The natural world dictates that the winter should be a time for conserving our energy, resting now to give us the strength to build again in the springtime.  The modern world, and those who work in healthcare will know this better than anyone, does not allow for such a period of hibernation, but that does not mean that we cannot take this opportunity to look ahead, to prepare and plan for the tasks that must be completed, the mountains that we must climb in the year ahead. 

And there are a great many mountains for us to scale together this year. The ongoing strain that winter flu is placing on our hospitals is exacerbating the insidious creep of corridor care as an accepted norm. As your union, we are campaigning vociferously on this issue, calling for a fully funded plan to eradicate corridor care altogether. Until significant investment is made in hospital beds, nursing staff across acute and community settings, and urgent action taken to boost social care capacity to speed up patient discharge, then this problem will only continue to grow. 

We know how much anxiety this situation creates and would urge you all to prioritise your own wellbeing and mental health as much as possible this winter. Our magazine recently featured this excellent article on managing stress and how to ask for support at work – I urge you to read it and reach out if you need to. 

The recent and proposed changes to the immigration system is also having a hugely negative effect on internationally educated nursing staff, creating significant uncertainty and anxiety across our nursing community. The RCN has raised serious concerns with government about how these policies could worsen the workforce crisis in health and social care, with up to 50,000 migrant nursing staff across the UK potentially affected, yet there has been little in the way of a positive or reassuring response so far. 

If you feel distressed or need advice on immigration-related matters, we are here to provide support and accurate timely guidance. Make our Immigration Advice Service your first port of call to understand exactly how these changes may affect you and to reach out for support. 

It is true that there is much to concern and vex us at the moment but we must always travel in hope that we can effect change where it is needed and the best way to do that is through our collective strength.

 To that end, I would invite you to make this the year when you become an active member of this College, if you are not already. Our branches really are the lifeblood of our trade union and it is through these that we best understand the needs and wants of our membership. 

Active participation is the route through which you can secure voting places at future Congress’ and directly influence the priorities and decision-making that forms our focus each year. This is our biggest opportunity to set the narrative when it comes to nursing and it is vital that the lived-experience of our nursing workforce is accurately and passionately represented. This could be the moment when you personally can make a difference, don’t miss this opportunity.

If we are to make a new year’s resolution this year, let it be to recognise that when we come together to speak for the collective good, that we can and will be a force to be reckoned with.  
I wish you a happy, healthy and active year ahead.