Marking International Nurses’ Day, Dr Peter Carter, Royal College of Nursing chief executive & general secretary, said that the value of nursing staff was ‘clearer than ever’ and called for their achievements to be recognised.
Thousands of people also signed a pledge in support of nurses on the RCN Nurses’ Day website. Dr Carter said: “Medical advances are helping people to live longer, but it is nursing which can help them to live well and make those extra years worth having. I am pleased that, in spite of all that is going on in the NHS at the moment, political leaders and MPs of all persuasions have made time to recognise the value of nursing.” Messages of support were recorded by MPs from across the political spectrum, including prime minister David Cameron, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, leader of the opposition Ed Miliband and health secretary Andrew Lansley.
