Nurses’ union bans free booze at annual bash to stop lewd behaviour

A NURSES’ union banned free booze at their annual congress to stop lewd behaviour.

The Royal College of Nursing offered only soft drinks to members gathered in Brighton this week.

A review of the event found past years had been plagued by a “boozy, sexualised culture”.

Bruce Carr KC was commissioned to investigate complaints and found some members turn up with an “expectation of sex”.

His report said in October that extra-marital affairs were rife at past events and NHS medics talked openly about having “Congress wives”.

It added: “There is also the opportunity for alcohol and power-related exploitation of the vulnerable.”

This year, organisers did away with free alcoholic drinks and stopped bars at the venue from selling them.

Their new rules say: “As part of our responsibilities to provide a safe environment, the RCN policy is that the RCN will not purchase alcohol for participants.

“There will be no provision by the RCN of alcoholic drinks at receptions or dinners.”

The meeting of around 2,700 members came with tensions at an all-time high in the NHS, with nurses soon to vote on another six months of strikes.

In a bid to flush out harassment at the conference, members were given access to a wellbeing hub, safe spaces, counselling and mental health first aiders.

An RCN spokesman said: “The RCN is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all its members and has learnt from and acted on the findings of the review by Bruce Carr KC.”