Tuesday at Congress

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15 05 2012 | Rod Thomson

Day three of Congress has seen the media continuing to focus heavily on events in Harrogate, particularly looking at the keynote speeches.

This morning’s national newspapers featured extensive coverage of the speech and question and answer session by Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, yesterday lunchtime. Dr Peter Carter is quoted in the Daily Mirror, as saying: “A lot of people in this hall are feeling that out there, by some of their employers, not all, they are not being treated with dignity, they are not being listened to, and they feel they are not being respected. You’ve had a highly professional and dignified encounter with the RCN, don’t take that as a kind of indication that things are fine. There is a great deal of unhappiness”.

The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and the BBC noted that Mr Lansley yesterday conceded that posts had been lost in the NHS, as highlighted by the RCN’s Frontline First campaign.

The Guardian featured a political sketch by Michael White of the day's events at Congress, saying "The RCN is a happy family with a lovely bedside manner. But they weren't going to miss their chance. Staff cuts, privatisation ("the act does not permit it," Lansley told them), pensions ("you took £100 from my pay packet last month without my permission"), the list of grievances was a long one".

The Guardian online also carried an article on Dr Peter Carter's keynote address to Congress, focusing on the political power of the nursing profession. He is quoted as saying: "There are more than 400,000 of you. Just imagine the kind of power and influence you could have if you all spoke as one. You are the greatest challenge to the politicians of this country."

Meanwhile, today’s address by the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, captured further headlines for Congress. The Independent, Guardian and BBC online all carried preview pieces ahead of Mr Miliband's visit to Congress this morning. Further online coverage was then run on the Daily Mail website this afternoon following Mr Mililband’s speech.