Posted 23 May 2024 - 14:47
Posted 23 May 2024 - 14:47
News
Nurses’ general election wish list: what’s your policy priority?
Nursing leaders and organisations respond to the surprise announcement of a July general election with a manifesto checklist for the main contenders
Nursing leaders and organisations respond to the surprise announcement of a July general election with a manifesto checklist for the main contenders
Politicians will have to prioritise pay rises, working conditions, student debt and mental health if they are to win votes from members of the nursing workforce.
As prime minister Rishi Sunak made his surprise announcement on Wednesday of an general election on 4 July, nurses and nursing leaders called for change and shared their wish list for a manifesto of meaningful policies from the next government.
Pay, regulation, staffing and student bursaries
‘I would welcome loan forgiveness and the return of the student bursary,’ said London Southbank University workforce chair Alison Leary. ‘I’d also like to see the safety critical nature of nursing valued by the next government, as well as addressing working conditions and pay. Finally, I’d like to see the introduction of an overarching safety regulator, similar to that in the aviation industry with mandated staffing levels.’
Founder of British Sikh Nurses Rohit Sagoo said he would also welcome the return to the student bursary and said the shortage of nurses and healthcare educators needed to be ‘urgently addressed’.
He added: ‘It is paramount to address nurses' pay and ensure that it appropriately reflects today’s living costs and nurses’ professionalism.
‘Most importantly, ensuring that international and domestic nurses have fairer treatment and are better valued is crucial in retaining the nursing workforce.’
Better mental health support for staff and fixing ailing services
The charity Doctors in Distress highlighted the immense pressure that NHS staff face every day, with one nurse dying by suicide every week.
It called on the government to make mental health support for all staff a manifesto promise ahead of the election.
RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said that MPs from all parties would have to work hard to earn support from nurses.
She added: ‘In the almost five years since the last election, a pandemic and repeated NHS and social care crises have exposed the frailties in our most important services. Politicians must show they have the answers to widespread health and care workforce shortages and poor population health.’
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