell Bussue writes...
You may well have heard the news by now that following a Council decision, the RCN is opposing the Health and Social Care Bill, meaning that high profile professional unions like the RCN, the Royal College of Midwives and the BMA are all united in their concerns over the bill.
I want to share with you why I think this is the only approach we could take. I do not believe that the various changes to the bill and the 'listening exercise' last summer have delivered the assurances members need. It appears the Government has a very different idea about the future of the NHS than most health professionals, refusing to give guarantees on safe staffing levels and encouraging NHS trusts to take on increasing levels of private income.
What is happening with this bill is the systematic dismantling of the NHS as we know it and not in a positive way. I suspect most London members share my belief that the NHS must be there for everyone, offering the highest possible levels of care in the most efficient way. Instead the Government is pursuing two agendas at once, both imposing £180m of cuts to London’s health services over the next three years, forcing huge restructuring and at the same time changing fundamentally the way the NHS operates. Out go primary care trusts and the strategic health authority, in come commissioning clusters, clinical commissioning groups and commissioning support services. It is too much too fast, creating a much more complex system than we already have and we must remember all this is happening before the Health and Social Care Bill even becomes law.
I realise that for many members just delivering care to patients is enough to be thinking about in the current climate,but ‘the bigger picture’ will affect everyone soon enough, including patients. The RCN, with the other professional unions, has to make a stand. More information will be emerging all the time on the RCN position, and I will make sure the London website and our e-newsletter, In touch, keeps you fully up to date. Read an RCN briefing on why it is opposing the health bill (PDF 283KB) [see how to access PDF files]
Go-ahead given for RCN ballot on pensions
By now you will have heard that RCN Council agreed on 10 January that all RCN members should have the opportunity to vote on accepting or rejecting the Government’s “final” proposals for the NHS pension scheme.
Council said it was “critical” that nurses and health care assistants have their say and influence what happens next. Clearly, the final proposals do not meet our concerns over nursing staff paying more, working longer and receiving less, but there have been some concessions, and you have to decide now if you think more can be achieved. In the coming weeks you will receive an information pack from the RCN with a voting form. Please do vote.
A difficult year
London has rarely, if ever, seen such challenges to its health services as faced in 2012. Many trusts are striving to reduce deficits by cutting resources and staff posts, others are totally focused on achieving foundation trust status, while all the time the enormous health pressures faced by London continue unabated. At the same time the whole commissioning map of London is being redrawn.
London’s PCTs and the London Strategic Health Authority are already winding up with formal abolition in spring 2013. They will be replaced by a national NHS Commissioning Board with regional sectors (one for London) and an expected 32 clinical commissioning groups, mostly matching borough boundaries, covering the capital. Add to this the further major upheaval should the Health and Social Care Bill pass into legislation means we all will face truly challenging times.
With so much happening, and those at the very centre of it often not clear what will happen next, it can be tempting just to keep your head down. However, these changes are fundamental to health services in London and to your future. RCN London is determined that the nursing voice remains strong at every level of decision making whatever the final structure looks like.
Help us to help you
Need our support? Contact the RCN London team whose number and emails are on these web pages. You now dial a single number for your initial call - 0345 772 6100 - giving a faster response via RCN Direct, who will give you the information you need. If it is more complex, you will be transferred to the appropriate member of staff at RCN London.
We know when times are tough outgoings are reviewed. However, now is not the time for anyone to let their membership lapse. It is equally important to ensure we have your correct details; you can update these by contacting RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100 or going to MyRCN. If you want information about full membership, health care assistant membership, student or associate membership, please go to the benefits of membership section or join online using MyRCN.
To extend our reach, we always need members willing to volunteer and become active in supporting our aims. Why not make this the year you decide to get active? Go to the RCN activist area to find out more.
Our office is located at RCN London Region, 9th Floor, 236 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8HL. Telephone 0345 458 6968.
Bernell Bussue, SEN, RMN, RGN, DMS, MBA.
Last updated: 20 January 2012
To find out more about RCN London and what the region can offer you, see the guide to RCN London (PDF 234KB) [how to access PDF files].
The RCN has reduced its subscription rates for health care assistants and assistant practitioners. Those new to joining the College will pay just £4.06 per month for the first year.
Find out more or click on the poster (PDF 1.85MB) to download a copy.