Congress 2007 - Monday's highlights

'The rules of the game have changed'

Delegates gave RCN General Secretary Dr Peter Carter a standing ovation, following his first speech to Congress, on Monday April 16.

He told the audience that he wanted to use his nursing insight and experience to deliver for members and the College.

Nurses had had enough, he said, and the rules of the game had changed. "We’ve reached our limit – this far and no further. So, from today, we are drawing a line in the sand.

Peter Carter

"While I am General Secretary one sacked nurse is one too many. One student denied a job is one too many. One damaging service cut is one too many. And one patient who suffers as a result is one too many," he added.

New report

He called for politicians to read
the RCN's new report Our NHS, today and tomorrow (PDF:2MB), which spells out the problems in the NHS and recommends solutions.

Report of Council from Eirlys Warrington

RCN Chair of Council, Eirlys Warrington recommended Peter Carter’s “inspiring” speech of this morning, before describing Congress as the “Parliament of the RCN”.

The Annual Report is a balance sheet of achievements, she said. Citing that since last year’s theme, Nursing the World, a great many new relationships have been built with fellow international organisations, and progress made on global issues such as AIDS.

In addition to this, deficits have made a deep impact domestically on students’ employment opportunities. Links have been strengthened with the independent sector; campaigns and lobbying with the Crown Prosecution Service and police chiefs have led to strides being made in the area of hitting back at violence against nurses; and with Agenda for Change, the RCN has submitted evidence to the PRB and is tackling implementation delays, as well as taking an active role in the NHS Together campaign to fight ward closures and job losses.

On internal Congress issues, the Congress Voting Review group was established with the aim of increasing membership participation, a development which was the source of much discussion from the floor.

Eirlys closed her comments with a personal appeal to the delegates present to become “the next generation of activists” and put themselves forward for Council in the coming elections.

As this was her last Congress as Chair of Council, and after eight years on Council, she gave thanks to all who supported her over the years.

The full Report of Council is available in the Downloads section.

President's speech

RCN Congress 2007 kicked off yesterday with an uplifting speech from RCN President Maura Buchanan on the Congress theme of 'Changemakers'. She told delegates they made her proud to be a nurse.

Awards of Merit and fellowships

Three awards were conferred on members during the opening ceremony on Sunday April 15:

  • The award of merit was given posthumously to John Pauls for his outstanding contribution to the RCN.
  • An RCN fellowship was conferred on Dr Faith Gibson for her outstanding contribution to the advancement of nursing of children and young people with cancer.
  • An RCN honorary fellowship was conferred on Dr Hattie Bessent for her exceptional contribution in many areas of nursing, especially for minority ethinic nurses in the USA.

Read more about our award winners in the Award 2007 section.

Picture gallery 

And there was a warm welcome at our national and regional receptions given to delegates who had travelled from across the UK to Harrogate. See more in the National and regional receptions gallery.

Emergency resolutions

Check the Congress 2007 agenda for emergency resolutions as they come up.