RCN West Midlands

Applications for funded voting places at next June's RCN Congress in Newport, Wales close on 8 January 2024.

You can apply to go to Congress to represent your branch.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/3r6mmzrz

We could fill three quarters of NHS nursing vacancies in England with the BILLIONS of pounds that hospitals have spent on agency staff between 2020-2022.

Agency costs spiralled by 63% between 2020 and 2022, with staff working temporary shifts whilst patient demand has rocketed.

Poor government planning has resulted in expensive short-term fixes instead of long-term solutions.

This should be a wake up call for ministers to properly fund the nursing profession.

Read the findings from our Freedom of Information request here: https://bit.ly/3Ndymya

Applications for funded voting places at next June's RCN Congress in Newport, Wales close on 8 January 2024.

Why not apply to represent your RCN branch?

👉 https://tinyurl.com/3r6mmzrz

Considering a change of career path? Want to find out more about the independent health and social care (IHSC) sector in the East and West Mids? We're holding a free online event to highlight career pathways in IHSC. Find out more and book a place here - https://bit.ly/3tNpHLX

Congratulations to Leanne Howlett, winner of the Student Nursing category of the RCN Nursing Awards 2023.

Leanne is a student at Coventry University and scooped the award for her initiative to support the welfare of young people leaving mental health services.

Photo: johnhoulihan.com

Coventry student scoops nursing award | News | Royal College of Nursing A student has won one of nursing’s top accolades for supporting young people discharged from mental health units.

Are you a member of our South Birmingham branch? Join the branch's AGM and learning event on Monday online or in person at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Heritage Building from 2pm to 4pm.

Find out more and register to attend now.

👉 https://tinyurl.com/4sx8k79f

RCN Awards: who will you nominate? | News | Royal College of Nursing Every year the RCN recognises members who’ve made a difference to other members’ lives and the wider nursing profession. Now’s the time to tell us who should receive an RCN Award.

Are you a member of our RCN Worcestershire branch? Support your branch by joining its AGM online on Thursday 2 November from 5.45pm to 6.45pm.

Register to attend now.
👉 https://bit.ly/499UDpA

Are you a member of our RCN Herefordshire branch? Join the branch's online AGM and celebration of Black History Month on Wednesday 1 November from 12.45pm to 2pm.

Register to attend now.
👉 https://bit.ly/3s7pLWi

Join this free virtual open day on 1 November for an introduction to the RCN's CPD courses with academic credits. Explore the portfolio of programmes which focus on topics integral to your role as a nursing professional. Register here:

Virtual open day: CPD courses with 1:1 coaching | Royal College of Nursing Free webinar to explore RCN CPD Courses with 1:1 Coaching

Are you a member of our RCN Black Country branch? Join the branch's online AGM and celebration of Black History Month on Tuesday 17 October from 1pm.

Hear from special guest Sandra Samuels, nurse and last year's Mayor of Wolverhampton, the first Black woman to be elected to the historic role.

Register to attend now.
👉 https://bit.ly/3RUjhEP

Midwifery and mental health issues in the Black community is the topic of a learning event being held by our RCN Birmingham West and Sandwell branch tomorrow alongside its AGM.

Branch members can join online or in person. Book your place now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/22ypm4sn

Interested in becoming a member of the RCN West Midlands Board? Join our online event on 5 October and hear from RCN members from across the country about their experiences of being on an RCN Board.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/456gFq3

Black History Month | Royal College of Nursing Celebrating the contribution of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic nursing workforce

Here’s what one of our members has to say about Phil, the RCN steward in his NHS trust, who helped him to secure missing pension contributions worth £15,000 from his previous NHS employment.

Our volunteer reps make a positive and profound difference to our members’ working lives – could you be a rep?

Find out more 👉 https://tinyurl.com/bdnxsw7t

When a group of RCN members in a West Midlands hospital were denied the recent NHS lump sum payment in full, we stepped in.

Short-changed for taking unpaid career breaks to recover from the strain of working in ICU as newly-registered nurses in a pandemic, we helped them secure every penny of the full lump sum.

Our Regional Director Lindsay Meeks says: "The impact of being catapulted into ICU and experiencing the levels of illness, death, physical pressure and psychological trauma to which they were exposed during the pandemic left them needing a period of decompression and recovery.

“It was either unpaid career break or leave the NHS, and they chose a career break from which each of them returned ready to go again, only for them to feel so undervalued that they were seriously considering leaving if the trust did not change its mind and do the right thing by paying them the full lump sum."

Nursing makes a positive difference to people with a learning disability in independent health and social care settings. Want to know what innovative practice and rewarding career opportunities look like? Join us online on 15 September. Save the date. 👇

Shining a spotlight on Learning Disability Nursing careers in the Independent Health and Social Care Sector| Royal College of Nursing This event will offer an opportunity to explore innovative services providing support for people with learning disabilities in the independent health and social care sector, and to highlight the importance and value of pursuing a career in the sector.

Our RCN branches in the West Midlands are hosting no fewer than five Local Learning Events for members in August on topics ranging from compassionate leadership to revalidation for registered nursing staff.

Four of the events are taking place online; the other is in Hereford.

See what's on and book your free place 👇https://tinyurl.com/yfa3v5sd

Are you one of our accredited reps in the West Midlands in the Nurse category of membership? Apply to be our region's representative on the College's Trade Union Committee until the end of 2023. Applications are open until 21 July.

👉 https://www.rcn.org.uk/Get-Involved/RCN-elections-and-appointments/Current-RCN-elections-and-appointments/Trade-Union-Committee-West-Midlands-appointment

The ballot closes on Friday 23 June, so time is running out to cast your vote.

If you've got any last minute questions, join our online member Q&A at 5.30pm today!

Find out more 👉 https://bit.ly/42KTzEw

Monday 19 June is the , where we’re calling on everyone who supports nursing and the NHS to help get the vote out in the ballot.

Find out where we're going to be and how you can get involved here - http://rcn.org.uk/dayofaction

All out to get the vote out!

Vote now for further nursing strikes: 'the public backs you' | News | Royal College of Nursing New polling shows increasing public support for nursing strikes as RCN plans day of action to secure required legal turnout in current strike ballot.

If you still have questions about the strike ballot, please join our regional strike Q&A session today from 1-2pm. Visit the website for the link to join directly on MS Teams: https://tinyurl.com/mry8evyn

If you're an internationally-educated member of the RCN working in the NHS in England, your vote is your voice in our ballot.

It's your right to vote. It won't put your job, registration or immigration status at risk.

Join our online Q&A on Monday at 7pm.

Find out more 👉

IENs strike ballot Q&A event | Royal College of Nursing A session for internationally-educated nurses to find out more about our strike ballot in England and feel assured of their rights.

A movement and wellbeing workshop for RCN members will take place in Dudley on Saturday 10 June from 2pm. This free, two-hour event is designed to help you alleviate stress and connect with your body.

Book your free place now 👇

Body Intelligence Collective - Movement workshop (Dudley) | Library | Royal College of Nursing An art workshop focused on movement and well being designed to help health care workers alleviate stress and reconnect with their bodies.

England strike ballot opens as RCN leader meets health secretary | News | Royal College of Nursing Members working for the NHS in England are urged to vote ‘yes’ to strike action as we pressure ministers to improve the pay award for nursing staff.

Whether you've voted, spoken on stage or simply observed, thank you to all members who've represented the West Midlands at RCN Congress this week. We hope you've enjoyed the experience and have a safe journey home.

Look out later this year for details of how to apply to attend Congress 2024 in Newport, Wales as a funded, voting member for your branch.

Happy Nurses' Day to all nursing staff everywhere. Thank you for everything you do.

RCN picket lines across the West Midlands have now closed, but our strike action continues until 11.59pm tonight.

We've had a fantastic turnout across the region, and once again the public have been right behind us - thank you for all your support!

Our fight for fair pay will continue, with the statutory industrial action ballot for more strike action opening in mid-May.

📣 Calling Internationally Educated & Global Majority members!

Join RCN President, Sheilabye Sobrany, at our webinar tomorrow to discuss the upcoming strike action & what this means for you.

📅 27 April
⏰ 7-8:30pm
💻 Online

More info & how to join 👇

NHS Strike Action Webinar for Global Majority Members | Royal College of Nursing A webinar for Global Majority members hosted by RCN President, Sheilabye Sobrany, to discuss the NHS Strike Action.