Specialist nurse elected as new Unison president

A specialist nurse has been elected as the new president of the largest union in the UK, Unison.

Cardiac nurse James Anthony, based in Birmingham, was elected this week by Unison’s National Executive Council (NEC), succeeding outgoing president Catherine McKenna.

He said was ‘privileged’ to take on the role during an ‘important time for nursing’.

He will be supported by local government project manager Debbie Rowden, based in Norfolk, who was elected as senior vice president.

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Local government project manager Micaela Tracey-Ramos, based in Liverpool, was also elected as junior vice president.

Mr Anthony, who has been a nurse for 20 years, now leads and supports congenital heart disease nursing services across the West Midlands, helping to ensure patients get consistent, quality care.

His first nursing role was on a cardiology ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where he cared for people with congenital heart disease.

He previously served as the union’s senior vice president.

‘It’s a privilege to become president,’ he said. ‘I am excited to take on this role at such an important time for nursing, healthcare and public services more widely.

‘This is an opportunity to build on the union’s strengths, meet the challenges ahead and ensure workers’ voices continue to be heard, while helping to secure the best possible outcomes for patients, families and communities.’

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The presidential team is elected every year at Unison’s national conference. More than 1,300 delegates gathered in Brighton last week for the four-day event, which finished last Friday.

Recently, a survey by Unison revealed that nurses and other NHS staff have been working in ‘insanitary and unsafe conditions’ with reports of rotting rats, insect infestations and leaking sewage in clinics, hospitals and ambulance stations across the country.

Around one in seven (14%) NHS staff have reported being aware of vermin inside their workplaces with the last 12 months, while 13% have reported other infestations such as silverfish, ants, bedbugs and cockroaches, according to a survey by the union.

Another recently published survey by union revealed that nursing staff and other NHS colleagues on lower Agenda for Change pay bands are being forced to rely on credit cards to fund basic living expenses because of poor pay.

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In findings published by Unison, NHS staff also reported taking on additional shifts to help cover their bills.

The survey, Pay up for NHS staff, was first conducted in 2025 and had more than 200,000 respondents. Unison has now received a further 3,160 responses from staff across the NHS, including nurses, technicians and senior managers.