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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13 Jun 2008
Towards a strategy to support volunteering in health and social care
This briefing outlines the consultation that was carried out by the Department of Health aimed at improving volunteer support and opportunities in the NHS, social care and third sector within England. The consultation document proposes a long-term strategy to support volunteering in health and social care, intended to articulate the key actions needed to address the perceived obstacles to making a refreshed vision for volunteering in health and social care a reality. The consultation ran until 30 September 2008, with the Department of Health setting out a final strategy and implementation plan early in 2009.
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8 Jun 2008
Consent to access, share and create e-health records
This briefing lays out the background to the development of e-health records and offers guidance for nurses in practice on what implications this has for record keeping and in particular, consent to access, share and create records. This is one of series of products being commissioned by the e-health project board to meet the needs of nurses in practice in respect of e-health.
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22 May 2008
The case for change
On 12 May 2008, Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Alan Johnson launched a public debate about the long term future of England's care and support system. A six month engagement process has now started with the public and all those involved in care and support for adults to set out clearly the case for reform and to consult on a number of questions. The responses to these questions informed the development of a number of reform options, to be set out in the Green paper published in early 2009. The attached briefing is intended as an introduction to the issue of social care and the Policy Unit asked for comments from as many members as possible on this high profile and important issue.
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6 May 2008
Framework for the registration of health and adult social care providers
The Department of Health launched a consultation to seek views on the registration of health and adult social care providers, including the regulation of primary care services to ensure patients continue to receive safe, good quality care closer to home. The document entitled A consultation on the framework for the registration of health and adult social care providers puts forward proposals on which services will be required to register with the new regulator and the requirements that they will need to meet. This document summarises the RCN's response to the consultation.
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4 Apr 2008
NHS constitution debate
This short briefing introduces the White Paper on Empowerment which was published in summer 2008 and gives an indication of the range and nature of active citizenship questions that were to be considered. The Department for Communities and Local Government took the lead on promoting a wider range of engagement at local councillor level. Several prompt questions were raised for members to consider and to send early views to the Policy Unit. These were submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government and informed the content of the White Paper.
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26 Nov 2007
Our NHS, our future: A world class NHS
'Our NHS, our future' is the name given to a wide-ranging review to develop what is in effect the next NHS Plan for the next 10 years of the NHS. This briefing summarises and RCN response to the interim report in October and sets out questions and solutions to some of the issues raised. Members are encouraged to enage in the 'Our NHS, our future' process and can find advice on how to do that at the end of the briefing.
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1 Nov 2007
Two consultation documents from Modernising Nursing Careers
Two significant consultations in relation to Modernising Nursing Careers were launched in November 2007: one from the Nursing and Midwifery Council regarding the future content and level of pre registration nurse education and the other from the English Department of Health regarding post registration career pathways. This Policy Unit briefing summarises the two consultation documents. It provides background and contextual information, and supports members in formulating their responses during the consultation process.
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1 Sep 2007
Ensuring a fit for purpose future nursing workforce
Professor Dame Jill Macleod Clark, Deputy Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Head of School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Southampton, has generated this paper to promote discussion and the views expressed are those of Professor Dame Jill Macleod Clark alone. This paper has been published on the RCN website in order to generate debate about Modernising Nursing Careers and the future for pre- and post-registration nurse education and career pathways.
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1 Sep 2007
Pre-registration nurse education
Pre-registration nurse education: The NMC review and issues' sets out the background to pre-registration nurse education and identifies the review key issues and their implications.
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25 Jul 2007
The Regulation of Health Care Support Workers
The RCN has a clear view that all HCSWs should be regulated in the interests of public protection and patient safety. Further we believe that HCSWs who deliver direct clinical care alongside registered nurses in the nursing team should be regulated by the nursing regulatory body, the NMC . However we acknowledge the complexities that surround implementation of HCSW regulation. Therefore the RCN believes a pragmatic first step forwards in an evolutionary process towards HCSW regulation is the regulation of assistant practitioners in nursing by the NMC.
