Press Releases
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22/04/2026
Press Release
Rising A+E waits ‘depriving patients of their dignity’, says Royal College of Nursing
Executive Director of RCN England, Patricia Marquis, said: “Long, tortuous waits in A&E are the sign of a health and care system under severe pressure and unable to meet demand."
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22/04/2026
Press Release
Talks must now deliver genuine change for nursing, says RCN in response to mandate being announced for NHS Staff Council for Agenda for Change (AfC) pay negotiations
RCN Executive Director of Legal and Member Relations, Jo Galbraith-Marten, said: “Today’s announcement that talks will begin on reforming the NHS pay structure are an important step and testament to the dedicated campaigning of nursing staff."
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17/04/2026
Press Release
More nursing apprenticeships can widen access to nursing, but they won't address deeper recruitment crisis caused by broken tuition fee model, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said the biggest barrier to those from poorer backgrounds isn’t a lack of apprenticeships but a broken tuition fee model.
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12/04/2026
Press Release
Funding to ease corridor care pressures positive step, but bigger plans and investment needed to eradicate it for good, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said “Action to support trusts where corridor care is particularly challenging is encouraging, but we know from our members that the problem is ongoing and widespread. That’s why we need a plan to ease pressures everywhere, not just in those struggling the most. Corridor care happening anywhere is unacceptable, undignified and a risk to patient safety. "
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02/04/2026
Press Release
Nuffield analysis shows why government must not repeat mistakes of the past if it is to retain more nurses, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN Chief Nursing Officer Professor Lynn Woolsey said: "Ministers need to acknowledge and address the impact of service pressures on staff retention and employers need to deliver better support."
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25/03/2026
Press Release
NHS nursing staff still being failed after today’s doctor pay award with structural pay reform talks needed now, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “It was clear nursing staff were being failed on pay when their award was announced last month, today that remains the case."
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25/03/2026
Press Release
Survey results ‘testament to hard work of nursing staff’ but ministers mustn’t be complacent with some results still concerning, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: "It’s now crucial ministers aren't complacent because improvements are still unequally shared across the system, with crucial services like A&E and general practice struggling more than others to meet demand."
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19/03/2026
Press Release
‘Never again can nursing and the public be failed like this’, says Royal College of Nursing in response to UK COVID-19 Inquiry Module 3 report
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said “These findings must mark a moment in time - never again can nursing and the public be failed like this. Our profession was sent to fight a deadly virus short of tens of thousands of nurses, while inadequate protection and ineffectual guidance led to devastating outbreaks among staff"
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17/03/2026
Press Release
'Nursing staff are being failed' says Royal College of Nursing as health unions call for direct pay talks with the government
RCN Executive Director of Legal and Member Relations Jo Galbraith-Marten said Ministers should have negotiated with unions directly, as we requested multiple times.
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12/03/2026
Press Release
NHS Staff Survey 'lifts lid on torrent of abuse' says Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: "Year after year, the figures reveal disgraceful and steadily rising attacks against our predominantly female profession, with no sign of letting up, and falling confidence among staff that employers will do anything about it."
Page last updated - 02/06/2026
