Latest news with #nursing
BBC News
9 hours ago
- 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.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Nurses threaten industrial action ballot after rejecting pay increase
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has threatened to ballot its members on industrial action if the government fails to reach an agreement on investment in the profession over the summer. It comes after members of the union rejected a 3.6% pay increase for 2025/26 in England. Nurses feel "deeply undervalued," said Professor Nicola Ranger, general secretary and chief executive of the RCN. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the government "hugely" values the work of nurses, but stressed the profession has had "two above-inflation pay rises". Some 91% of RCN members voted to reject the pay award, with a 56% turnout. The RCN warned the profession faces widespread vacancies, stunted career progression and years of pay erosion. It urged ministers to use the summer to agree an investment plan or face a formal escalation to a dispute and a ballot on industrial action. Prof Ranger said: "My profession feels deeply undervalued and that is why record numbers are telling the government to wake up, sense the urgency here and do what's right by them and by patients. "Record numbers have delivered this verdict on a broken system that holds back nursing pay and careers and hampers the NHS. "As a safety-critical profession, keeping hold of experienced nursing staff is fundamentally a safety issue and key to the Government's own vision for the NHS. "Long-overdue reforms to nursing career progression and the NHS pay structure aren't just about fairness and equity but are critical for patient safety." Nurses in Wales and Northern Ireland consulted on the same pay award also voted to reject it, according to the RCN. Prof Ranger added: "We deliver the vast majority of care in every service and deserve to be valued for all our skill, knowledge and experience. "To avoid formal escalation, the government must be true to its word and negotiate on reforms of the outdated pay structure which traps nursing staff at the same band their entire career." Read more: A DHSC spokesperson said: "After receiving two above-inflation pay rises from this government, new full-time nurses will earn £30,000 in basic pay for the first time this year, so it's disappointing that RCN members are dissatisfied with this year's pay rise. "We hugely value the work of nurses, and through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are rebuilding the NHS for the benefit of patients and staff, and ensuring nursing remains an attractive career choice. "This government is clear we can't move any further on headline pay but will work with the RCN to improve their major concerns, including pay structure reform, concerns on career progression and wider working conditions." Nurses staged unprecedented industrial action over pay in 2022 and 2023, with the threat of more strikes ending in June 2023 because a ballot on further walkouts failed to meet the legal threshold of 50%. It comes after a five-day walkout by resident doctors in England. Medics returned to work at 7am on Wednesday.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
First new nursing school in over 20 years to accept students in Maynooth in September
Ireland's first new school of nursing in over 20 years will welcome its first students in September, following official approval by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Applications for Maynooth University's new BSc in General Nursing programme open on August 28th through the CAO 'Available Places' facility. Advertisement The first intake of 30 students will commence their undergraduate studies in September. Founding Head of the new MU School of Nursing, Professor Fintan Sheerin, said student numbers are expected to rise to 100 over the next four years. 'Maynooth University is in a unique position in establishing a wholly new school of nursing. This hasn't been done in an Irish university for about two decades," Prof Sheerin said. "We are ideally placed to take the lead in tackling challenges and in re-shaping Irish healthcare education and service delivery. Advertisement 'Our new School of Nursing is at the forefront of a new wave in healthcare education. We are committed to inclusive pathways for diverse learners – that was explicit in our commitment that 50 per cent of our students will come from further education and mature learners.' Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless, said: 'This new undergraduate nursing programme at Maynooth University marks an important step in expanding healthcare education in one of Ireland's fastest-growing regions. It is a new and exciting direction for Maynooth University. 'I greatly look forward to the impact these graduates will have in addressing workforce needs in our health service, which is a key priority of government. "Work is underway to expand healthcare programmes and increase supply of graduates to meet acute skills shortages. This new nursing programme is a very welcome addition to achieving that goal. "The new School of Nursing will ensure that communities across Ireland will benefit from a new generation of highly trained nurses."
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
The walking nun — Sister Clare Nolan on entering the convent and saving lives
Clare Nolan was 21 years old when she entered the convent, against her mother's wishes, joining the Sisters of Charity novitiate to prepare for life as a nun. Clare had already completed her training as a nurse, and so she didn't want to join a contemplative order, closed off to the rest of the world. Clare wanted to take care of the sick and marginalised as a nurse, and as a nun, and so she became a 'walking sister'. Sister Clare quickly rose up the ranks, becoming the director of nursing at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, right as the HIV/AIDS epidemic reached Australia. Clare found herself in meetings with politicians, immunologists, brothel workers, gay activists and Catholics, working together to figure out how to save the hundreds of patients who came under her care in Ward 17 South - the first and only dedicated HIV/AIDS ward in the country. Further information You can learn more about the Sister's of Charity of Australia and St Vincent's Health Australia online. Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Fake nurse convicted of fraud now in jail after surety revoked bail
Hailey Roberts, 33, convicted of fraud for impersonating a licensed nurse to work in seniors' homes is in jail. (Supplied) A Tiny Township, Ont. woman who was convicted of fraud for impersonating a licensed nurse to work in seniors' homes is in jail. Hailey Roberts, 33, appeared in a Barrie bail court Monday afternoon, days after a surety revoked her bail. Roberts was arrested and taken into custody as she seeks her release one month after pleading guilty to fraud and assault charges that included forging documents and posing as a nurse for four years in long-term care homes across Elmvale, Midland and Stayner. In an Agreed Statement of Facts during her Barrie plea in June, Roberts admitted to lying about her qualifications and submitting forged documents to obtain jobs. She made more than $118,000 during the pandemic until her deception was uncovered late last year, leading to criminal charges. Roberts who had been out on bail since her arrest was taken back into custody late last week and appeared in bail court as she awaits her sentencing hearing. Hailey Roberts, Hailey Roberts, of Tiny Township, Ont., faces charges for allegedly falsifying documents to work as a nurse in Simcoe County between 2020 and 2024. Roberts, according to those who know her, once faked brain cancer years ago and admitted to telling employers she was certified to work in long-term care homes as a nurse and falsely claimed she had upgraded her certification from a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) to Registered Nurse (RN) status. Roberts was convicted on nine counts including fraud and assault. The charges included using forged documents, fraud under false pretenses, impersonation for financial gain, and assaulting seniors by illegally administering medicine and vaccines to 58 residents in seniors' homes. At least two men told CTV News Roberts pretended to be pregnant and forged their signatures before stealing thousands of dollars from their bank accounts. Roberts is scheduled to return to court tomorrow from jail awaiting a bail bed with the Salvation Army bail program. A publication prevents any evidence heard in court Monday from being released.
