Press Releases
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23/06/2026
Press Release
Advanced nursing practice 'integral part' of NHS workforce, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Lynn Woolsey, said: “Advanced nursing practice is an integral part of the NHS workforce. These staff are highly trained experts and vital for the delivery of high quality, holistic patient care."
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20/06/2026
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing thanks healthcare workers and other first responders to the Bedford train crash
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “Our thoughts and wishes are with all of those affected by this tragic incident, particularly with the family, friends and colleagues of the driver who lost his life"
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19/06/2026
Press Release
RCN responds to publication of Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry report
Professor Rita Devlin, RCN Northern Ireland Executive Director, said: “When systems fail and care is compromised, it is essential that healthcare staff are empowered and supported to speak up without fear and that robust systems exist to respond quickly and effectively. The findings from this inquiry must be used to drive meaningful, system-wide change."
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18/06/2026
Press Release
‘Rising violence and aggression against staff completely unacceptable’, says RCN in response to the Early Day Motion for Emergency Medicine Day 2026
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: "It is shocking that many are forced to take time off or even leave the profession because of the physical and mental scarring that can result from these attacks."
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15/06/2026
Press Release
Unfolding Ebola crisis is deeply concerning, warns Royal College of Nursing
RCN International Academy Associate Director, Marcus Wootton said: "This outbreak shows why sustained investment in global health matters. When surveillance, infection prevention, staffing and basic supplies are weak, outbreaks become harder to contain, and nurses and others carry the risk. Cutting support for health systems is a false economy and very damaging to global health."
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12/06/2026
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the King’s Birthday Honours 2026
RCN President Bejoy Sebastian, said: “Nursing is an incredible and rewarding profession and you are an inspiration to the nursing staff of today and tomorrow. Your shining example shows the difference we can make and represents the very best of the profession."
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12/06/2026
Press Release
New Health Bill amendment a ‘significant victory’ to safeguard nurse leadership in NHS decision making, says RCN
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “This is a significant victory for nursing, safeguarding its seat at the top table of NHS foundation trusts. It maintains the existing legal requirement which the government had previously intended to scrap. We have fought hard for this amendment, and it is a breakthrough moment with the government listening to our calls to ensure board level nurse leadership is protected."
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11/06/2026
Press Release
Alarming corridor care figures damning indictment of just how far care standards have fallen, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “Behind these figures aren’t just patients and families suffering, but nursing staff demoralised at being forced to deliver poor care, day in day out."
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11/06/2026
Press Release
NHS workforce plan ‘must be paused’ over concerns it fails to safely grow staff numbers and over-relies on AI, say health unions and professional bodies
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “The newly appointed Secretary of State has a pivotal opportunity to apply the brakes and think again. More detailed and meaningful engagement with the expert organisations and vital NHS staff who are standing ready to make this plan a success, will be critical for ensuring the safety of patients for generations to come.”
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08/06/2026
Press Release
This catastrophe has been unfolding unchecked in our hospitals for far too long, warns Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “This is the tragic reality when people are left to wait in overcrowded and under-resourced A&Es"
Page last updated - 02/06/2026
