As I approach the end of my first ten months as Regional Director, I’ve taken time to reflect on the year we’ve shared across the North West. It has been a period of significant activity for the College and for our profession, marked by challenge, determination, and a renewed focus on the value of nursing.

One of the most rewarding parts of my role this year has been meeting members where they are. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to walk the corridors and visit wards and departments of our hospitals to meet nursing staff at work, as well as meeting our members in IHSC settings, including hospices, prison healthcare and other specialist services. 

I’ve been proud to represent the RCN at nursing careers fairs, conferences and regional professional forums and to represent our members in meetings with nursing leaders across our NHS Trusts and systems. 

Similarly, I’ve had the opportunity to visit universities across the region during our student recruitment visits, meeting with education and research leaders and spending time with nursing students. 

And, at a time when so many of our internationally educated nurses are facing uncertainty over their future here in the UK, I have taken the opportunity to listen to the experiences of global majority nurses and championed the strength and diversity of nursing at every opportunity across our systems.

Another personal highlight was welcoming RCN 2025 Congress back to Liverpool – it was an energising, visible week for nursing nationally in our region. My thanks go to all our North West ambassadors and staff who made the event so successful. We look forward to welcoming Congress back to Liverpool again in May 2026!

The Year in Focus: North West and National Context
This year has been shaped by issues felt across every part of the UK: workforce shortages butting up against job scarcity; increasing service demands; and the ongoing pressures of capacity and resources spilling out into corridor care. These challenges have been widely reported and are visible in every part of our region.

In the North West, I’ve seen how nurses and nursing support staff continue to uphold standards, innovate in their practice, and advocate for safe, compassionate care. What has stood out most is the presence of leadership at every level - from nursing support workers, students and newly registered nurses, to advanced practitioners, consultants, managers and executive leaders. Across our ICBs, Trusts and independent health and social care, RCN Representatives have ensured that nursing voice and perspectives are present in discussions about workforce planning, service redesign, education, wellbeing and the future shape of care. Where this voice is included, the quality and transparency of decision-making improves.

Sustainable Planning and Responsible Use of Resources
This year we have also reflected internally on how the College works to improve our financial and environmental sustainability.

Sustainability for us means considering environmental impact in our decisions about purchasing supplies and planning our travel and events carefully to ensure that the time we spend together, whether in person or online, is meaningful. 

We will continue to adapt our planning so that events are reachable, inclusive and coordinated in ways that maximise value for members, ensuring accessibility across our diverse geography.

Growing Our Representative Community
Soon we will launch our Representative Recruitment Campaign, seeking to expand our network of accredited and active Stewards and Health and Safety Representatives in every workplace where we have partnership agreements and Learning Representatives in every setting. 

Our accredited representatives support colleagues, shape policy, and uphold standards. We will continue to work with employers to underline the importance of appropriate facilities time, ensuring that reps can carry out their duties effectively and safely. 

As part of that campaign, members will see spotlights on our reps’ roles and achievements, showcasing the breadth of talent and commitment across our region.

Get Out the Vote and Pay Reform
This year’s Get Out the Vote campaign demonstrated the strength of our collective voice. That mandate now drives our work to secure long-term structural pay reform for nursing that rewards expertise, keeps nurses in practice and recognises the value that nurses bring as a safety-critical, graduate profession.

This is not just about percentage pay rises, that are spread thinly across the wider NHS workforce, quickly lost to inflation and do nothing to promote the value of nursing. It is about fairness, retention, and sustaining the future of nursing.

Looking Ahead
The coming year will bring opportunities and uncertainty. Workforce challenges, service pressures, financial constraints and system redesign continue to shape our landscape. But nursing, grounded in professionalism, compassion and evidence, remains the greatest strength of our health and social care system. The RCN, in the North West and nationally, will continue to ensure that the voice and expertise of nursing is loud and clear in the decisions that matter.

A Seasonal Thank You
As we reach the end of the year, I want to offer my sincere thanks to all of our members across the region and recognise, in particular, the significant and ongoing contribution of our accredited representatives; our branch, board, forum and committee members; and our voting volunteers and ambassadors. Your contribution, your professionalism and your collective voice strengthen the College and the nursing profession.

Wishing you a restful, connected and hopeful festive season and every strength for the year ahead.