Press Releases
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17/07/2025
Press Release
Number of domestic applicants to nursing courses falls to new low, as RCN calls for government action
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: "These figures are devastating news for the 10 Year Health Plan and alarm bells should be ringing in government. You simply cannot transform care while a broken education model chokes off growth and puts off the nurses of the future."
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17/07/2025
Press Release
Whilst UK Nursing applications overall are down, Wales rise by 13%
The latest Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) data shows a welcome 13% increase in applications to nursing courses in Wales this year.
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17/07/2025
Press Release
Ministers must not delay in introducing a fair pay agreement and a new body to improve conditions for care workers, says Royal College of Nursing
Executive Director of RCN England Patricia Marquis said: “It is a sad state of affairs that such a vital workforce is so poorly valued and little wonder that there are so many vacancies and care homes are unable to recruit staff, leaving so many without access to the care they deserve."
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14/07/2025
Press Release
As doctors prepare to strike, new analysis shows nurse starting salaries over £8k lower due to decade of pay cuts
Executive Director for RCN England, Patricia Marquis, said: "This award is derisory. It does nothing to reverse the trend of collapsing wages, especially for nurses at the start of their careers, and even by the government’s own calculations barely covers the cost of a sandwich and a drink."
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09/07/2025
Press Release
Nursing staff ready to lead roll-out of neighbourhood health service but workforce plan needed, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: "To make this 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."
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08/07/2025
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to resident doctors' vote
Responding to the announcement that resident doctors in England have voted in favour of industrial action, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said that nursing staff are similarly voting in strong numbers and telling the government to go faster in repairing a damaged NHS and undervalued workforce.
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07/07/2025
Press Release
‘Significant’ amendments to Employment Rights Bill won after RCN campaigning
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “These are significant victories for our campaigning, on behalf of a female-dominated profession, for a fairer and more compassionate society. Extending bereavement leave to those who have been through pregnancy loss and separate and greater restrictions being placed on the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are vital amendments to the Bill and the RCN has fought hard for these."
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07/07/2025
Press Release
'The biggest threat to safety is having too few nurses', Royal College of Nursing responds to Dr Penny Dash's review into patient safety
Taking a match to independent organisations designed to protect the public is a high-risk move when things are still so unsafe for patients and tens of thousands of nursing posts lie vacant, said RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger.
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04/07/2025
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to ONS data showing increased gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas in England
Responding to ONS data showing an increased gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas in England, Professor Nicola Ranger said the figures show why this week's NHS turnaround plan must not fail.
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04/07/2025
Press Release
Nurse ‘wrote final wishes’ on card after being forced to lock down in care home, Covid Inquiry hears
A former social care nurse has told the Covid Inquiry that she wrote her final wishes on a card in case she died, after an outbreak left her as “the last nurse standing” at the care home where she worked.
Page last updated - 21/02/2025
