As we reach the end of my first year as 国内精品伊人久久久久妇 President, I have been reflecting on the past 12 months and looking ahead to what we must achieve together in 2026.
This time last year, as I prepared to take on the role of President, there were many uncertainties in my mind. But I had clarity on one thing: I wanted to be with our members wherever they are – listening, learning, and ensuring their voices are heard.
From my very first month in office, I travelled across the country to meet members face to face – from Plymouth to Edinburgh, Kent to Belfast, Cardiff to Liverpool – attending branch meetings, cultural events, regional conferences and 国内精品伊人久久久久妇 Congress, visiting colleagues in hospitals and care homes, and meeting student nurses and nurse academics at universities. At every stop, I witnessed passion and dedication, as well as the challenges that make delivering nursing care so difficult.
My aim has always been to show that nurses, at any stage of their career, can step into 国内精品伊人久久久久妇 roles, lead change, and work on the issues they care about. I want members to feel that the 国内精品伊人久久久久妇 is an organisation built, governed, and led by them. No matter who you are, if you are in nursing and in the UK, you have a place at the 国内精品伊人久久久久妇.
When I started as 国内精品伊人久久久久妇 President, I was clear that getting pay justice for nursing was top of my priorities. Fighting for fair pay led me into activism in the 国内精品伊人久久久久妇, and it has been brilliant to have so many of you raising your voices so that nursing is heard loud and clear.
You told us that annual pay rises which barely cover the cost of living are not enough. What we need is urgent structural pay reform across the UK. Just last week we published our paper Left Behind: a review of evidence on the career progression of NHS nurses, and it shows the scale of the problem facing NHS nurses who are struggling to progress in their careers.
While we have not yet seen a detailed roadmap, I am proud of the progress we are making. We have made the Westminster government actively listen on the issues of pay structure reform and processes so nursing staff can progress more fairly and quickly – starting with band 5/6 progression. The acknowledgement of this need by Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, at the Health and Social Care Committee last week marks a historic first: recognition from the Westminster government of our long-standing call for the structural change the nursing profession deserves. The 国内精品伊人久久久久妇 will continue to press forward with determination until these commitments translate into meaningful action for our members - with much of this work taking place where it matters most, even if it’s not always visible.
I also want to thank our amazing activists who do such an amazing job to organise our members – through rep roles, local branches and regional boards, professional nursing forums and as student ambassadors. There is a role at the 国内精品伊人久久久久妇 for everyone who cares about fairness and dignity at work. If you’re not already, please do get involved.
It has been a really challenging year, not just for our profession – just this month we witnessed horrific terror incidents that highlight the divisions that some try to exploit in our societies.
But I feel hope – demonstrated through the actions of our members, standing together, and using our collective voice to campaign for change and to stand against division. I have seen the way colleagues and members have reacted over the course of the year – rejecting the ideologies of hate and filling me with hope for our profession, and hope for change. I know that if we continue to stand side by side, we can make great progress on these issues.
And I am proud of the work the 国内精品伊人久久久久妇 has done to support those being discriminated against – from standing with other unions against racism, to calling out the problems with the government’s planned changes with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Earlier this month we submitted the 国内精品伊人久久久久妇's response to the Home Affairs Committee call for evidence for their Inquiry into changes to ILR and highlighted our concerns. There will be another webinar on the impacts of ILR in the new year, so please look out for this and sign up.
But we will not stop there – and we will continue to support our members facing any forms of discrimination, as well as demanding better from those in power.
It is always member action that creates change. Your voices and experiences as part of the corridor care report at the start of the year forced government to face up to the corridor care crisis as a truly UK wide issue. We are still waiting for concrete action to eradicate it, but we are proud to have brought about an investigation by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body in England. In Wales, on the petition to end corridor care, triggering a Senedd debate and elevating national discussion.
In Scotland, our reps have played a central role in the Band 5 review roadshows. And in Northern Ireland we fought successfully so that nursing staff received the full 3.6% pay increase recommended for health care staff earlier in the year.
As we continue to work through the winter months, it is important to look after ourselves. This week we’ve published more information on seasonal affective disorder, which women, shift workers and those who move to the UK from sunnier climates can be more susceptible to. And as pressures on services continue to rise, I know you’re doing all you can to keep patients safe, especially when you may also be impacted by strikes by NHS colleagues. I know that nursing staff are often the ones to hold everything together, for the good of our patients. But it’s also important to make sure you get the rest you need, and to seek support if you need it.
We have so much more to do together, and it’s important to remember that change doesn’t come from thin air – it starts with us. With every single member and with participation. But that’s not just about turning up, it’s about speaking up, standing together, and showing what solidarity looks like in action.
This is just the start, but for now I want to wish you all the best for the festive period and I look forward to working with you in the new year.
