Royal College of Nursing hits out at mischievous press claims, UK

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 02 Jun 2004 - 14:00 PDT

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Eirlys Warrington, RCN (Royal College of Nursing) Chair of Council, has noted that some members have raised concerns about the story in the Sunday Times on 8 May on the General Secretary's expenses. Eirlys is very keen that members and staff at the RCN are assured that the processes for agreeing expenses are extremely vigorous and that she has no cause for concern about the General Secretary's expenses.

RCN Executive Director for Finance & Corporate Services Carole Davidson has responded directly to the reports in the article that Beverly has been claiming excessive travelling expenses of up to £1500 a month on taxis.

In a letter to the Sunday Times she stated that the figure quoted was a gross exaggeration of the facts. 'As General Secretary of the largest professional and trade union body representing nurses,' she said, 'Dr Malone has many demands on her time and her busy schedule regularly involves extensive travel.'

She added: 'All the General Secretary's expenses, just like those of any member of RCN staff, are subject to rigorous authorisation processes, and all of the General Secretary's claims are checked and authorised by the Chair of Council.'

The Sunday Times did not print Carole Davidson's letter, but that's hardly surprising. The original article said that the RCN 'declined to respond' to the claims but in fact responses were supplied promptly from both Eirlys and Jill Jarvis (previous Chair of Council) making clear that the allegations were nonsense. The Sunday Times, however, chose not to mention this.

Royal College of Nursing, UK

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