Following weeks of debate about public sector pay, on Monday we heard from the Health and Social Care Select Committee that published two reports which brought the nursing workforce in England crisis into stark focus. Even MPs are being unequivocal with government, saying it is undeniable that patient safety is at risk, the impact of low pay is only deepening staff shortages, and the lack of a workforce strategy means a precarious future. The reports also reflect exactly what we have been saying for years: a failure to invest in nursing is a failure to invest in patients and the wider population.
The UK government’s response to the ever-increasing pressures on the profession shows a blatant unwillingness to acknowledge the real risks to patient safety created by a lack of funding in recruitment and retention, an absent national and local workforce plan and a derisory pay award.
Nursing is a hugely diverse profession and relies on attracting people of all ages and all walks of life, often as a second career. We’re calling for governments across the UK to ensure that nursing is an attractive career, starting with fair pay, good employment terms and safe working conditions for nursing staff wherever they work.
Members in Scotland are urged to vote in the NHS pay ballot which runs until 4 August.
We will ballot members in England soon on industrial strike action, in response to the recent pay award. Strike action in Northern Ireland in 2019 proved how powerful we are when we come together; now’s the time for us to once again raise our voice for respect and fairness, for safety, for our patients and for our profession.
Earlier this week, we also announced that we will ballot members in Wales on industrial action. This follows the news from the Welsh Government that NHS nursing staff across the country will get the same pay award as in England - an increase of at least £1,400 for 2022-23. This real-terms pay cut will do nothing to address the shortage of nursing staff which in turn impacts patient safety.
In Northern Ireland, RCN members are still awaiting news of a pay award which has been affected by the political situation. This dithering and delay does nothing but negatively impact nursing numbers and compromise the workforce’s ability to deliver safe and effective care.
The workforce crisis is as much about recruiting as it is retaining our safety critical staff. Across the UK, we’ve seen an 8% drop in applications to nursing courses, according to recent statistics from UCAS. It’s a major cause for concern. Financial pressures are at play and the prospect of starting and paying for a degree course when the cost of living is soaring is proving a bridge too far for many potential applicants. Our pay ballots in the UK are not just about recognising the value of nursing staff now, but also about protecting high quality care and services in the future.
Wherever you are in the UK, there is one quick thing you can do right now - please log into MyRCN today and check we have the right details for you. An industrial action ballot is conducted exclusively by post, so it is essential your home address is correct, along with your workplace, employer and all other details. This is a ground-breaking time for the nursing profession when we can change history, turning the tide once and for all on being undervalued.
You can get involved by attending an expert workshop with our organisers on Tuesday 2 August to make sure you can have persuasive conversations about pay. You can also order campaign materials to spread the word to colleagues.
There is no one better placed than you to ensure that we speak with the strongest voice. Our strength will always be in our numbers.
The UK government’s response to the ever-increasing pressures on the profession shows a blatant unwillingness to acknowledge the real risks to patient safety created by a lack of funding in recruitment and retention, an absent national and local workforce plan and a derisory pay award.
Nursing is a hugely diverse profession and relies on attracting people of all ages and all walks of life, often as a second career. We’re calling for governments across the UK to ensure that nursing is an attractive career, starting with fair pay, good employment terms and safe working conditions for nursing staff wherever they work.
Members in Scotland are urged to vote in the NHS pay ballot which runs until 4 August.
We will ballot members in England soon on industrial strike action, in response to the recent pay award. Strike action in Northern Ireland in 2019 proved how powerful we are when we come together; now’s the time for us to once again raise our voice for respect and fairness, for safety, for our patients and for our profession.
Earlier this week, we also announced that we will ballot members in Wales on industrial action. This follows the news from the Welsh Government that NHS nursing staff across the country will get the same pay award as in England - an increase of at least £1,400 for 2022-23. This real-terms pay cut will do nothing to address the shortage of nursing staff which in turn impacts patient safety.
In Northern Ireland, RCN members are still awaiting news of a pay award which has been affected by the political situation. This dithering and delay does nothing but negatively impact nursing numbers and compromise the workforce’s ability to deliver safe and effective care.
The workforce crisis is as much about recruiting as it is retaining our safety critical staff. Across the UK, we’ve seen an 8% drop in applications to nursing courses, according to recent statistics from UCAS. It’s a major cause for concern. Financial pressures are at play and the prospect of starting and paying for a degree course when the cost of living is soaring is proving a bridge too far for many potential applicants. Our pay ballots in the UK are not just about recognising the value of nursing staff now, but also about protecting high quality care and services in the future.
Wherever you are in the UK, there is one quick thing you can do right now - please log into MyRCN today and check we have the right details for you. An industrial action ballot is conducted exclusively by post, so it is essential your home address is correct, along with your workplace, employer and all other details. This is a ground-breaking time for the nursing profession when we can change history, turning the tide once and for all on being undervalued.
You can get involved by attending an expert workshop with our organisers on Tuesday 2 August to make sure you can have persuasive conversations about pay. You can also order campaign materials to spread the word to colleagues.
There is no one better placed than you to ensure that we speak with the strongest voice. Our strength will always be in our numbers.
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