Challenging to achieve more for nursing

Last weekend, RCN members joined other unions at the Westminster Demand Better march to make clear that after years of underpayment and a staffing crisis worsening by the day, the nursing workforce demands better pay for the protection of the profession and the public. I'm proud that the RCN stood in solidarity with thousands of other people, and we will continue to highlight this strength of feeling to ministers across the UK who will soon decide on NHS pay awards this year.

This week inflation has risen to 9.1% and prices are rising at the fastest pace in the last 40 years. This is severely impacting our profession – you are overworked, under pressure and underpaid. Without a fair pay rise, I know that many of you will have to make the difficult choice whether you can actually afford to nurse. The RCN is clear in our demands that nursing pay must not only match inflation but go 5% above it to make nursing a profession people want to join, keep skilled nursing staff in post, and to begin to make up for a decade of real terms pay cuts. The nursing workforce shortage means nursing professionals in all settings and roles may be working without the right number and skill mix of staff to provide safe patient care – we will support our members to speak up and raise concerns.

The pay awards for staff on Agenda for Change in England and Wales are due imminently and in Northern Ireland, we continue to call for a fully functioning Executive so that there is no further delay to decisions like pay being made. All members working in the NHS will be asked about their pay offer or award for 2022/23 when it comes.

In Scotland this week, following sustained pressure from our members, the government published a timetable for the implementation of Scotland’s safe staffing legislation. Members and staff have been pressing for a timetable for many months now as part of recovery and remobilisation following the pandemic. The timetable will see the Act come into force from April 2024 and RCN Scotland will be engaging with the Scottish government on development of the guidance to support the legislation. However, we’re clear that the legislation will not fix the nursing workforce crisis - it needs to sit alongside fair pay and improved terms, conditions and culture. The next steps in response to the Scottish government’s 5% pay offer are currently being considered by the RCN Scotland Board, Trade Union Committee and Council. The final decision on whether or not to accept the pay offer will be taken by RCN members.

We continue to campaign for fair pay for our members working for independent health and social care employers too. Members employed by Marie Curie are voting again on their latest pay offer – the consultative ballot will close on 1 July . Members working for the Huntercombe Group in Scotland and England and members employed by Four Seasons Healthcare and Brighterkind recently voted in consultative ballots about their pay offers. Thank you to all members who took part - your elected member representatives will now decide next steps.

Our strength is in our numbers. When we come together, and speak with one voice, we can make critical improvements for nursing. Speaking up about pay is a matter of safety, so please stay engaged in our campaign and have your say for your profession and your patients.

For the first time in three years, the RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Awards took place last Thursday evening and I’m delighted to say that I had the pleasure of presenting our Nurse of the Year award, alongside the Northern Ireland Health Minister, Robin Swann, to Gary Rutherford, a mental health nurse. Gary has helped numerous people struggling with substance abuse through setting up the Addiction Recovery Service which provides holistic person-centred care. Mary Hinds was awarded the inaugural Kathleen Robb Award for outstanding contribution to nursing. Congratulations again to all members in Northern Ireland who were nominated and to our winners. 

And I’d like to encourage our members in Wales to submit their nominations for RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Awards before nominations close on 30 June. This year is the 10-year anniversary of our awards and we’ll be holding the ceremony in City Hall in Cardiff - so please consider nominating your colleagues who demonstrate excellence and innovation in nursing today. 

Finally, nominations are now open for two of our important elected member roles – President and Deputy President of the RCN. I would encourage all eligible members to find out more about these vital roles for our college, and put yourself forward for election to become an ambassador for the nursing profession across the UK and internationally.