Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke becomes Royal College of Nursing's sole Ambassador
As the Royal College of Nursing’s sole ambassador, Emilia Clarke has pledged to use her own profile to campaign for greater investment in nursing and to challenge misconceptions.
The new ambassador will join frontline nurses and health care workers to tackle the issues affecting the profession, including a falling number in training and shortages in the current workforce.
She will also raise funds to support professionals through the RCN Foundation charity, which makes grants to nurses in training or hardship.
Emilia Clarke, best known for her role in HBO’s Game of Thrones, will play a lead part in the new Star Wars film Solo which premieres next month.
The actress will use her personal social media to extend the reach of campaigns to promote the work of nurses. She has previously used her Instagram account – where she has 16.7 million followers – to support the RCN’s successful campaign to end the 1% cap on nurses’ pay.
Emilia said: “The vast majority of health care in our lifetime will come from nurses. Our NHS, and other health services around the world, simply could not function without them.
“Despite the support they give, they aren’t getting it in return. Today’s nurses feel an easy target for cuts, not the priority for investment.
“It is sadly little surprise that their number is beginning to dwindle. Nurses who’ve dedicated their working life to mental health, school children or around our local communities are dropping dramatically and their expertise is lost.
“The money the NHS has to keep our nurses trained and at the forefront of health care has been cut in half this year in England. And young people who have the drive and commitment are being put off by the new fees they must now pay to train.
“I am fiercely proud of my new role as ambassador and vow to use it to champion nurses and their work. Together, we must attract young people into the profession, support them to innovate and become the powerful nurses of tomorrow.”
RCN Chief Executive Janet Davies said: “We are delighted that nurses will benefit from such high-profile support. When there is a considerable shortage of nurses in the UK – a gap of 40,000 in England’s NHS alone – this kind of energetic campaigning is needed more than ever.
“The Royal College of Nursing is proud to have Emilia Clarke’s help in fighting for nurses and raising the profile of their innovative work.”
