REX FEATURES
GETTY IMAGES
Your vote matters The European Parliament sets policies that make a big difference to UK nurses. Don’t miss the chance to have your say in next month’s elections, write RCN advisers Susan Williams and Matthew Hamilton
SUMMARY
On May 22 voters in the UK will be asked to choose who they want to represent them in the European Parliament for the next five years. Turnout is traditionally poor in these elections and members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have a low profile – despite the fact that the ups and downs of the EU are regularly in the media spotlight. The RCN is launching a campaign to influence MEPs at the forthcoming elections because they make important decisions about laws and policies that affect nursing and health services in the Turnout in the UK countries for elections to the European Parliament is usually low. RCN advisers argue that the EU has made a positive difference to nurses and patients in the UK, and call on nurses to vote in the European elections on May 22 and make their voices heard. Authors Susan Williams is senior international adviser and Matthew Hamilton is EU/international adviser at the RCN
26 april 2 :: vol 28 no 31 :: 2014
UK. The EU has set standards of health and safety in the workplace, protected public sector staff when health services are transferred to new providers, and regulated tobacco advertising and the content of tobacco products to limit the harm they cause.
Key priorities
The RCN wants to inform nursing staff about the positions taken by political parties on the European issues that matter to them, so that all nursing staff can make an informed choice when choosing who represents them. The RCN is also seeking to influence the types of issues that UK MEPs will champion in the next parliament. So what are the big nursing issues where Europe can make a difference? In October, we launched a survey asking members to decide from a range of priorities where the EU has an influence on UK policy and practice. There was
an overwhelming response, with thousands of members taking time to set out what they believe the key priorities should be for prospective MEPs and the future European Parliament Our manifesto focuses on a range of fundamental issues that affect nursing staff and patients directly. In particular, we are keen to see prospective MEPs commit to take action to ensure the right number of nurses in safe and healthy working environments, along with access to continuing professional development and lifelong learning for all nursing staff. At such a time of economic austerity, we are also looking for a commitment to support access to health services, promote healthier lifestyles and reduce health inequalities. The EU has been responsible directly for legislation that has improved the working lives of nursing staff. Legislation on
NURSING STANDARD
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
GETTY IMAGES
REX FEATURES
manual handling for instance, the prevention of needlestick injuries and working times have all originated from Brussels. At a time when health and safety legislation and regulation is being questioned, it is important to make MEPs aware of the protections afforded by existing legislation for both patients and those caring for them and the need to ensure that these existing rules continue to be implemented. The RCN will also be calling for further work to be taken forward at EU level to promote mental health as well as physical wellbeing. In particular, we will be promoting the importance of reducing workplace stress – a key issue for our members. Safe levels of staffing go hand in hand with safe working environments. Recent projections forecast a potential shortage of half a million nurses across the EU by 2020. It is vital that MEPs champion the need for more information on the EU health workforce and highlight the potential impact that nursing shortages will have on the care received by patients across Europe. RCN members are also concerned about the impact of Europe’s economic austerity on patients and service provision, and want the European Parliament to focus on continuing access to services for vulnerable groups.
NURSING STANDARD
For the past three years the EU has been reviewing the minimum standards for nurse education and arrangements for mutual recognition of health professionals’ qualifications. We now want MEPs to focus on improving access to continuing professional development and lifelong learning to support nurses
The UK will vote for its representatives in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, on May 22
MEPs DECIDE ABOUT LAWS THAT AFFECT HEALTH SERVICES IN THE UK in keeping their skills up to date and in developing their practice. The EU has a key legislative role in relation to public health issues. The RCN has identified the need for MEPs to promote healthier lifestyles (particularly in the early years) and to reduce health inequalities as a key priority in the next European Parliament. Improving health has an economic impact and the role that nurses have in promoting public health should be recognised. We are also calling on MEPs to recognise and champion the central role that health should play in all EU policies – a commitment that is yet to be realised fully. The European elections have a different system of voting to that used for the UK parliamentary elections. The UK is split into European parliamentary constituencies representing Wales,
Scotland, Northern Ireland and each of the regions of England. People need to be on the electoral register to vote. Find out more about how to take part at aboutmyvote.co.uk. The RCN hopes that nursing staff will take the opportunity to vote at these elections and ensure that the nursing voice is heard loud and clear in the European Parliament NS Further information Find out who is standing in the EU elections on May 22 www.europarl.org.uk/en/your_ MEPs/European_elections/ Candidates2014.html Information on the regions for European Parliament elections www.europarl.org.uk/en/your_meps/ list-meps-by-region.html RCN European Election Manifesto 2014 europeanelections.rcn.org.uk and click on ‘download the manifesto (PDF)’
The RCN manifesto for Europe Nursing staff across the UK call on MEPs to: Champion safe and transparent levels of nursing staffing in safe and healthy workplaces to support high quality patient care across the EU. Ensure an appropriately educated, regulated and developed nursing EU workforce. Support access to health care services at times of economic austerity across the EU, particularly among vulnerable groups. Promote healthier lifestyles (particularly in the early years) and reduce health inequalities through effective EU legislation and investment. april 2 :: vol 28 no 31 :: 2014 27
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
GETTY IMAGES
Your vote matters The European Parliament sets policies that make a big difference to UK nurses. Don’t miss the chance to have your say in next month’s elections, write RCN advisers Susan Williams and Matthew Hamilton
SUMMARY
On May 22 voters in the UK will be asked to choose who they want to represent them in the European Parliament for the next five years. Turnout is traditionally poor in these elections and members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have a low profile – despite the fact that the ups and downs of the EU are regularly in the media spotlight. The RCN is launching a campaign to influence MEPs at the forthcoming elections because they make important decisions about laws and policies that affect nursing and health services in the Turnout in the UK countries for elections to the European Parliament is usually low. RCN advisers argue that the EU has made a positive difference to nurses and patients in the UK, and call on nurses to vote in the European elections on May 22 and make their voices heard. Authors Susan Williams is senior international adviser and Matthew Hamilton is EU/international adviser at the RCN
26 april 2 :: vol 28 no 31 :: 2014
UK. The EU has set standards of health and safety in the workplace, protected public sector staff when health services are transferred to new providers, and regulated tobacco advertising and the content of tobacco products to limit the harm they cause.
Key priorities
The RCN wants to inform nursing staff about the positions taken by political parties on the European issues that matter to them, so that all nursing staff can make an informed choice when choosing who represents them. The RCN is also seeking to influence the types of issues that UK MEPs will champion in the next parliament. So what are the big nursing issues where Europe can make a difference? In October, we launched a survey asking members to decide from a range of priorities where the EU has an influence on UK policy and practice. There was
an overwhelming response, with thousands of members taking time to set out what they believe the key priorities should be for prospective MEPs and the future European Parliament Our manifesto focuses on a range of fundamental issues that affect nursing staff and patients directly. In particular, we are keen to see prospective MEPs commit to take action to ensure the right number of nurses in safe and healthy working environments, along with access to continuing professional development and lifelong learning for all nursing staff. At such a time of economic austerity, we are also looking for a commitment to support access to health services, promote healthier lifestyles and reduce health inequalities. The EU has been responsible directly for legislation that has improved the working lives of nursing staff. Legislation on
NURSING STANDARD
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
GETTY IMAGES
REX FEATURES
manual handling for instance, the prevention of needlestick injuries and working times have all originated from Brussels. At a time when health and safety legislation and regulation is being questioned, it is important to make MEPs aware of the protections afforded by existing legislation for both patients and those caring for them and the need to ensure that these existing rules continue to be implemented. The RCN will also be calling for further work to be taken forward at EU level to promote mental health as well as physical wellbeing. In particular, we will be promoting the importance of reducing workplace stress – a key issue for our members. Safe levels of staffing go hand in hand with safe working environments. Recent projections forecast a potential shortage of half a million nurses across the EU by 2020. It is vital that MEPs champion the need for more information on the EU health workforce and highlight the potential impact that nursing shortages will have on the care received by patients across Europe. RCN members are also concerned about the impact of Europe’s economic austerity on patients and service provision, and want the European Parliament to focus on continuing access to services for vulnerable groups.
NURSING STANDARD
For the past three years the EU has been reviewing the minimum standards for nurse education and arrangements for mutual recognition of health professionals’ qualifications. We now want MEPs to focus on improving access to continuing professional development and lifelong learning to support nurses
The UK will vote for its representatives in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, on May 22
MEPs DECIDE ABOUT LAWS THAT AFFECT HEALTH SERVICES IN THE UK in keeping their skills up to date and in developing their practice. The EU has a key legislative role in relation to public health issues. The RCN has identified the need for MEPs to promote healthier lifestyles (particularly in the early years) and to reduce health inequalities as a key priority in the next European Parliament. Improving health has an economic impact and the role that nurses have in promoting public health should be recognised. We are also calling on MEPs to recognise and champion the central role that health should play in all EU policies – a commitment that is yet to be realised fully. The European elections have a different system of voting to that used for the UK parliamentary elections. The UK is split into European parliamentary constituencies representing Wales,
Scotland, Northern Ireland and each of the regions of England. People need to be on the electoral register to vote. Find out more about how to take part at aboutmyvote.co.uk. The RCN hopes that nursing staff will take the opportunity to vote at these elections and ensure that the nursing voice is heard loud and clear in the European Parliament NS Further information Find out who is standing in the EU elections on May 22 www.europarl.org.uk/en/your_ MEPs/European_elections/ Candidates2014.html Information on the regions for European Parliament elections www.europarl.org.uk/en/your_meps/ list-meps-by-region.html RCN European Election Manifesto 2014 europeanelections.rcn.org.uk and click on ‘download the manifesto (PDF)’
The RCN manifesto for Europe Nursing staff across the UK call on MEPs to: Champion safe and transparent levels of nursing staffing in safe and healthy workplaces to support high quality patient care across the EU. Ensure an appropriately educated, regulated and developed nursing EU workforce. Support access to health care services at times of economic austerity across the EU, particularly among vulnerable groups. Promote healthier lifestyles (particularly in the early years) and reduce health inequalities through effective EU legislation and investment. april 2 :: vol 28 no 31 :: 2014 27
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 22, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
