High profile for Northern Ireland members at RCN Congress

Published: 17 May 2012

RCN members played a prominent role during Congress 2012 in Harrogate this week.

The Northern Ireland welcome reception took place on Sunday 13 May and provided an informal opportunity to welcome delegates and guests to Congress. Guests included Acting Chief Nursing Officer Angela McLernon, NIPEC Chief Executive Glynis Henry and Annette Kennedy, Director of Professional Development for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation [INMO].

The Northern Ireland fringe meeting was held on Monday 14 May. This featured a joint presentation and discussion hosted by the RCN and INMO. It focused upon the politics of health and social care in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with an emphasis upon current issues in nursing.

Various members from Northern Ireland spoke in the various debates and fringe meetings held during the week, including Southern Branch Secretary Maureen Dolan, who proposed a resolution calling upon the RCN to monitor the impact of cuts on patient care and to campaign against them. This was passed by 469 votes (99.79%) to one.

Joanne McGillin of the North Western Branch and Mary Gatt of the Belfast Branch were selected to put questions to the Secretary State for Health Andrew Lansley following his speech to Congress, whilst Michael Battersby of the North Western Branch was similarly selected to put a question to Labour Party leader Ed Miliband.