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northern region

RCN Northern Region

News, events and opinions covering the health care issues in the Northern region.

Branches

All members belong to an RCN branch. Branches work across the NHS, independent and third sectors to deliver services to members and provide opportunities for members to participate in, shape and influence the work of the RCN.

Northern

What we do

The RCN Northern region represents nurses, health care assistants, assistant practitioners, trainee nursing associates, apprentices, nursing students and midwives across County Durham and Darlington, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley.

Contact

Join the fight for safe staffing in England

Nursing staff are the heart of our health and care services. They care for us in hospital, advocate for us in our GP surgeries and support us in our own homes. But the simple truth is, there are not enough nursing staff to provide the care that patients need.

There's currently no law about nurse staffing in England. When a workplace is under-resourced, staff have no option but to work under unsustainable pressure. This results in many nursing staff feeling they have no option but to leave the profession.

We've had significant victories to progress towards safer staffing in Scotland and Wales with legislation in both these countries. And in Northern Ireland, where we expect safe staffing legislation to be introduced in the Northern Ireland Assembly in early 2025. Now it's time to make safe nurse staffing a priority in England, too. That's why we're using every means available to influence legislation and win safe staffing in England. 

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Page last updated - 16/07/2025