Latest news with #RitaDevlin
ITV News
31-07-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Nurses in Northern Ireland lodge dispute over failure to implement pay award
The Royal College of Nursing has lodged a formal dispute over the failure to implement a pay award for nursing staff in Northern dispute has been lodged with the Northern Ireland Executive, Department of Health and health and social care a ballot, the RCN across the UK rejected a pay offer of 3.6%.Nurses in Northern Ireland have yet to receive the pay rise. An RCN statement said: 'We have made it clear that our members are not prepared to tolerate a repetition of their experiences in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, whereby a pay award for staff working in the HSC on Agenda for Change terms and conditions was not confirmed for several months after it had been awarded elsewhere across the UK, and the uplift was not paid until the very end of the financial year.'Despite the recent welcome intervention of the Health Minister (Mike Nesbitt) in issuing his ministerial direction, it appears that we are, once again, in the same position.'Rita Devlin, RCN Northern Ireland executive director said: 'Nursing and other healthcare staff in Northern Ireland are once again on the brink of stepping out of pay parity with colleagues across the UK.'We have worked tirelessly to try and ensure that this does not happen again but there has been a failure in some political quarters to listen.'Our members do not understand why, yet again, they are being treated by their own Executive as second-class citizens and why, every year, the need to formulate a modest pay offer appears to catch the Executive unprepared.'The issue of pay should be accounted for in every year's budget and a failure to do this is a failure of government.'Ms Devlin added: 'Without staff there is simply no health service, and we are at an absolute loss to explain this attitude towards nursing staff who are the largest professional group in the health service.'As our recent pay consultation has shown, nursing staff in Northern Ireland and across the UK, don't believe a 3.6% pay rise is enough, but to not even get that is an insult.'In a statement issued through the Ulster Unionist Party, Nr Nesbitt said he shared the frustration of the added: 'In May, I announced that I was triggering the ministerial direction process to achieve delivery of these pay increases as soon as possible.'That reflected my commitment to maintaining pay parity with England.'In line with the ministerial direction process, my decision was referred to the wider Executive.'Unfortunately, that's where it still sits.'Our health workers deserve so much better.''I note that the RCN is today saying that the 'first step must be for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the long-overdue pay award for this year'.'I couldn't agree more.'
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
RCN: NI nurses lodge dispute after rejecting pay offer
The Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland (RCN NI) has lodged a formal dispute over failure to implement this year's pay award for nursing dispute, with the Northern Ireland Executive, Department of Health and health and social care employers, follows results of a ballot where RCN nurses voted against the proposed pay award of 3.6%.In what has been described as the largest pay consultation ever run by the health union, 51% of its members took part with 80% of those saying the offer was not have yet to receive the pay award for this year (2025-2026) which their counterparts elsewhere in the UK have been told they will receive in their August pay. The RCN NI said they have made it clear that their members are "not prepared to tolerate a repetition of their experiences" over the last two years, where their pay award was not confirmed for several months after it had been awarded elsewhere across the UK, and the uplift was not paid until the very end of the financial union added that despite the recent welcome intervention of the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in issuing his ministerial direction, it "appears that we are, once again, in the same position"."Nursing and other health care staff in Northern Ireland are once again on the brink of stepping out of pay parity with colleagues across the UK," said Rita Devlin, RCN Northern Ireland Executive Director."We have worked tirelessly to try and ensure that this does not happen again but there has been a failure in some political quarters to listen."Our members do not understand why, yet again, they are being treated by their own executive as second-class citizens and why, every year, the need to formulate a modest pay offer appears to catch the executive unprepared."The issue of pay should be accounted for in every year's budget and a failure to do this is a failure of government."Without staff there is simply no health service, and we are at an absolute loss to explain this attitude towards nursing staff who are the largest professional group in the health service."As our recent pay consultation has shown, nursing staff in Northern Ireland and across the UK, don't believe a 3.6% pay rise is enough, but to not even get that is an insult," she said. Health minister 'couldn't agree more' with RCN Health Minister Mike Nesbitt issued a statement throughout the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), as leader of the party and health minister, saying he shared the RCN's "frustration".He added he "reflected my commitment" to maintaining pay parity by triggering the ministerial direction process to deliver the pay increases as soon as possible."In line with the ministerial direction process, my decision was referred to the wider executive."Unfortunately, that's where it still sits," he said."Our health workers deserve so much better."I note that the RCN is today saying that the 'first step must be for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the long-overdue pay award for this year.'"I couldn't agree more," Nesbitt Department of Health said it would not be issuing any statement on the RCN's formal dispute.
Belfast Telegraph
31-07-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Health Minister blames Executive hold-up for delay on nurses' pay deal in NI
It came after a pay consultation survey by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) saw almost 80% of respondents here say that the proposed pay award of 3.6% was not enough. A previous 3.6% pay award that staff in England and Wales received has not been implemented here. The RCN said the NHS pay system needs urgent reform Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: 'I share the Royal College of Nursing's (RCN) frustration at the fact that recommended pay increases for 2025-26 have still not been implemented. 'In May, I announced that I was triggering the Ministerial Direction process to achieve delivery of these pay increases as soon as possible. That reflected my commitment to maintaining pay parity with England. 'In line with the Ministerial Direction process, my decision was referred to the wider Executive. Unfortunately, that's where it still sits. 'Our health workers deserve so much better. 'I note that the RCN is today saying that the 'first step must be for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the long-overdue pay award for this year.' I couldn't agree more.' Earlier, Professor Rita Devlin, the RCN's Northern Ireland executive director, said their members' vote is 'an overwhelming signal from our members that they feel undervalued and that meaningful change is needed in the nursing profession". She added: 'Despite being told we deserve the same 3.6% pay award which nursing staff in England and Wales are already receiving, we have yet to have confirmation of when and indeed if this will happen. Make no mistake, inaction over pay will not be accepted. 'The HSC system in Northern Ireland is in urgent need of transformation, and the RCN is supportive of the Health Minister's reset plan. However, meaningful change will only be possible with the full involvement and leadership of nursing staff. 'Expecting an already exhausted and disillusioned workforce to invest their time and energy into this process without a fair pay award is both unreasonable and deeply disrespectful. 'Since 2019, nursing staff in Northern Ireland have shown they are willing to stand up for fair treatment — not only for themselves but for the patients they care for. The current pay system is broken, and we are demanding change. 'The first step must be for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the long-overdue pay award for this year, which should have been implemented in April.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nursing body resigns from restraint in schools taskforce
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has resigned from a taskforce set up by the Department of Education (DE) to look at the use of restraint and seclusion in schools, BBC News NI has learnt. In 2023, the department published draft statutory guidance on the measures, saying they should only be used as a last resort. It followed calls for tougher laws on when a child can be physically restrained in school. The RCN has now expressed serious concerns over the current direction of travel by DE on the issue. In a letter to the department, Rita Devlin, the director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, said that her organisation was being put in the "potential position of being ascribed a responsibility and accountability for a policy direction that we are unable to support". She added that due to failures to receive "clear assurances", the RCN was withdrawing from the Restraint and Seclusion Task Finish Group with "immediate effect". She said the RCN, along with the department and other stakeholders, had hoped to be able to "shape the guidance... in the best interests of children and young people and staff alike". But she added: "It is disappointing that the department is unable to set out clearly the policy position in respect of the use of restrictive practices, restraint and seclusion in schools." The letter went on to state: "The RCN would have expected that the response would clearly state that the policy position will be the elimination of the use of seclusion in educational settings, and both the recognition and minimisation of the use of all restrictive interventions." Hilton backs NI campaign to toughen restraint law Don't shut children in room alone, says new policy School seclusion 'could have damaging effects' Some parents in Northern Ireland have campaigned for "Harry's Law" for a number of years, which would make it compulsory for schools to report when they isolated or restrained a child. Similar recent guidance from the Department of Health (DoH) said that children should never be shut in a room alone and prevented from leaving. Ms Devlin added that her advice to health staff who provide services to children and young people would be to follow the existing DoH policy as it provides a "clear direction and standards" for the minimisation of the use of all restrictive practices. Her letter concluded that the RCN had previously made clear that it needed assurances from the department about ensuring the statutory guidance is human rights compatible, in order to remain a member of the task group. It also called into question whether the minister plans to follow through on a commitment made by the last education minister to repeal Article 4 (1)(c) of Education (NI) Order 1998, which still allows use of force to maintain "good order and discipline" in schools. "These assurances have not been provided. This puts the RCN in the potential position of being ascribed a responsibility for a direction that we are unable to support and was developed despite, rather than as a consequence of, our involvement," it stated. Alliance assembly member Michelle Guy called for the education minister to clarify the department's position. "The RCN withdrawing from this group is incredibly serious. Their letter outlined concerns as to whether the Department of Education is committed to the elimination of the use of seclusion in educational settings and the minimisation of all restrictive interventions," she added. "We are in danger of continuing to have differing guidance within educational settings and health settings, which only creates unnecessary inconsistency. "The outcome here must be clear guidance for our school staff that puts the needs of children and young people at its centre." The DE has been contacted for a response. Calls for tougher laws on when children can be restrained in schools have also previously been backed by the celebrity and businesswoman Paris Hilton. Ms Hilton has claimed that she was placed in solitary confinement when at boarding school in the US as a teenager. The DE had provided interim guidance on restraint and seclusion in 2021, but that did not place a legal obligation on schools to record when they restrained a pupil. Two years later the department drew up new statutory guidance for schools that was then sent out to public consultation. But some campaigners criticised that process and said there were still too many "grey areas". Boy restrained unnecessarily at special school, watchdog says Schools must inform parents if child restrained
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Royal College of Nursing resigns from restraint in schools taskforce
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has resigned from a taskforce set up by the Department of Education (DE) to look at the use of restraint and seclusion in schools, BBC News NI has 2023, the department published draft statutory guidance on the measures, saying they should only be used as a last resort. It followed calls for tougher laws on when a child can be physically restrained in RCN has now expressed serious concerns over the current direction of travel by DE on the issue. In a letter to the department, Rita Devlin, the director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, said that her organisation was being put in the "potential position of being ascribed a responsibility and accountability for a policy direction that we are unable to support".She added that due to failures to receive "clear assurances", the RCN was withdrawing from the Restraint and Seclusion Task Finish Group with "immediate effect". She said the RCN, along with the department and other stakeholders, had hoped to be able to "shape the guidance... in the best interests of children and young people and staff alike".But she added: "It is disappointing that the department is unable to set out clearly the policy position in respect of the use of restrictive practices, restraint and seclusion in schools."The letter went on to state: "The RCN would have expected that the response would clearly state that the policy position will be the elimination of the use of seclusion in educational settings, and both the recognition and minimisation of the use of all restrictive interventions." Some parents in Northern Ireland have campaigned for "Harry's Law" for a number of years, which would make it compulsory for schools to report when they isolated or restrained a recent guidance from the Department of Health (DoH) said that children should never be shut in a room alone and prevented from Devlin added that her advice to health staff who provide services to children and young people would be to follow the existing DoH policy as it provides a "clear direction and standards" for the minimisation of the use of all restrictive letter concluded that the RCN had previously made clear that it needed assurances from the department about ensuring the statutory guidance is human rights compatible, in order to remain a member of the task also called into question whether the minister plans to follow through on a commitment made by the last education minister to repeal Article 4 (1)(c) of Education (NI) Order 1998, which still allows use of force to maintain "good order and discipline" in schools."These assurances have not been provided. This puts the RCN in the potential position of being ascribed a responsibility for a direction that we are unable to support and was developed despite, rather than as a consequence of, our involvement," it stated. 'Incredibly serious' Alliance assembly member Michelle Guy called for the education minister to clarify the department's position."The RCN withdrawing from this group is incredibly serious. Their letter outlined concerns as to whether the Department of Education is committed to the elimination of the use of seclusion in educational settings and the minimisation of all restrictive interventions," she added."We are in danger of continuing to have differing guidance within educational settings and health settings, which only creates unnecessary inconsistency."The outcome here must be clear guidance for our school staff that puts the needs of children and young people at its centre."The DE has been contacted for a for tougher laws on when children can be restrained in schools have also previously been backed by the celebrity and businesswoman Paris Hilton has claimed that she was placed in solitary confinement when at boarding school in the US as a DE had provided interim guidance on restraint and seclusion in 2021, but that did not place a legal obligation on schools to record when they restrained a years later the department drew up new statutory guidance for schools that was then sent out to public some campaigners criticised that process and said there were still too many "grey areas".
