Christmas message

For many, Christmas is a time to take stock of what has come and New Year is a time to contemplate what the year ahead may hold.

2009 saw the RCN take its first bold step into the world of new media and I took my own leap into the blogosphere. However, while our means of communicating may have changed somewhat, the values at the very heart of nursing have not. We will continue to champion care, defend dignity and support society’s health.

From whistle-blowing to an all-graduate nursing profession; staff shortages in Mid-Staffs to swine flu; recession to assisted suicide, nursing has been confronted with diverse challenges and diverse difficulties in 2009.

There have however also been victories and I am tremendously proud to represent an organisation which has been a voice for nursing for over 90 years. We have recovered more than £5 million in compensation for our members, secured the third year of a pay deal for our members and launched a whistle-blowing hotline to help our members speak up where they see poor care.

More than simply being a voice for members, the RCN aims to support members in being a voice for high standards of care.

Christmas is also when we take time out to be with friends or family. Every year, I and other RCN staff visit hospitals on Christmas Day to offer our support to staff who continue to offer care throughout the Christmas period.

There are also those who are even further from their families at this festive time, and I am touched by the bravery and self-sacrifice of the military nurses and healthcare assistants who are far from home in the line of duty.

I have only one resolution in the coming year, and that is that the RCN should continue to be a voice for our members, a voice for nursing and a voice for healthcare. May I wish all my blog readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Finally, if you’re interested in hearing the latest RCN podcast, a round-up of the year’s top health stories, you can listen on the RCN website or by visiting iTunes and searching ‘Royal College of Nursing’ http://bit.ly/4SbCcZ