Yesterday our historic strike ballot closed, and we will be announcing the results in the coming days.
I will come back to our pay campaign in a moment, but I want to update you on some important developments that follow the release of the Bruce Carr KC cultural review. With the support of Council, he was immediately instructed to undertake part two of the review which involves further investigation into the most serious incidents referred to in his report. He has also shared with me confidentially the individuals involved in some of the incidents that will be the subject of those further investigations. Resignations have been received and other formal action has been taken and this relates to current and former RCN Council members and others identified by Bruce Carr KC.
While this is inevitably distressing news, I hope you will also see that the RCN is making good on the promises to you to leave no stone unturned following the report.
A reminder that an independent and confidential help and support line is available to any RCN members and staff who have been affected by issues related to the Carr Review: 0800 783 1157. The line is open every day of the week, 24 hours a day, managed by the Validium Group, with strict policies and procedures to ensure confidentiality.
If you wish to report anything of concern you have experienced whilst engaged in RCN activities or events, or any information related to the content of the report you can still do so: 0800 028 2511. Calls are handled by in confidence by Safecall which specialises in safe reporting systems.
I apologise again that your College faces these issues but I am heartened with the amount of support I have from you for taking the necessary action to address it.
Returning to the pay ballot, I would like to extend my thanks to every one of you who took the time to vote. I do not underestimate the range of emotions many of you have experienced while considering whether to vote for strike action. As nursing staff, our priority is always to protect our patients, and by voting in this ballot, that is exactly what you have done.
In the coming days, you will receive information from us about the results of the ballot. Please may I ask for your patience while we take a little time to absorb and analyse the results and plan the next steps. We will inform you as soon as possible about the actions we would like you to take.
Conducting an industrial action ballot on this scale is complex and must be carried out in line with trade union legislation. Every effort was made to ensure all eligible members had the chance to vote in this ballot. In line with statutory requirements, we used an independent scrutineer to conduct the ballot, and the papers were sent and returned by Royal Mail. I am aware that some ballot papers did not arrive in good time – we apologise for this because I know how important this ballot is to so many of you. We take seriously the concerns that members have raised and are investigating for you.
As another new Prime Minister and Cabinet settle into their new roles, we continue to send strong messages to ministers right across the UK that the nursing profession – in the absence of enough investment and workforce planning - is steadfast in its determination to forge its own path to fair pay and safer staffing to protect patients and the public. More than 50,000 people have so far signed our letter to the Prime Minister urging him to protect nursing for the sake of the public; please do add your voice to the growing chorus saying ‘enough is enough.’
We are not the only ones with a clear message to send to the Prime Minister about nursing; like many of you, I was heartened to see a patient challenge him over your pay during a televised bedside chat. When Mr Sunak tried to assure her that he and his colleagues had the matter of nursing pay in hand; she replied: “No, you’re not trying, you need to try harder.”
Since my last update, we shared new analysis which shows that many of you are now effectively working one day a week for free. This was swiftly followed by insight revealing that nearly two thirds of the UK public is right behind you when it comes to striking.
You will shortly receive more information about the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting where you will be invited to discuss and contribute to the plan that will address the recommendations in the independent review into RCN culture by Bruce Carr KC. I invite you to find out more about our commitment to change and encourage you to sign up to receive update emails about the review and our action in response to it.
On 23 November, for the third year, we will mark Nursing Support Workers’ Day, and I am personally looking forward to marking this special annual event in the RCN’s calendar and hearing more about the incredible work this special group of members continues to do across the UK.
I’d like to end this week’s update by reminding you that the UK public supports you in taking strike action; this is because they see you, they hear you and they are behind you every step of the way. Let’s harness this energy and draw strength from it during the next phase of our historic strike action.
I will come back to our pay campaign in a moment, but I want to update you on some important developments that follow the release of the Bruce Carr KC cultural review. With the support of Council, he was immediately instructed to undertake part two of the review which involves further investigation into the most serious incidents referred to in his report. He has also shared with me confidentially the individuals involved in some of the incidents that will be the subject of those further investigations. Resignations have been received and other formal action has been taken and this relates to current and former RCN Council members and others identified by Bruce Carr KC.
While this is inevitably distressing news, I hope you will also see that the RCN is making good on the promises to you to leave no stone unturned following the report.
A reminder that an independent and confidential help and support line is available to any RCN members and staff who have been affected by issues related to the Carr Review: 0800 783 1157. The line is open every day of the week, 24 hours a day, managed by the Validium Group, with strict policies and procedures to ensure confidentiality.
If you wish to report anything of concern you have experienced whilst engaged in RCN activities or events, or any information related to the content of the report you can still do so: 0800 028 2511. Calls are handled by in confidence by Safecall which specialises in safe reporting systems.
I apologise again that your College faces these issues but I am heartened with the amount of support I have from you for taking the necessary action to address it.
Returning to the pay ballot, I would like to extend my thanks to every one of you who took the time to vote. I do not underestimate the range of emotions many of you have experienced while considering whether to vote for strike action. As nursing staff, our priority is always to protect our patients, and by voting in this ballot, that is exactly what you have done.
In the coming days, you will receive information from us about the results of the ballot. Please may I ask for your patience while we take a little time to absorb and analyse the results and plan the next steps. We will inform you as soon as possible about the actions we would like you to take.
Conducting an industrial action ballot on this scale is complex and must be carried out in line with trade union legislation. Every effort was made to ensure all eligible members had the chance to vote in this ballot. In line with statutory requirements, we used an independent scrutineer to conduct the ballot, and the papers were sent and returned by Royal Mail. I am aware that some ballot papers did not arrive in good time – we apologise for this because I know how important this ballot is to so many of you. We take seriously the concerns that members have raised and are investigating for you.
As another new Prime Minister and Cabinet settle into their new roles, we continue to send strong messages to ministers right across the UK that the nursing profession – in the absence of enough investment and workforce planning - is steadfast in its determination to forge its own path to fair pay and safer staffing to protect patients and the public. More than 50,000 people have so far signed our letter to the Prime Minister urging him to protect nursing for the sake of the public; please do add your voice to the growing chorus saying ‘enough is enough.’
We are not the only ones with a clear message to send to the Prime Minister about nursing; like many of you, I was heartened to see a patient challenge him over your pay during a televised bedside chat. When Mr Sunak tried to assure her that he and his colleagues had the matter of nursing pay in hand; she replied: “No, you’re not trying, you need to try harder.”
Since my last update, we shared new analysis which shows that many of you are now effectively working one day a week for free. This was swiftly followed by insight revealing that nearly two thirds of the UK public is right behind you when it comes to striking.
You will shortly receive more information about the upcoming Extraordinary General Meeting where you will be invited to discuss and contribute to the plan that will address the recommendations in the independent review into RCN culture by Bruce Carr KC. I invite you to find out more about our commitment to change and encourage you to sign up to receive update emails about the review and our action in response to it.
On 23 November, for the third year, we will mark Nursing Support Workers’ Day, and I am personally looking forward to marking this special annual event in the RCN’s calendar and hearing more about the incredible work this special group of members continues to do across the UK.
I’d like to end this week’s update by reminding you that the UK public supports you in taking strike action; this is because they see you, they hear you and they are behind you every step of the way. Let’s harness this energy and draw strength from it during the next phase of our historic strike action.
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