Nurses to march against cuts on the streets of London
Published: 28 March 2011
Nurses and healthcare assistants from across the UK will tomorrow (March 26) march nationally against Government cuts for the first time in more than two decades.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members will take to the streets of London as part of the Trade Union Congress’s ‘March for the alternative’ event. It is first time since 1988 that nurses nationally have marched together against Government cuts to jobs and services.
RCN members will come together to demonstrate their opposition to the cuts that are currently taking place within the NHS, as well as expressing concern about attacks to their pay and pensions. The RCN’s Frontline First campaign has already identified that 27,000 NHS posts are earmarked to be lost across the UK. Many members are also reporting widespread cuts to services as the NHS in England seeks to save £20 billion in efficiency savings by 2015.
From next week (1 April), nurses will enter a two year pay freeze against a backdrop of surging inflation and fuel prices, while recent pension proposals mean members are likely to work longer, pay more and yet receive less into their hard earned pensions.
RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said: “The fact that so many nurses are marching together for the first time since the days of Margaret Thatcher is testament to the depth of their anger about these cuts. Nurses are facing a two year pay freeze and widespread cuts to jobs and service. On the ground, nurses are stretched to breaking point and we know that slashing huge number of frontline jobs is jeopardising patient care.
“Today’s march is a visible and tangible way for our members to register their serious concerns. Now is the time for the Government to intervene and listen to these concerns. It is also vital for the Government and Trusts to work to sustain the morale of nurses, many of whom are working under extreme pressure. At the moment, morale is heading for rock bottom.”
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Notes to 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. The 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