Apr 15 2011 9:00AM
Thirty three students from the Pre Registration Nursing| programme at University Campus Suffolk (UCS) took the chance to enter the national debate regarding the future of the NHS by attending the Royal College of Nursing| (RCN) Congress Student Day on 12 April in Liverpool.
The Student Day was part of a five-day annual debating conference which concluded yesterday. The conference provides RCN members with an opportunity to comment upon and influence Council policy, and to help inform the RCN's work for the coming year. The conference made national headlines this week following claims from Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive of RCN, that it was a "myth" that the Government was protecting frontline NHS staff against cuts.
The UCS students were joined by hundreds of other students of nursing from across the country all wishing to influence the future of healthcare and the nursing profession. They engaged in key debates around nursing practice, public health, employment issues, the workings of the RCN and many other relevant topics.
Carol Smith, Head of Nursing and Midwifery at UCS, said: “This is a critical time for patients and the professions as the government have called a pause, taking the time to consult, listen and reflect on the very major concerns their proposals have raised. All nursing students in Suffolk and beyond will be watching the outcomes of this consultation closely to ensure politicians and professional leaders put patients first.”