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RCN council to elect new chair and vice-chair

Emergency meeting set timetable to name replacements following resignations – as college president Anne Marie Rafferty reveals she was disqualified from standing in forthcoming presidential election
RCN president Anne Marie Rafferty: ‘Council is working to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible’ Picture: Barney Newman

Emergency meeting set timetable to name replacements following resignations – as college president Anne Marie Rafferty reveals she was disqualified from standing in forthcoming presidential election

This story was originally published on 28 August and updated on 1 September 2020

 Barney Newman
RCN president Anne Marie Rafferty: ‘Council is working to resolve the situation as swiftly
as possible’ Picture: Barney Newman

 

Members of the RCN's ruling council will elect a chair and vice-chair by the end of next week, the college president said.

The move follows the resignations of incumbants Dee Sissons and her deputy Richard Jones late last week. 

Council members held an emergency meeting on August 27 to agree a timetable for naming replacements. The outcome of that discussion was shared with the college's wider membership by RCN president Anne Marie Rafferty.

 

‘Council is working to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible’

Dee Sissons. She and vice chair Richard Jones both resigned earlier this month
Dee Sissons resigned as council
chair Picture: Barney Newman


Professor Rafferty said in a message: ‘Council is working to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible, while ensuring the election follows procedure and is conducted as a fair race between candidates. The outcome of the elections will be announced late next week.’

Professor Rafferty said she was determined to help steer the college through what she called 'this period of uncertainty'.

Events preceding the resignation of the council chair 

The RCN council suspended the college's presidential election earlier this month after disqualifying two candidates over allegations relating to election rules.

Anne Marie Rafferty, who had been seeking re-election as RCN president, confirmed in a tweet on 29 August, she was one of those barred. She said despite being disqualified, her priority was to 'secure a chair and vice-chair of council and support our pay campaign'.

Earlier, mental health nurse Stuart McKenzie revealed he was the other disqualified candidate.


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