Responding to the announcement of Steve Barclay as the Secretary of State for Health and Care, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said:
“Last time in this job, the Health Secretary handed down the NHS pay cut we are currently balloting our members on. Within days, he will find out the result of that and the historic strike action that may result from it.
“Health and care is the bedrock of modern Britain, but it’s crumbling. Care isn’t safe and unfilled nurse posts are at record level due to neglect by ministers.
“The challenge for the Health Secretary will be to demonstrate to health and care workers that he has learnt from earlier mistakes. The UK Government must protect nursing to protect the public.”
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