RCN briefings
Policy briefings, parliamentary briefings and consultation responses on the issues that matter to nursing staff
The RCN works with government, think tanks and other stakeholders to ensure the voice of nursing is heard. You can get involved in policy development by taking part in surveys, workshops, seminars and briefings.
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15 Jul 2013
Trialogue agreement on professional qualifications directive
Agreement has now been reached between the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission on balancing the level of general education required for accessing nurse education with clearer outcome measures for nurse education.
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13 Jun 2013
Making it work
Shared decision-making with people with learning disabilities will bring health care professionals and nurses in particular, into a process in which both parties jointly decide on health care treatments, management plans and support packages, based on the best available evidence and the informed choices of people with learning disabilities.
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6 Jun 2013
Help inform our response to monitor: Guidance on procurement, patient choice and competition in England
This briefing gives an overview of a suite of consultations from Monitor including guidance for commissioners on when to use competition. Monitor, as the new sector regulator for the NHS in England has particular responsibilities in enforcing new regulations on procurement, patient choice and competition ('Section 75' regulations). We want to hear from you about whether you think that the guidance is clear, whether it provides sufficient reassurance that patients will be at the heart of decisions to use competition or not, and whether services risk becoming fragmented. Please contact leela.barham@rcn.org by 21 June 2013 to feed into the RCN's response.
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15 May 2013
NHS complaints review
This briefing provides an overview to the review of the NHS complaints system in England being undertaken, following the publication of the Francis Report and in response to the publicised experiences of Ann Clwyd MP during her husband’s final days as a patient at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff in October 2012.
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1 May 2013
Monitor and the NHS provider license
This briefing sets out details on the provider license introduced in April 2013 for Foundation Trusts and issued by Monitor as part of their responsibilities as a sector regulator. The license will also apply to other providers of NHS services from 2014.
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22 Apr 2013
Nurses blowing the whistle on poor care
In light of the care failings at Mid Stafford hospital, raising concerns and effective complaint handling within the health and social care sector has become a priority. This briefing showcases the Norwegian system of reporting and handling complaints and the legislation in place to support staff who speak out against poor care and practice. A positive and open whistleblowing culture exists in Norway where employees feel empowered to report wrongdoings. The Norwegian example offers some learning opportunities for England, specifically in handling complaints comprehensively, fostering an open workplace culture and having a strong nursing presence at board level.
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14 Mar 2013
Ratings in health and social care
A short briefing on the Nuffield Trust Review.
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12 Feb 2013
Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry Report
Short power point presentation for members summarising the final report of the public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust on 6 February 2013.
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7 Feb 2013
RCN factsheet on clinical commissioning groups
Short briefing on clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), one of the new types of organisation formed by the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
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31 Jan 2013
Public health reforms in England
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 radically reforms the way that health care is commissioned in England. As part of these reforms, local public health services will move from the NHS into local authorities. A new body – Public Health England – will be set up to provide strategic leadership support and health protection functions. This fact sheet outlines these major changes, and the RCN’s views on them.
