Nurses attack Lansley’s reforms

Nurses are expected to continue to show their frustration with Health Secretary Andrew Lansley at their conference today – and could hit him with a vote of no confidence.

Lansley has been criticised for “not having the guts” to address the full Royal College of Nursing conference in Liverpool, sending junior minister Anne Milton instead. He will instead take part in a private ‘listening exercise’ with nurses.

RCN chief executive Dr Peter Carter said: “Congress is going to interpret it as him not having the courage to speak to them.”

The nurses and delegates in the conference hall mocked Milton when she outlined the consultation process, making clear how disengaged they feel from the NHS reform package.

The congress agreed an emergency motion to hold of vote of no confidence in Lansley’s management of the reforms, and on whether it should ballot its members on industrial action over pay, it is reported.