I'm standing for re-election to RCN council as member for Scotland. Voting opened this week. I've been working hard over the past 18 months to ensure nursing's royal college is fit for purpose & works for members. I promised to focus on culture change so that's where I began.

🚨 Nursing staff are collapsing on shift, patients are recovering in temperatures above 30°C, and facilities are being described as "not fit for humans". It’s unacceptable. We need action now to accelerate investment to upgrade facilities and adapt to the climate crisis as temperatures rise.

With this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) just around the corner, it’s time to have your say. • Tuesday 8 September • 2-5:30pm Find out more ⬇️

RCN Annual General Meeting 2026 | Royal College of Nursing

This year's AGM will take place 2pm-5.30pm on Tuesday 8 September at RCN HQ, 20 Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0RN and online.

bit.ly

Happy International Neonatal Nurses Day 💟 Neonatal nurse Linda Hamilton was named @rcnnorthernireland.bsky.social Nurse of the Year this year. Read more about her work to improve eye care for premature babies ⬇️ #CelebrateNeonatal #INND26

Belfast Trust nurse recognised for transforming neonatal eye care | News | Royal College of Nursing

Linda Hamilton is named RCN Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year 2026 for her outstanding work improving eye care for premature babies

rcn.org.uk

Did you know PCOS is now known as PMOS? The name change reflects the reality that this is a whole-body condition, with hormonal, metabolic and psychological effects that can be life-changing and sometimes debilitating for many people. Read our updated guide to PMOS here: https://bit.ly/4x0Q8JK

PMOS, previously known as PCOS: ‘It’s time to talk about it' | RCN Magazine | Royal College of Nursing

Widespread, lifelong and often overlooked – here’s what you need to know about polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome

rcn.org.uk

This is horrendous and I hope the perpetrators are caught and prosecuted very soon There is no excuse for this - and particularly heinous to attack ambulances that save lives. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Ambulance arson attack in London being treated as antisemitic hate crime

PM, London mayor and chief rabbi among those to condemn burning of emergency vehicles in Golders Green

theguardian.com

The bare minimum staff deserve is to be safe at work. This investigation into sexual & physical assaults in NHS trusts in England shows a lack of standardised reporting of incidents. There is little doubt that some employers are in breach of their legal duties by failing to report incidents. (1/2)

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 8mo ago

NHS staff face ‘national emergency’ as patient violence hits 285 incidents a day

I’m supervising Nicolette Bell’s honours project on sexual wellbeing amongst Australian women who have survived child sexual abuse. If you are a woman, in Australia, who has experienced child sexual abuse, please consider filling out this 15 minute survey: unsw.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Women Lead The RCN 📢 On Monday August 18th at 5:30pm I'll be hosting an online panel discussion for women thinking about leadership roles and upcoming RCN elections. Hear more about why women's leadership is vital and how to sign up here: www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-eve...

Women members Lead the RCN | Royal College of Nursing

Leanne Patrick, RCN Council member for Scotland, reflects on the importance of tackling underrepresentation in RCN governance structures and invites members to join the Members Lead the RCN webinar se...

rcn.org.uk

"Women Members Lead the RCN" Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles at our college - it's time to change that. On Aug 18, I’ll be chairing a webinar with an inspiring panel of women leaders. Check your inboxes for details & join us if you think an elected role might be for you!

Council member @sallybassett.bsky.social voting at today's @rcn.org.uk AGM - if you can't make it in person, remember to share your views and make your voice heard by voting on the resolutions online.

www.rcn.org.uk/Get-Help/Con... If you need to contact the advice team, call #RCN 0345 772 6100 during the hours of 9.00am - 4.00pm on Good Friday and Easter Monday. #Supporting members during the #Easter #Holiday @bejoysebastian.bsky.social @nursingstandard.bsky.social @leannehpatrick.bsky.social

Contact the advice centre | Royal College of Nursing

How to get in touch with the advice centre and get the most out of your conversation with us

rcn.org.uk

It is chronic underfunding, not management, that has caused the NHS to struggle in recent decades. Until we have a fairer system that reduces wealth inequality via proper taxation of the super rich, public services will crumble and people will become poorer and sicker.

John-Barry Waldron@jbwaldron.bsky.social · last yr.

Mental health nurse here working in the NHS in England. Any idea what this means for patients and staff on the wards? #NHSEngland #NHS www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

I am thinking about our 90% female workforce on #InternationalWomensDay and every day Underpaid Overworked More likely to die by suicide More likely to be victims of domestic abuse Routinely sexually harassed at work I will continue to fight for better.

On #InternationalWomensDay follow these brilliant women for mental health/nursing info or just because their great 👍 #IWD2025 @leannehpatrick.bsky.social @alisonleary1.bsky.social @nhsactivistrn.bsky.social @cforde-johnston.bsky.social @caralisette.bsky.social @supertanskiiii.bsky.social

Exclusive: NMC executive hit by wave of resignations Multiple members of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) executive board have resigned in the last year, Nursing Times can reveal. #nursing #regulation #nmc #nurses #leadership www.nursingtimes.net/professional...

Exclusive: NMC executive hit by wave of resignations | Nursing Times

Read about how many of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's executive board have resigned over the last year.

nursingtimes.net

It takes less than a minute for anyone registered in the UK to ask their MP to act on this straightforward safety issue

Alison Leary @alisonleary1.bsky.social · 2y ago

Did you know anyone in the UK can call themselves a #Nurse? Even if they have no qualifications, have been struck off or convicted of a crime? Support @DawnButlerBrent campaign to @protectnurse Write to your MP here. Pls share! action.rcn.org.uk/page/166204/...

Several organisations have started to allow patients to sip clear fluids until being sent for by the operating team. Nil-by-mouth rules need updating to implement SipTilSend, writes @scarlettmcnally.bsky.social www.bmj.com/content/388/...

VP Harris is right—real change comes from organizing, mobilizing, & educating. The future isn’t dictated by the powerful few but by we the people.History proves progress is made when ordinary citizens take action. Now is the time to engage, advocate, and hold leaders accountable.

Sherrilyn Ifill@sifill.bsky.social · 2y ago

Many are asking what should we do now? “We use our power, organize, mobilize, educate…the American story will not be written by who occupies the White House or by the wealthiest among us…it will be written by you, by ‘we the people.’” -fmr VP Kamala Harris receiving the NAACP Chairman’s Award.

#HistNursing #HistMed

The Queen's Institute of Community Nursing@theqicn.bsky.social · 2y ago

Read the remarkable story of a family of mixed heritage who helped build the QNI home in Edmonton, North London, in the 1930s qniheritage.org.uk/stories/edmo... #nursingheritage

Restorative practices, such as supervision, have to be part of the 'normal', otherwise, as you say, health and social care professionals will prioritise others

Charlie Jones@charliepsych.bsky.social · 2y ago

Easy to say what we SHOULD do about 'self care' & healthcare worker wellbeing. But in reality this remains in tension with a commitment to service & self-sacrifice. How do we develop an infrastructure to weave in healthy, restorative practices so they just become normalised. This would give me hope😃

It was a big day last week presenting my Ten Minute Rule Bill to #ProtectNurse. 💙 I was shocked that anyone can call themselves a nurse! So, my Bill would prevent misuse of the title - enhancing patient safety & ensuring respect for registered nurses. ICYMI, my recap ⏪📽️

Violence against nurses: help us build full picture of the problem The prevalence of violence against nurses and midwives is extremely high, early findings from our workplace safety survey suggest. #nursing #nurses #violence #workforce #healthcare #health #nhs www.nursingtimes.net/workforce/vi...

Violence against nurses: help us build full picture of the problem

The prevalence of violence against nurses and midwives is extremely high, early findings from ou...

nursingtimes.net

‘Compelling’ evidence in favour of Letby, her lawyer claims Lucy Letby's barrister has told Nursing Times his team has "hope" that her conviction could be overturned, after a review found no medical evidence that the former neonatal nurse harmed babies. #letby www.nursingtimes.net/midwifery-an...

‘Compelling’ evidence in favour of Letby, her lawyer claims | Nursing Times

Read an interview with Lucy Letby's barrister, Mark McDonald, on findings by an international expert panel supporting her innocence.

nursingtimes.net

Are you working in/ around the #domesticabuse #domesticviolence sector? #familycourt? #childsexualabuse #publichealth #genderequality? #Humanrights? #childrensrights #womensrights Are we following you? If not please comment, let's connect, thank you

Momentum is building for my Ten Minute Rule Bill to protect the title 'nurse'! Pleased to see so much attention on this vital issue of patient safety. My Bill protects the public & prevents misuse. #ProtectNurse We must respect the experience of registered Nurses.

Donald Trump pressures Romania to lift restrictions on Tate brothers https://www.ft.com/content/3f951e0b-a9cb-489a-be89-fdf9f996ed27

Donald Trump pressures Romania to lift restrictions on Tate brothers

Tristan and Andrew Tate have been charged with sexual misconduct, organised crime and money laundering

ft.com

“He who saves his country does not violate any law” — Napoleon, echoed by Hitler: “The authority of the Führer is not limited by laws or statutes.”Mussolini: “Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.” Franco: “I am responsible only to God and to history.”

Trump: If it saves the country, it's not illegal

Echoing France's Napoleon Bonaparte, U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday took to social media to signal continued resistance to limits on his executive authority in the face of multiple legal challenges.

reuters.com

Success! Dawn Butler MP has moved her bill to make nurse a legally protected title in the UK! MPs voted in favour and it will now go to a second reading. A significant and historic development for the nursing profession and patient safety. www.nursinginpractice.com/latest-news/...

Dawn Butler MP@dawnbutlerbrent.bsky.social · 2y ago

🚨It's almost time! I'm excited to be presenting my Ten Minute Rule Bill this afternoon to protect the job title 'nurse'. #ProtectNurse Stay tuned on Parliament Live TV, following the two Urgent Questions, hopefully around 2pm.