Branches

Local RCN representatives

When you need to talk to someone face to face or when you want a mediator between yourself and your employer (for example), your local representative is the best person to contact. Even if they can't help you themselves, they will know someone in the RCN who can.

NHS employees

The RCN is active in its support for nursing in all the major NHS employment sites. Wherever you work, you can be sure that your local RCN branch can support you.

Nurses working in the independent sector

The RCN branch is often the first point of contact for nurses working in the independent sector. We are here to help you deliver the best care for your patients and clients, and to ensure that you are supported and guided on a personal level.

Branch funds

If you have any queries regarding branch funds then please contact:

  • Jenny Meehan on 0845 456 7832 if you are a branch in the South Central region (served by the Newbury regional office)
  • Melanie Edwards on 0845 456 7249 if you are a branch in the South East Coast region (serviced by the Croydon regional office).

Which branch do I belong to?

Branches will be allocated by workplace address. This will be the address of your current work base. Members who are retired or not currently working will be allocated a branch according to their home address.

You can find out which primary care trust your workplace sits in (where appropriate) by entering your workplace postcode on the NHS Choices website.

Branches

The revised branch boundaries were set in place in June 2009.

In the region we have 16 branches co-terminus with the primary care trust boundaries with one branch on Jersey and one branch on Guernsey.

Nine branches will be in South East Central Strategic Health Authority. These will be located within the geographical boundaries of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire East, Berkshire West, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Portsmouth Teaching and Southampton primary care trusts.

Eight branches will be in South East Coastal Strategic Health Authorities. These will be located within the geographical boundaries of West Sussex, East Sussex Down and Weald, Surrey, West Kent, Eastern and Coastal, Hastings and Rother, Brighton and Hove and Medway primary care trusts.

Two branches will be in the Channel Islands.

Each branch will be allocated a link officer who will provide help and support to the branch:

  • Each branch will have an elected committee
  • Branches will be expected to meet formally twice a year. Constitutionally, one of these meetings must be an Annual General Meeting.

Branches

  • Berkshire East & Broadmoor
  • Berkshire West
  • Brighton and Hove
  • Buckinghamshire
  • East Kent and Coastal
  • East Sussex
  • Guernsey
  • Hampshire
  • Isle of Wight
  • Jersey
  • Medway
  • Milton Keynes
  • Oxfordshire
  • Portsmouth City
  • Southampton City
  • Surrey
  • West Kent 
  • West Sussex.

The branch will expect to be run in accordance with the Standard Branch Constitution. A copy of this is available in standard RCN branch constitution.