A ‘substantial’ pay rise for all nursing staff and the protection of the title ‘nurse’ are among the key policy calls of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) as it launches its general election manifesto.
Acting RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger has used her inaugural speech at the RCN Congress today to reveal the college’s 12 key priorities amid the upcoming general election.
The RCN UK General Election Manifesto 2024 leads with asking for a substantial pay rise for nursing staff – focused on the need for NHS pay negotiations to begin in the weeks following the general election on 4 July.
Professor Ranger told the conference, which is being held in Newport in Wales this week, that delaying an NHS pay award until parliament sits again in September would reach bank accounts only from November and would be six months late.
Other calls from the RCN include ‘safety-critical’ nurse-to-patient ratios in all care settings, as well as legal protection for people raising concerns about unsafe staffing and the protection of the ‘nurse’ title in law.
In addition, the RCN said it wants to see an ‘end to exploitation of health and social care workers’, as well as support for internationally educated nursing staff ‘by ending punitive immigration policies’.
‘Sufficient funding’ for continuing professional development, as well as an increase in spending to tackle global nursing shortages were also called for by the RCN.
‘This has to be a nursing election,’ Professor Ranger told the conference.
While holding the college’s new manifesto, she added that the document ‘tells every candidate what will really sort out health and care services’.
‘This is the change our country could get behind. No party has come close to that yet,’ said Professor Ranger.
‘These points are fundamental to a healthy society and strong economy.’
Full list of RCN General Election Manifesto 2024 calls:
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A substantial pay rise for all nursing staff and automatic band 5 to 6 pay progression for NHS nurses
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Safety-critical nurse-to-patient ratios in all care settings
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Legal protection for people raising concerns about unsafe staffing
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Funded mental health support for all nursing staff provided by every employer
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Corridor care eradicated including forced reporting of it
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Government-funded nursing degrees with a job guarantee for graduates
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Legislation restricting the right to strike revoked
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The ‘nurse’ title protected in law
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An end to exploitation of health and social care workers
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Sufficient funding for continuing professional development
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Support for internationally educated nursing staff by ending punitive immigration policies.
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Overseas aid spending increased to tackle global nursing shortages
Earlier this year, Nursing in Practice launched its GPN Manifesto, setting out the top priorities for general practice nurses, including, pay and conditions, workforce and the need to tackle health inequalities and reinstate time for long-term conditions.
And last month, we launched our first roundtable discussing some of its key points – including the need to focus on recruitment, retention and improved terms and conditions.
