Responding to the appointment of James Murray MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said:

“I welcome the new health and social care secretary into his role and look forward to working with him. Whether in GP surgeries, hospitals, the community, mental health or social care, there are no shortage of challenges in his in-tray. At the heart of them all is a depleted, undervalued nursing workforce which will be looking for the backing of the new secretary of state.

“As a former treasury minister, he will know only too well the power of investment, and I would urge him to do the right thing by nursing. That is the quickest route to delivering better quality care for patients.

“Top of his agenda must be delivering the improvements needed across health and care including long-overdue reform of pay and career progression for nursing staff. We stand ready to be part of the solution.”

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