Responding to the 10 Year Health Plan RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said:

“Nursing staff are crying out for change and we stand ready to get behind this plan. Modernising services, bringing care closer to home and helping people to lead healthier lives couldn't be more necessary. The commitment to eradicate care in corridors is the correct one – we need the detail on exactly how this will be achieved and for commitments on transparency to be honoured.

“The government and the NHS must bring about a reset with the nursing profession too. Nursing staff are identified today as the expert leaders to deliver a neighbourhood health service and that should be truly empowering. As the professionals delivering the vast majority of care, we know what keeps patients safe and well. 

“Ministers are right to exploit the advances of technology in the plan, but they shouldn’t be seduced by them while tens of thousands of nursing posts lay empty. To make today’s commitments a reality, the secretary of state must produce a detailed and fully funded plan to grow our registered nurse workforce, especially in crucial community roles, in addition to the Chief Nursing Officer’s strategy and swift progress to reform and stabilise social care.

“A big conversation on improving incentives is overdue for nursing professionals doing more skilled work and taking on more responsibility than ever. This has to include progression to band 6 as a new minimum, ending the scandal of staff being trapped at the same pay band their entire career despite a wealth of professional experience – a clear nursing career structure supports safer and transformative patient care.”

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