Lansley apologises to nurses after vote of no confidence
Released 14/04/2011
The health secretary says he is "sorry" for not communicating his NHS reforms after vote of no confidence from Royal College of Nursing
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley apologised for failing to sufficiently communicate plans to reform the NHS yesterday at a Royal College of Nursing conference, after the union gave him a motion of no confidence.
He said he was "sorry if what I'm setting out to do hasn't communicated itself" and that he and the union shared a common objective in ensuring the NHS was free to use.
"I'm here to listen, not to lecture," he continued.
"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.
"I would be joining you in voting against me if I thought the product of what I was doing was to undermine the NHS," he added.
The meeting with nurses was part of the government's "listening exercise" launched last week in response to increasing criticism of its proposals.
The vote was backed by 478 nurses - with only six opposing and 13 abstentions.
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