Press Releases
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18/06/2025
Press Release
Surge in international leavers exposes failure to grow domestic nurse workforce, RCN says in response to new NMC register data
RCN Chief Nursing Officer Lynn Woolsey, said: “These figures put pressure on Wes Streeting to come up with a 10-year workforce strategy to turn things around. Numbers studying nursing in the UK are falling through the floor and we are going to see a worsening picture as the figures are released."
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16/06/2025
Press Release
Nurses top list of public sector workers who should be paid more, as public says government ‘doesn’t value nursing’
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “These findings show the government is out of step with the public. Whoever you speak to, people overwhelmingly want nursing staff paid fairly, but yet again ministers put us at the back of the queue behind other professions. Treating nursing like this is disrespectful and bad for the NHS too."
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13/06/2025
Press Release
Royal College of Nursing responds to the King’s Birthday Honours
RCN President Bejoy Sebastian said: “These honours are not only testament to the skill, expertise and dedication of those recognised but also act as an inspiration to the nurses of today."
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11/06/2025
Press Release
'NHS protected but not transformed by today’s spending plans’, Royal College of Nursing says
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: "The Chancellor acknowledged the contribution of nursing staff, but the reality is patient demand is rising and the nurse workforce crisis is deepening."
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09/06/2025
Press Release
Nursing staff to ‘give verdict’ on NHS pay award as RCN launches biggest ever pay vote
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive said: "Nursing is an incredible career but despite being the most valued profession by the public we continue to be weighted to the bottom of the NHS pay scale and are set to receive one of the lowest pay awards. It is time to show that nurses are valued and, from today, hundreds of thousands of nursing staff working in the NHS will give their verdict on whether 3.6% is enough.”
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06/06/2025
Press Release
‘High in ambition, but low on detail of how the staff needed to make it work will be supported to deliver these changes'
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: This plan is a welcome admission from government that corridor care is unacceptable and an indication that nursing voices have been heard."
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27/05/2025
Press Release
Ending Level 7 Apprenticeship funding undermines shift from hospitals to community, warns Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: “Today’s announcement from the Education Secretary not only shuts off an important career route for staff but also undermines the government’s own ambition to shift care from hospitals to the community."
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22/05/2025
Press Release
NHS pay award does nothing to show nursing is valued, says Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “This pay award is entirely swallowed up by inflation and does nothing to change the status quo – where nursing is not valued, too few enter it and too many quit. It is a grotesque decision to again favour doctor colleagues for higher increases than nursing and the rest of the NHS. Starting salaries for nursing staff remain too low."
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21/05/2025
Press Release
Nursing union updates its workforce standards and urges employers to adopt them as a 'matter of urgency'
RCN Chief Nursing Officer Lynn Woolsey said: "The Nursing Workforce Standards are already being used by RCN members to challenge staffing and safety issues in their workplaces. I am delighted that the newly revised edition takes into account new evidence as well as feedback from our members and nursing experts."
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18/05/2025
Press Release
'There is no hope of delivering the government’s reforms whilst the NHS is simultaneously being asked to cut staff and services’, warns Royal College of Nursing
RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: “It’s an appalling state of affairs when trust leaders talk about cutting frontline roles and closing beds to make savings. Nursing staff already face an almost impossible job as they try to keep patients safe amidst a workforce crisis and rising demand."
Page last updated - 02/06/2026
