RCN members: make your vote count
Published: 22 May 2009
The RCN is a significant voting force in June's European parliamentary elections, with up to 50,000 members in a single constituency. Elections take place on Thursday 4 June, and the RCN is urging members to stand up and be counted.
The RCN has developed five key priorities that form the basis of a new manifesto - Nursing counts. MEPs are being called upon to use their influence to help:
- ensure there are enough nursing staff to meet patients' need stop nurses getting injured at work
- stop nurses getting injured at work
- meet the health and social care needs of patients with long-term or age-related conditions
- prevent health care associated infections (HCAIs)
- provide the best possible nursing care through excellent education and training.
RCN members are being encouraged to use the manifesto as a practical tool to lobby their MEP candidates, ensuring that they understand what is important to the nursing family, pledge their support and, if elected, drive forward proposals in the European Parliament. Use the RCN's European elections website which contains tools to help you contact your MEP candidates.
As part of the RCN's campaign, members are being urged to host regional meetings, enabling local members to hear at first hand what their MEP candidates have to say, while pressing home the RCN's manifesto priorities. The RCN has also developed a template letter, detailing the RCN's five priorities, which can be used to elicit the views and support of your regional MEP candidates.
To find out more about the RCN's campaign, including who is standing for election in your area, go to the European elections website.