RCN welcomes appointment of new Secretary of State for Health
Published: 24 August 2007
Dr Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing said: "The Royal College of Nursing welcomes Alan Johnson to the post of Secretary of State for Health and wish him well for his time in office. Heading the Department of Health is one of the most important jobs in the UK and we look forward to working closely with him in order to provide the very best care and services to patients.
"We have gone on the record publicly to praise Mr Johnson's even-handed and open-minded approach which led to a landmark deal to safeguard the final salary pensions of existing NHS nurses. We hope that Mr Johnson will show that same approach on NHS pay.
"We urge him to talk to us and work with us to re-build trust with NHS staff. One way to do this would be to give nurses and their colleagues the fair pay they deserve by honouring the recommendations of the independent pay review body and giving nurses this year's 2.5 percent pay award in full, rather than the staged pay cut the government is currently proposing.
"The RCN has always said we will speak up when disagree with the government and be vocal in our support when they get things right. We look forward to a mature working relationship that will be to the benefit of patients first and foremost."