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Southampton

RCN Southampton and Isle of Wight

If you're an RCN member working in Southampton or the Isle of Wight, you're automatically a member of our Southampton and Isle of Wight branch. Welcome to your nursing community.

Getting involved in our branch means more than attending meetings. Whether you’re organising for better conditions, supporting a colleague or pushing for systemic change, your involvement helps turn shared concerns into collective action.

Contact us


Your branch team

  • Chair: Nicole Forbes
  • Secretary: Denise Wills
  • Treasurer: Michelle Hare
  • Committee Member (Isle of Wight Lead): Michele Cook
  • Committee Member (Student Lead): David Lygo
  • Committee Member (Social Media Lead): Olabisi Omolola Olatunde

Join our Southampton and Isle of Wight Facebook group

Be the first to know about meetings and connect with your fellow branch members.

View all branches in the South East region

Branch Chair - Nicole Forbes

Nicole qualified as a nurse in 2012, from Queen's University in Belfast. She has worked within the NHS since qualifying and is currently working as a Nurse Endoscopist at UHS Endoscopy Unit. At the RCN, Nicole is Lead Steward for the trust and has been Southampton and Isle of Wight Branch Chair since 2021. Nicola attends joint staff side, staff partnership and policy meetings on behalf of members. 

You can contact Nicole by emailing nicole.forbes@reps.rcn.org.uk

Branch Secretary - Denise Wills

Denise qualified as a nurse in 1982 from University College Hospital London. She has worked in the NHS her entire career and is currently a Theatre Sister in the Wessex Neurological Theatres at Southampton. At the RCN Denise has been a Learning Representative and is the Trust Lead Union Learning Representative assisting all unions with fair access to education and learning. She is also the Joint Staff Side Lead for Job Evaluation. She has been Branch Secretary since 2018 and was RCN Learning Representative of the Year 2016 for her work on revalidation.  

You can contact Denise by emailing her at denise.wills@reps.rcn.org.uk

Branch Treasurer - Michelle Hare

Michelle joined  Wessex Neurological Unit at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) in 1996 as an HCA. She completed Senior HCA training and became one of the first wave of Assistant Practitioners to be trained at UHS in 2010. She continues to work at UHS as a Senior Clinical Trail Assistant with the Southampton Cancer Research Team. Michelle has been an RCN member since 2007, and a Safety Representative since 2019.

You can contact Michelle by emailing her at michelle.hare@reps.rcn.org.uk

All branch events

Our branch annual general meeting (AGM)

Every year, our branch holds its annual general meeting (AGM). We review our branch activity over the past twelve months, before mapping out what we want to achieve over the next year. It's also a chance to discuss with your fellow branch members the issues which are most important to you right now.

This is your chance to help set the nursing agenda. Details of the next AGM will be posted in the events section as soon as available.




Our branch and RCN Congress

Branches play a key role in RCN Congress. Our members can submit debate topics for the annual conference, which are then discussed and voted on by the wider membership, influencing the RCN's future work.

All members can attend RCN Congress for free. There are also fully funded voting places for members, where travel, accommodation and food are provided. Voting members are there to listen, participate and vote on resolutions that are proposed by RCN branches, forums and committees across the UK.

This year's applications for funded voting places are closed. Details of 2026 funded places will be posted here as soon as available.

Branch policies and processes

Hear from members across our region



6 blog posts
  • Rian Gleave Rian Gleave 15 May 2024

    Fancy a shot?

    If I had a choice between a shot of sambuca or a vaccine shot, my preference would be for the former.

Elections and appointments

Get more involved by putting yourself forward as a candidate for Council, a board, a committee or a forum. You can also make your voice heard by voting in our current elections.
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Put forward an agenda item for Council

Members can submit an agenda item for Council to discuss at one of their meetings. If your submission is accepted, you can present it to Council during the meeting, either remotely or in person.
Submit an agenda item
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Page last updated - 09/06/2025

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