Archive – the RCN's response to the reforms

The RCN has represented its members, the nursing profession and patients through the reform period. We have campaigned for changes to legislation and have responded to many consultations. On this page you will find the responses we made to the NHS White Paper, Public Health White Paper, Health and Social Care Bill (now Act) and the Care and Support Bill.

Many of the resources on this page are available in PDF format [see how to access PDF files]. Please note: NHS England was known as the NHS Commissioning Board until 1 April 2013, so some resources may use the organisation's original name.

The RCN's response to the NHS White Paper and the Health and Social Care Bill

The RCN responded to the NHS White Paper Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS and undertook extensive lobbying work on the Health and Social Care Bill (now Act).

Download the RCN response to the NHS White Paper (PDF 832KB).
Download Executive summary of the RCN response to the NHS White Paper (PDF 69KB).
For more detailed information, visit our NHS White Paper consultation page.
For details of the RCN's lobbying work on the Health and Social Care Bill, please visit the RCN Parliamentary Team's Health and Social Care Bill webpage.

The RCN's response to the NHS Future Forum

In May 2011, the Government "paused" the Health and Social Care Bill to run a "listening exercise" on the proposed changes to the NHS in England. A panel called the NHS Future Forum published its recommendations in early June 2011.

Download the RCN response to the NHS Future Forum (first phase) (PDF 149KB).

In August 2011, the Government announced new workstreams for the NHS Future Forum and has added to the existing membership of the group. The group is due to submit their final report in early 2012.