Liz Truss has today (5 September) been named the next leader of the Conservative party and new prime minister of the UK, following a ballot of 172,000 Conservative party members.
The RCN has renewed its demands for fair pay for nursing staff, calling on the new prime minister to recognise the value of nursing staff across the UK.
Responding to the announcement of the new prime minister, RCN General Secretary & Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said: “The new prime minster must demonstrate to the millions of people in the UK’s health and care workforce that not only is she listening but also delivering. Decisive political action to help them at home and at work has never been required with such urgency.
“With many of the ills in our health and care services caused by political negligence, they can be addressed by swift political attention too. As the representative of half a million nursing staff, Liz Truss will hear directly from me. She must begin by accepting that safe numbers of staff are needed immediately to stand the best chance of reducing waiting lists, giving appointments and quite literally saving lives.”
We have repeatedly asked the government to protect the health service, patient safety and the wellbeing of nursing staff by offering an adequate pay rise of 5% above inflation. So far, all pay offers and awards mean nursing staff face a real-terms pay cut. We are asking eligible members working for the NHS to vote for strike action when our ballot opens on 15 September.
Pat Cullen added: “In 10 days from now, we will post ballot papers to 300,000 nursing staff across the UK. After many years of underinvestment, they are standing up for patients and themselves. Until the new prime minister puts forward a fair and adequate proposal, I will continue asking nursing staff to take strike action.”
