January
The recommendations of the Shape of Caring review, which looked at the future of training for nurses and healthcare assistants, will be released.
February
The 2016 Primary Care Nursing Expo will be held on 3 February at the Business Design Centre in London. The show will feature exhibitions and workshops aimed at boosting crucial skills for nurses working in primary care settings, with an opening address from the NMC chief executive.
March
On 24 March, healthcare professionals are being urged to participate in NHS Sustainability Day. The day is dedicated to supporting health service staff in tackling climate change by making improvements on a local and national level.
April
The start of the new financial year will see a pay rise capped at 1% for health service nurses, midwives and other public sector workers.
May
Local, Scottish, and Welsh elections will take place on 5 May. As budgets for NHS services are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, the winners of these elections may shift the policy focus of each country’s health service.
June
RCN Congress will be in Glasgow on 18-22 June. Expect lively debates on matters such a nurse pay, mental health services, safe staffing and other crucial issues for the nursing profession.
July
From 31 July, all NHS foundation trusts, community trusts, and GP practices will be required to comply with the Accessible Information Standard. This means that staff must be able to provide information to patients with a disability, impairment or sensory loss.
August
From August 2016, the new junior doctor contract will be implemented. Intensely controversial, some figures, such as Crystal Oldman, chief executive of the QNI, have suggested that it could impact nurses by affecting what hours are considered unsocial.
September
The beginning of the academic year will see thousands of student nurses start to study for their career.
October
The Best Practice in Nursing conference will be hosted on 19 October at the Birmingham NEC. The 2015 conference featured many senior nursing figures discussing key issues for staff.
November
The RCN will celebrate its 100 birthday in a ceremony at the QEII Centre in London on 22 and 23 November. The event will focus on how nursing has developed, how the RCN has influenced the global nursing community, and the role of both women and men in the profession.
December
In an effort to improve allergy awareness, all packaged food will be required to list allergenic ingredients from 13 December. The new requirement from the Food Standards Agency will regulate the sale of many common foods with a risk of triggering an allergic effect.