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Nurses urged to vote by RCN general secretary

The voice of nursing must be heard, RCN general secretary Janet Davies has said in a her final blog post before the general election on Thursday.

The voice of nursing must be heard, RCN general secretary Janet Davies has said in a her blog post ahead of Thursday's general election.


Janet Davies has spoken out ahead of Thursday's election. Picture: Barney Newman

The college launched its Nursing Counts Manifesto at the start of May, soon after the election was called.

It includes calls for an end to the pay cap on nursing, commitment to safe staffing levels and the right to remain for European Economic Area nationals working in health and care.

'Focus'

Ms Davies said: 'Our Nursing Counts manifesto has focused attention on the issues facing our health and social care systems, and what the next government must do to address these - namely invest in services and value staff, like you.

'I hope too, that our manifesto has supported you to engage with your prospective parliamentary candidates, and encouraged you to use your vote on 8 June.'

The RCN has set up a tool to help nurses contact their local candidate to ask them to support the college's priorities.

'Nursing counts and so do you, so make your voice heard on Thursday by voting in the general election,' Ms Davies.

Pledges

Both the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats have pledged to end the pay cap, which has seen a 14% real terms cuts in wages since 2010.

When asked about nurse pay on BBC's Question Time, Conservative leader Theresa May said there was not a 'magic money tree'.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has previously said there are limited resources and his first aim was to increase the number of nurses working in the NHS.


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