RCN welcomes the appointment of Andy Burnham as the new Secretary of State for Health
Published: 05 June 2009
Commenting on the news that the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Health, Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:
"The Royal College of Nursing welcomes Andy Burnham to the post of Secretary of State for Health and wishes him well for his time in office. Heading the Department of Health is one of the most important jobs in the UK and we look forward to working closely with him in order to ensure patients receive the best care possible.
"The RCN enjoyed a good relationship with Andy Burnham in his previous role as Health Minister, and looks forward to building on this during his time in office. We urge him to listen carefully to the concerns of nurses, who can provide the frontline perspective needed to improve the experience of every patient.
"The RCN has always said we will speak up when we disagree with the government and be vocal in our support when they get things right. We look forward to a mature working relationship that will be of real benefit to patients."
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Notes for Editors
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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.