RCN seeks members’ views over NMC fee hike
Published: 15 June 2012
The Royal College of Nursing is committed to making the ‘strongest possible’ representation against the new NMC fee proposals, it announced today (15 June). The College, via its Frontline First campaign, is now officially gathering the views of its members on the proposed fee increase.
Under the proposals, fees for registering with the NMC would increase by 58 per cent from £76 to £120. The RCN is launching its own survey to ask nurses what they think about the proposed change. Members will be contacted via email and notified through the RCN’s printed publications with details of how to put forward their view.
Questions will include whether nurses agree with the increase as well as whether or not they think the Government should contribute to the running of the NMC. The brief survey also asks if members think that the NMC should still be expected to pay over £800,000 towards the running of the Council of Healthcare Regulatory Excellence.
RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:
“Since this proposal was announced the RCN has made no secret of its total opposition to something that would see already stretched nurses facing yet more financial pressure. In fact, it could not have come at worse time, with nurses in the midst of a two year pay freeze and facing worrying increases to their pension contributions.
“As a member led organisation, it is vital we gather the views of our members to make our formal response to the NMC as strong as it can possibly be. The more views we get, the stronger our response will be. I fully expect that nurses will make known their concerns about this potential increase and would hope that both the NMC and the Government will consider seeking alternative funding solutions.”
RCN members will be sent emails with the link to the survey which can be found at http://frontlinefirst.rcn.org.uk/NMCsurvey
RCN membership printed publications will also carry details from 27 June. The survey closes on 31 July.
Ends
Notes for Editors
Members will be asked the following four questions:
• Do you think that that the NMC registration fee should be increased from £76 to £120 a year? Yes/No
• Do you agree that, in future, the level of registration fee should go up in line with inflation every year? Yes/No
• The NMC is funded by nurses just like you. Do you think the Government should contribute to paying for the running of the NMC? Yes /No
• The NMC is expected to pay over £800,000 towards the running of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (a body which oversees all the health professional regulators. Do you support this payment? Yes/No
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
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.