Health should be number one priority for incoming Government

Published: 06 April 2010

For immediate release: 6 April 2010

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today (6 April) said that the health of the nation should be the number one priority for an incoming Government. Responding to the announcement that a General Election will take place on 6 May, RCN Executive Director of Nursing and Service Delivery, Janet Davies, said:

“Health should be the number one priority for any political party aspiring to govern and the RCN is committed to working with the party that wins the election to improve NHS care. We recognise that there are tough times ahead and we want to work in partnership with the next Government to address the challenge of delivering efficiency savings while ensuring safe staffing levels, giving nurses time to train, protecting the nation’s health and improving care for those with long term conditions.

“We are delighted that over twenty thousand people have joined our campaign to make sure the nursing voice is heard before the election. With an average of 1,800 nurses and health care assistants in each constituency, there’s no doubt that nursing will count at the ballot box.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.

3. The RCN’s General Election website is: www.rcn.org.uk/generalelection

4. The RCN’s manifesto priorities are:
• Standing up for staff who speak out
• Safer staffing levels
• Give nurses the time to train
• Protect the nation’s health
• Improve care for those with long-term conditions
• Sustain healthcare investment