MPs and nurses rally behind RCN “Nursing counts” campaign

Published: 05 March 2010

For immediate release: Friday 5th March 2010

MPs from all the main political parties have rallied behind the RCN’s General Election call to back specialist nursing.

Almost sixty MPs have signed a cross party Early Day Motion calling for specialist nursing provision to be available to all patients with long term conditions – one of the six health priorities for the next government, according to the RCN.

The issue of specialist nurses has also been raised in parliament by a number of MPs in the past week.

The focus on specialist nursing forms part of the RCN’s “Nursing counts” campaign which encourages nurses and members of the public to add their voices to the debate around the next government’s health policies in advance of the general election.

In the five weeks since the campaign website was launched, almost 20,000 people have signed up to pledge their support to the RCN’s six election priorities. Additionally:
• 17,000 letters have been sent to political party leaders supporting the Nursing counts priorities
• 120,000 people have watched the RCN’s Nursing counts film, highlighting the six health priorities for the next government
• 40,000 people in one week have watched the RCN’s film about the value of specialist nurses
• Almost 1,000 people have sent their own stories about nursing to the Nursing counts website

Tom Sandford, Director of RCN England, said:
“We are delighted that so many people, from members of the public to members of parliament, have shown their support for the Nursing counts campaign. With around 1,800 nurses and healthcare assistants in each constituency, there’s no doubt that nursing counts. We encourage everybody to join our online campaign to make sure the priorities for health are heard loud and clear.”

To visit the Nursing counts website, go to www.rcn.org.uk/generalelection

Nurses are also being urged to tweet #nursingcounts.

Ends

Notes for Editors

For further information about EDM 929, please visit - http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40541&SESSION=903

To visit the Nursing Counts website, please visit – www.rcn.org.uk/generalelection

The RCN’s manifesto outlines ways to protect the nation’s health and improve care by putting quality at the centre of all healthcare provision. Priorities for all political parties include:

1. Standing up for staff who speak out – all healthcare organisations should hold a register of staff concerns
2. Safer staffing levels –there should be regular staffing reviews to guarantee the highest quality of care
3. Give nurses the time to train – All healthcare assistants should be regulated and all healthcare workers should have protected training time
4. Protect the nation’s health – There should be a single mandatory code to regulate the drinks industry
5. Improve care for those with long term conditions – Every patient with a long-term condition should have guaranteed access to specialist nursing care
6. Sustain healthcare investment – Current levels of healthcare spending should be maintained

For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Press Office on 02076473633.

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.