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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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 23 Jan 2013

    Single Equality Act and healthcare

    This briefing examines the application of the Single Equality Act in the context of workforce and service cuts and health care reform.

  • 16 Jan 2013

    Personal medical services

    The Department of Health is consulting on proposed changes to primary medical care contractual arrangements which will impact on Personal Medical Services (PMS) contractors from April 2013. This briefing summarises the changes and asks RCN members for feedback.

  • 10 Jan 2013

    Revision of European Legislation on medical devices

    The new draft EU regulations on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices were published on 26 September 2012 with a stated aim to ‘achieve a suitable, robust, transparent and sustainable regulatory framework’ for medical devices and in vitro devices. These seek to replace three existing directives dealing with medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices which were agreed in the 1990’s.

  • 17 Dec 2012

    Government consultation on balance of EU and UK competences and health

    The UK government is consulting on the impact of the European Union on many sectors in the UK, including health. The consultations from different government departments will take place over a period of two years and will be completed before the next general election, and health is one of the first. The RCN will be responding in relation to EU competences in health and their impact on nursing. This RCN briefing is about the types of issues covered in the Department of Health’s (DH) call for evidence.

  • 14 Dec 2012

    NHS England (previously known as the NHS Commissioning Board)

    This briefing provides an overview of the work of the NHS Commissioning Board, with a particular focus on the nursing input and the RCN’s perspective

  • 19 Nov 2012

    Consultation on strengthening the NHS Constitution

    Short briefing on the proposed changes to the NHS constitution.

  • 19 Nov 2012

    Future of nursing: Analysis on the global direction of travel for the nursing profession

    This RCN briefing identifies key trends that have emerged from national vision strategies in England, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Northern Ireland and complement the RCN’s This is nursing initiative which looks at the reality of nursing and outlines areas for further investment in education, regulation and leadership.

  • 13 Nov 2012

    Frontline First: November 2012 update

    In this report we analyse official statsitics to assess the health of the nursing workforce and warn that the NHS may be sleepwalking into a crisis.