Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has apologised to the Royal College of Nursing

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has apologised to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) admitting his message on NHS reform has not been well communicated.


After an unprecedented vote of no confidence at the RCN conference, the Health Secretary said he wanted to take the time to listen to concerns from the health service frontline.
Mr Lansley was speaking ahead of discussions with 65 nurses as part of the Government's "listening exercise" on its controversial plans for the NHS.
He has come under fire at the RCN conference for declining to deliver a speech to all delegates.

Earlier, nurses voted 99 per cent in favour of a motion of no confidence in his management of the reforms, to one per cent against.
Angry delegates said Mr Lansley's plans would ruin the NHS and lead to worse patient care.
Mr Lansley said: "I did read what was said this morning and the result.

"I'm sorry if what I'm setting out to do hasn't communicated itself," he added.

He said he believed there was a "shared objective" in ensuring an NHS free at the point of use and a comprehensive, high-quality service.

"My view is that we are working together to support these principles and if we've not got that right we will do so with your help," he said.

Mr Lansley insisted he had always wanted to hear more from nurses about their views on the reforms.
"Listening to the vote this morning, if I've not got that message across then I apologise."

Mr Lansley added he was at the Liverpool conference to "listen, not to lecture".

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20110413/tuk-lansley-apologises-to-nurses-dba1618.html