Pay restraint, bursaries and plans for a 7-day NHS make for a turbulent year

January The year begins with trade unions and the Department of Health (DH) at loggerheads over pay, but a walkout by NHS staff is averted at the last minute with an offer of a 1% pay rise. Nurses recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list included RCN Wales director Tina Donnelly made a CBE for services to nursing, the armed forces and trade unionism. Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone, is discharged from hospital in London after recovering, and Cecilia Anim becomes RCN president.