RCN South West

24/12/2025

RCN South West will close its offices from 3pm on 24 December, reopening on Friday 2 January. Our advice centre remains open every day over the Christmas and New Year period. www.rcn.org.uk/get-help

21/12/2025

What do the RCN Employment Standards cover?

Hear directly from some of our activists about 7 of the rights you’re entitled to when working in the independent health and social care sectors.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3XihDyi

20/12/2025

RCN South West will close its office from 3pm on 24 December, reopening on Friday 2 January. Our advice centre remains open every day over the Christmas and New Year period, with a reduced hours service running. You can also access a wealth of advice guides on just about any work-related subject you can think of via those help webpages so it's well worth having a browse when you have the time: www.rcn.org.uk/get-help

19/12/2025

If you work for an ICB in Devon or Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, you have another chance to join a member meeting about your situation on 23 December at 2-3pm. You can log in and join the meeting via this webpage: https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/events/SW-meeting-for-RCN-members-employed-by-Devon-ICB-and-Cornwall-and-the-Isles-of-Scilly-ICB-231225v
Please tell your RCN-member colleagues.

A chance to explore the finer details of your situation and the voluntary redundancy scheme

18/12/2025

Today is , and a chance to celebrate the contribution of migrant nursing staff to the profession and to patient care. 💙

Without your dedication, our health and care system would cease to function. Explore our resources for international members ➡️ https://bit.ly/486nknR

14/12/2025

Corridor care has already been normalised across NHS services. It compromises not only patient safety, but staff wellbeing too. It should be eradicated, and not before time.

NHS England’s new corridor care guidance is a sign of just how far care standards have fallen. We’re calling for a fully funded plan to eradicate the practice

13/12/2025

An interesting and poignant insight from the launch of the South West chapter of the Philippine Nurses Association UK yesterday. In the final segment of a four-presenter session called 'Voices without borders: stories of strength and service', in his presentation 'Giving back, shaping the future of inclusive healthcare', Febbom Mandawe revealed that the main motivation for migration for 87% of Filipino nurses is career development. And do they get it? No. More needs to be done to develop clear career pathways for nurses; they must not start and end their careers on band five when they so clearly deserve much more. Check out how to boost your career development on this dedicated page for nurses from the global majority: https://www.rcn.org.uk/membership/Existing-members/International-nursing-members
And more generally have a look at this advice on career progression: https://www.rcn.org.uk/Professional-Development/Your-career/Nurse/Career-Crossroads/Career-Progression

12/12/2025

While at the launch of the Philippine Nurses Association UK South West chapter, Senior RCN Officer Nikki Thomas ran into Jennifer Caguioa MBE, who is a Royal College of Nursing UK Council member for London - the first Filipino member to be elected to the prestigious governing role. During her presentation: 'Filipino nurse migration - a global perspective', she was able to mention RCN statistics from a report which underlined just why it is so important to foster strong, supportive networks and forge connections between global majority nursing staff regionally and well as with local staff. 'Stay and Thrive', urged Hervika Whitley, Head of Clinical Education, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, while Hannah Foster, Director of People, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust delivered a message of thanks. All in all it was a fabulous, inspirational event full of energy and both Senior RCN Officers Nikki Thomas and Charlie Faulkner had a brilliant time- just look at that post-lunch wake-up dance - enough to reinvigorate anyone and stop any energy slump in its tracks!

12/12/2025

Senior RCN Officers Charlie Faulkner and Nikki Thomas have been in Exeter today at the Philippine Nurses' Association launch of its south west chapter. Charlie (left) and Nikki (right) are pictured here with Ed Hernaez (centre), the Chair PNA UK South West (centre). Next, pictured standing at the podium talking about his nursing journey, is Oliver Soriano, the first-ever Filipino chief nurse in the UK and the President of the Philippine Nurses Association UK (PNA UK). So far it has been a fascinating day, with a talk by Edward Sheffield, consultant pathologist at North Bristol NHS Trust about the incredible work of the Mercy Ships, and another by Bernadette Edwards, Deputy Director of Nursing, NHS England South West, celebrating Filipino contributions to health care in the NHS. J-J Etose Dementia Nurse Specialist and Clinical Practice Facilitator, RUH Bath, gave a great presentation on Malakasit in New Spaces: the power of the Filipino perspective abroad. We wish everyone a wonderful day, and send congratulations on the historic launch of the south west chapter of the PNA! RCN Somerset Branch kindly contributed to sponsorship for the event to promote the RCN's work there.

11/12/2025

Why did he have to wear a suit? Who is leaving a massive hole in the RCN? What were this year's highlights? Read on to find out.

Matthew Stewart looks back on his year as an RCN activist with a range of roles

10/12/2025

If you work in an ICB and are an RCN member, you will likely have a support meeting coming up soon. This page is really useful for finding the details of such meetings and it includes position statements and related policies that may be helpful:

There are changes coming to how the NHS is managed and health and care system operations in England.