RCN response to Future Forum report

Published: 13 June 2011

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today responded to the publication of the NHS Future Forum report. RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“We are pleased that the NHS Future Forum has used the ‘pause’ period to listen and reflect on the concerns that the public and professionals have over the future of the NHS.  We welcome the report’s findings that Monitor must support the integration of care and that care must not become of secondary importance to cost. Equally, we fully support the report’s conclusions regarding the importance of transparency within the new commissioning consortia as well as the recommendation that private firms must not be allowed to ‘cherry pick’ services.

“However, it is disappointing that the Future Forum appears not to have accepted the view of thousands of our members, who are calling for a mandatory requirement for nurses to sit on the board of every commissioning consortia. Nurses follow the patient throughout their care and have a unique range of skills and experience. The Government should enshrine this requirement in legislation when it responds tomorrow as the reality on the ground is that new commissioning consortia are currently being established at pace without nursing representation.”

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.      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