天美传媒

Today is a day for celebrating the achievements of women across the globe. Women have been trailblazers in nursing since the start of the profession and it takes a remarkable person to do what we do. We are the 24/7 presence in health care – we are critical to patient safety, highly skilled, committed, compassionate and caring.   

Women still make up 90% of our workforce in the UK. And sadly, I think that is a big part of why we aren’t valued properly, by governments and decision makers.  

Nursing staff advocate for patients and make sure they feel safe, cared for and listened to. But our profession is still not understood or listened to by those in power. The number of women in our profession is a huge strength – and it should be celebrated and rewarded properly. 

On behalf of our members, my message to governments is that they need to invest in nursing jobs, education and leadership – it will reap economic and societal rewards. An International Council of Nurses report published last year demonstrated that investing in the nursing workforce has a positive impact, not only on the well-being of communities, but also boosting economic growth; strengthening health care systems; alleviating poverty and improving gender equality; and contributing to social cohesion, peace and prosperity. 

And I also want to say thank you to the incredible women in the nursing profession here in the UK and across the world. Your ongoing commitment to our profession is seen and valued by all of us at the RCN.  

Yesterday marked NHS Overseas Workers’ Day – a day to celebrate the contribution of Overseas NHS Workers and say thank you for everything they do, to support our health and care services.   

I’ve had the pleasure and the privilege of working with nursing staff who have trained all over the world and I have learned so much from them. I want to thank all internationally educated nursing staff for your contribution to nursing here in the UK and your commitment to caring for patients.   

But unfortunately, the contribution of those who come to the UK to work is not always valued or treated fairly by employers.  

We’ve heard directly from migrant workers in the care sector who are being exploited by employers, using repayment clauses to demand tens of thousands of pounds if they try to leave, leaving many trapped in appalling conditions.  

Calls made to the RCN advice team show an eight-fold increase in enquiries from nursing staff who fear they’re victims of exploitation within the social care sector. I have written to the Home Secretary this week to urge officials in the Home Office and across government departments to launch the promised investigation now to ensure that victims are not let down by lengthy processes. 

The RCN is here to support all internationally educated nursing staff, within the NHS and working for any employer, so find out more about how we can support you here.  

I am looking forward to the UK Joint Representatives Spring Conference next week and to spending time with our brilliant rep community to hear more about how we will tackle the issues facing our members together. I will also have the opportunity to offer my thanks for the positive difference RCN Reps are making in workplaces across the UK.  

I’d like to finish by mentioning that 11 March 2025 marks five years since the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a global pandemic. I had the privilege of leading 7,000 nurses and midwives through the pandemic. The experience had a profound impact on me, as I am sure it did for all our members who worked through it.  We will never forget the contribution and sacrifice of nursing staff. 

Next Saturday, on International Long Covid Awareness Day, the RCN will mark this milestone with an event, Nursing and Covid-19: Past, Present and Future, which will explore the vital role that nursing and the wider health and care workforce played during the height of the pandemic. Book your free place to watch online here.