The EFN wishes you all a Merry Christmas
& a Happy New Year
In lieu of sending greeting cards, EFN made a donation to the Girl Child Education Fund of the International Council of Nurses, which supports the primary and secondary schooling of the orphaned daughters of nurses in developing countries. To find out more about the Girl Child Education Fund, please visit http://www.fnif.org/girlfund.htm.
EPF VALUE+ Conference (21/12/2009)
The EFN participated in the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) VALUE+ project final Conference that took place under the patronage of the Swedish EU Presidency in Gothenburg, Sweden. This conference presented the final results and concrete tools on patient involvement of the EPF-led 24 months project VALUE+, and called the health stakeholders, political representatives, Member States and EU institutions, for enhanced political commitment on patient involvement both at policy and project level. Co-funded under the EU Public Health Programme, the objective of the VALUE+ project was to exchange information, experiences and good practices among key stakeholders in relation to the meaningful involvement of patients’ organisations in EU supported health projects at EU and national level.
Serbian & Norwegian Delegations in Brussels (03/12/2009)
The EFN was invited to give a presentation on EFN priorities and outcomes related to the EU Health Policy - namely on the implementation of the Directive on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications –, to two delegations, from Serbia & Norway, visiting Brussels & its EU Institutions. As Serbia plans joining the EU, delegations’ participants were encouraged to build a stakeholder approach at national level, including the nursing community representatives. Our Norwegian colleagues were interested discussing quality of care, especially the indicators measuring quality. Furthermore, a discussion took place on the implementation of DIR 36.
FNIB Congress 2009 – « Nurse Responsibility » (01/12/2009)
Invited to make a presentation on “Nurse autonomy & Patient mobility” in the successful FNIB annual Congress, taking place on 26 November 2009, where the issue of nurse responsibility was discussed, the EFN General Secretary stated that “Nurse Autonomy is a valued possession which should be pursued, especially during these threatening times of financial crisis, if Nursing is to continue walking the evolving path of professionalism, academic distinction, and disciplinary recognition”, and that “When it comes to patient mobility, it is important to identify a common set of patient outcome sensitive indicators, to gather information on quality of services and to put in place safeguards and mechanisms to address complaints; to develop clear lines of accountability for the continuity of patient care, and a clear system of information exchange to assist patients to make informed choices about their healthcare”.
EU Health Policy Forum (EUHPF) (26/10/2009)
As a member of the European Health Policy Forum, the EFN participated in the meeting that took place in Brussels, on 16 October 2009. Aiming to bring together umbrella organisations representing stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that the EU’s health strategy is open, transparent and responds to the public concerns, Mr. Andrzej Rys, DG SANCO Director, reminded the participants on the EUHPF membership renewal process, running until 23 October. The participants were briefed on several EU key issues, such as: the European Court of Auditors’ report on the European Union’s Public Health Programme (2003-2007), detailing conclusions and recommendations on the programme design, implementation and project management; the Council Working Party on Public Health representing a new mechanism for "strategic cooperation" on the EU health agenda, focusing on implementing the Health Strategy and particularly looking at issues of quality, performance of health systems, and methods of evaluation; DG INFSO reported on eHealth, highlighting lack of usability as the main barrier to uptake of eHealth applications, especially by health professionals, thus encouraging further stakeholder involvement in High Level Governance; DG Sanco gave an overview on the work undertaken on encouraging internet based patient feedback, future work in supporting the development of a Joint Action on the topic of Quality of Healthcare, and H1N1 actions and encouraged further stakeholder input. Comments were made on some key concerns, including the EFN concerns on H1N1 impact on the workforce, and the EFN members input regarding H1N1 National Strategies. Finally, DG Development reported on the impact of Global Health issues on the EU, such as in the workforce area, issuing a consultation document, and DG Research announced a Call for establishing a Social Platform on Sustainable Lifestyles and a call of €6.5million on Addiction and Lifestyles to be issued by coming November.
EPHA Annual General Assembly (26/10/2009)
The EFN participated in the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) Annual General Assembly, held on 14-15 October 2009, in Brussels, as one of its valued members. The participants, from over 30 EPHA member organisations, were briefed on EPHA lobby work last achievements, challenges and priorities, and elected a new Executive Committee for a two years mandate (2009-2011): President - Archie Turnbull, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), United Kingdom; Treasurer - Günther Schulz, International Federation of Anthroposophical Medical Associations (IVAA), Belgium; and members of the Executive Board - Christopher Birt, The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Union (ASPHER), France; Stefania Del Zotto, European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA), Belgium; Ivana Silva, The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU), Belgium; Radu Silveanu, Romtens Foundation, Romania; and Wim Vandevelde, European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), Belgium. The highlight of the AGA came with EPHA’s first “Service to Public Health Award” to John Bowis, former MEP, to honour his achievements in public health. The award was presented by Commissioner Vassiliou, who made a presentation on public health challenges. EPHA members also discussed the new membership applications; the EPHA strategic priorities for 2010 (including the health workforce with issues of mobility and quality); EPHA’s Professional Development Programme which is addressed to young professionals newly introduced to Brussels; EPHA’s recruitment and selection of interns for its members; and EPHA success in gaining Commission operating grant.
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (08/10/2009)
The EFN participated in the event hosted by Dr. Cristian Busoi (MEP) in the European Parliament on “Pandemic Flu: Public health approaches”. The aim of the event was to share views with MEPs interested in health issues, to provide them with first hand information about the main concerns of the health sector with regards to the Pandemic Flu, and to encourage them to take action on this. As key speaker, the EFN General Secretary informed the audience on the EFN members’ key concerns regarding the Pandemic Flu and on the health measures and actions being taken at national level on this.
Autumn EFN General Assembly, 1-2 October 2009, Stockholm, Sweden (07/10/2009)
The Swedish Association of Health Professionals (Vårdförbundet), Member of EFN, kindly hosted the successful 91st EFN General Assembly, where the members discussed important issues related to: EFN/ICN membership & Constitutional changes; Green Paper on EU Workforce for Health; Directive 36; Quality and Safety Standards; EUNetPaS and CALLIOPE EU Projects; and the EFN Budget 2010-2012. The EFN Members also shared their national experience on e-health, and were informed on the first results of a survey entitled “Nursing Research in Europe: reaching a consensus on strategic priorities” developed by EFN members – Germany, Portugal & UK -, which aims to Identify/develop research evidence to underpin European Union lobbying for the benefit of nurses and nursing; Increase awareness of research funding and training opportunities; and Monitor the impact of nursing research on health and social care policy across Europe. The EFN Members also approved two Policy & Position Statements: on E-health and on EU Quality and Safety Standards, and reelected the following members of the EFN Executive Committee: President - Ms Grete Christensen (Denmark); Treasurer – Mr. Pierre Théraulaz (Switzerland) and two members of the Executive Committee: Mr. Thierry Lothaire (Belgium), and Dr. Peter Carter (UK).
Next to the EFN discussions, there were three very interesting presentations made to the General Assembly: Mr. Kenneth Johansson, Chairperson of the Health and Social Committee of the Swedish Parliament, raised the issues related to e-health and crossborder healthcare; Mr. Gunnar Ahgren, former Director General of the Swedish National Institute of Public Health, presented the public health system in Sweden; and Ms. Asa Moberg, Swedish author, presented her last publication “She Was No Florence Nightingale”.
Finally, a CNO-EFN meeting was organized on 2 October 2009, where the EFN members had the opportunity to discuss with their national Chief Nursing Officers on their key concerns regarding nurses and the nursing profession.
Human Rights and Health Award 2009 (16/09/2009)
The International Centre for Nursing Ethics (ICNE) awarded Ms Branka Rimac, President of the Croatian Nurses Association, with the Human Rights and Nursing Award 2009. Being an active member within the European Federation of Nurses Association (EFN), namely as member of the Executive Committee, Ms. Rimac is very active at national level, leading the Croatian Nurses Association in a modern and transparent way, developing new means of cooperation with all relevant partners and stakeholders in the field of health and nursing, and at international level by promoting nursing worldwide, namely in the region of ex-Yugoslavia countries, and participating in the programs for nursing development in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro (She was very active in developing the nurse associations in Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia). Since 2008, she is an active member within the Committee for gender equality of the Croatian Parliament.
On-line discussion on health and consumer policy at EU level (15/09/2009)
An on-line debate was launched on 14 September on the occasion of the Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) 10th anniversary, to be celebrated this autumn. This forum will provide Europeans with a good opportunity to make their voices heard on health and consumer policy and to get involved in a discussion with others. While visiting a special sub-site they will also be able to vote in an on-line opinion poll and learn more about EU initiatives by watching video-clips or following links provided. The specific channel on “Debate Europe” will be open until 9 October 2009. The conclusions of the on-line discussion will be presented during an anniversary seminar on 23 October 2009 which will be attended by current and former Commissioners, stakeholders and the media. It will also be made available on the DG SANCO website.
Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (14/09/2009)
As the pandemic is spreading across Europe, the EU Member States are discussing national plans to develop a vaccination strategy for Influenza A (H1N1) 2009. In this context, the European Commission also holds regular joint meetings of the Health Security Committee (HSC) and the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS) to discuss this important issue. In the 27th HSC/EWRS Joint meeting a statement was approved on target and priority groups for influenza A (H1N1) vaccination, which recommends the following groups as the first priority groups for vaccination: a) All persons from 6 months old with underlying chronic conditions starting with those with most severe symptoms; b) pregnant women; and c) Health care workers. Once these first priority groups have been vaccinated, the vaccination proceeds until the national targets have been met. It is important to remind that it is the responsibility and mandate of each Member State to develop a vaccination strategy for Influenza A (H1N1) and that each country identifies their national target groups.
See some EFN Members’ National Plans for vaccination
E-health - nurses’ contribution and engagement (08/09/2009)
The EFN participated in the CALLIOPE and CALLepSO meetings and workshop, along EU Member States, and other health stakeholders such as EPF, CPME, PGEU, and UEMS. The Calliope meeting discussed a “Common European eHealth Interoperability Road Map”. For EFN, interoperability translates into continuity of care for patients by synergising eHealth systems, for example between Primary Care and Hospital Care settings. Additionally, interoperability of patient records (nursing, medical notes, etc) would facilitate collaboration amongst health professionals and save time via avoiding duplication, for instance in patient note or history taking. This in turn leads to improving quality and safe care. From a political perspective, the EFN is asked to participate as a strong political actor in the development of a stakeholder forum to provide input to the Secretaries of State on eHealth. The EFN shall continue to follow this work, and during the next EFN General Assembly to take place on 1-2 October 2009, in Stockholm, Sweden, the EFN members will bring their national experiences as regards e-health.
EU Member States implementing Directive 36 (12/08/2009)
Adopted in September 2005, the Directive 2005/36/EC, which has replaced fifteen existing Directives in the field, aims to consolidate and modernise the rules currently regulating the recognition of professional qualifications in the EU Member States. A number of changes have been introduced, including greater liberalisation of the provision of services, and more automatic recognition of qualifications. But four years after its adoption, and two years after the deadline for its transposition into national law, a number of EU Member States have not yet implemented it leading to infringement proceedings against them. It was the case for Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Poland, Spain, Sweden and UK. Furthermore, some countries seem to have some difficulties, at national level, related to decisions being taken for the future of nursing discipline that will affect the general nursing education, the health care quality and the patients’ safety. The EFN has been supporting some of its members, such as Italy, Slovakia, or Romania, where discussions to downgrade the nursing education are taking place.
ENSA Annual General Meeting 2009 (10/07/2009)
The EFN Policy Advisor, Andreas Xyrichis, participated in the European Nursing Students Association (ENSA) Annual General Meeting 2009 which took place on 8-11 July 2009, in Berlin, Germany. ENSA is an organisation for cooperation between national nursing student organisations or colleges of nursing in Europe, which brings together European nursing students and representatives from all countries across Europe. The EFN Policy Advisor presented a keynote speech on “Nursing and the Financial Crisis” and stated that “Contrary to popular belief the Nursing profession is not impervious to the financial crisis. However, these are not times for dilemmas but for opportunities to bring about positive change.” Furthermore, ENSA has elected new members to join the Executive Committee full of enthusiasm and aspirations. The EFN supports ENSA work and thus encourages the EFN members and Nursing Departments across Europe to support their nursing students to participate in future activities of the ENSA network.
ENSA Statement on Financial Crisis
ICN 24th Quadrennial Congress “Leading Change: Building Healthier Nations » (02/07/2009)
The EFN is participating in the 24th Quadrennial Congress of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), taking place in Durban, South Africa, from 27 June to 4 July 2009. The congress, aiming to showcase the key role nursing plays in leading the way to healthier nations, and bringing together more than 5.000 nurses from 134 countries, will permit access to and dissemination of nursing knowledge and leadership across specialities, cultures and countries. In the context of the symposium on Advocacy, lobbying and legislation, the EFN General Secretary made a presentation, on 1st July, on the synergy between the European Directive 36 and the Bologna Process, and stated that “A continuously changing and increasingly demanding healthcare environment requires significant investment in improved qualifications for nurses”. The EFN General Secretary also participated in the meeting of the Council of National Representatives (CNR) - ICN’s governing body – which focussed on the debate of ICN constitution, membership structure and finances; and elected its new President - Ms Rosemary Bryant (Australia), outstanding nursing leader at national and international level and ICN Second Vice President from 2005 to 2009. New members of the ICN Board of Directors were also elected for a 4 years’ term (2009-2013), being constituted as follow: Marlene Smadu (Canada), Beatríz Carvallo Suaréz (Colombia), Maria Angela Elias Marroquin (El Salvador), Julita Sansoni (Italy), Masako Kanai-Pak (Japan), Elizabeth Oywer (Kenya), Rudolph Cini (Malta), Marion Guy (New Zealand), Maria Augusta Sousa (Portugal), Peter Pozun (Slovenia), Anna Karin Eklund (Sweden), Teresa J.C. Yin (Taiwan), Sylvia Denton (United Kingdom), and William Holzemer (USA).
'Patient information' may be excluded from EU Pharmaceutical Package (30/06/2009)
Meeting in Luxembourg, on 9 June 2009, the Council of the European Union exchanged views on a number of issues, including the pharmaceutical package. The EU Ministers broadly welcomed the proposed legislations on preventing the entry of counterfeit medicines and Pharmacovigilance, but expressed some concerns regarding the proposal to allow pharmaceutical companies to provide drug information directly to patients. Therefore, as there have been requests by a number of Member States to proceed with the Pharmacovigilance and Counterfeiting Medicines’ Directives and not with the Information to Patients’ Directive, as there are so many different sets of opinions regarding this, the European Commission is expected to delay the legislative proposal on the provision of information to patients. As the preparations are being made to shape the new College of Commissioners, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), which the EFN is a member, the European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC) and the Association Internationale de la Mutualité (AIM) addressed a letter to the European Commission calling on its President and the EU Member States to make sure health is the main driver for pharmaceutical policy at EU level by giving the lead role in medicines to a health focused directorate within the European Commission.
Nurse Candidate for Vice-President of the European Parliament (24/06/2009)
The Greens/EFA Group today selected Isabelle Durant as its candidate for the European Parliament Vice-President post. Newly elected Green MEP and Co-President of 'Ecolo', the francophone Belgian Green Party, Isabelle Durant was previously Belgian Deputy Prime Minister, transport Minister AND is, by professional background, a NURSE. Confirming her candidacy, she underlined the importance of transparency issues, citizen initiatives and forging closer ties with the European Parliament's host region of Brussels. The European Parliament Vice-Presidents will be elected during the next Strasbourg plenary session to take place on 14-16 July 2009. The EFN wishes Ms Durant all success and is looking forward working closely with her on important health files in the European Parliament.
EU elections & EFN/EFN Members actions
2nd Congress of Latvian Nurses and Midwives (22/06/2009)
The EFN participated in the 2nd Latvian Nurses and Midwives Congress organised in Riga – Latvia, on 18-19 June 2009, which was aiming to promote professionals’ discussion about health care quality and multidisciplinary collaboration, and share experience on the developments in nursing and midwifery education, legislation, leadership and regulation. The nurses and midwives present in the meeting had the opportunity to discuss on: the role of Continuing Professional Development in Nursing and Midwifery practice; the perspectives of Nursing Leadership and Management; the positive practice environments: necessity, potentialities, solutions; the meaning of multidisciplinary collaboration in providing quality patient care; and the nurses and midwives role in family health. The EFN General Secretary made a presentation on the EFN EU Lobby Priorities and stated that “The future of EU Healthcare needs to reflect the changing health and illness patterns as well as changing health needs of an aging population. In light of the global financial crisis, we need to get on the train of the EU Social Cohesion Funds for supporting innovations and developments in Nurse Education as well as supporting the Recruitment and Retention of our Nursing Workforce.” Together with Jolanta Zalite, the EFN General Secretary met Mr. Arturs Gravitis, from the Ministry of Health, to discuss some important nursing files.
EUNetPaS Coordination Meeting (03/06/2009)
The EFN President, Grete Christensen, EFN Secretary General, Paul De Raeve, and EFN Policy Advisor, Andreas Xyrichis, participated in the 3rd EUNetPaS coordination meeting and workshops in Copenhagen where significant progress was made on WP1 - Patient Safety Culture; WP2 - Education; and WP4 - Field Testing. Concerning WP1, three safety culture measurement tools have been chosen and will be piloted in Lithuania in September 2009. An accountability toolkit discussing the utility of various instruments and the process of change towards a safer culture shall be developed after the 24 September Madrid meeting. Concerning WP2, Patient safety guidelines were discussed taking into account EFN members input. A next draft will be prepared for the October Brussels meeting. The EFN members and alliances will be consulted on the next version and explore scenario’s on how the guidelines can be used. Concerning WP4, the process of piloting medication safety interventions, including the EFN members’ contribution, is underway in 11 EU Member States. Next steps include working towards developing a community of hospitals as a forum for further exchanging of advice, support, and best practices. The next coordination meeting will take place in Athens, Greece, on 28-29 January 2010.
International Congress “Long Term Care and Quality of Life” (02/06/2009)
The EFN Secretary General, Paul De Raeve, was invited to make a presentation on “Nurses Views on the EU Challenges for Long-Term Care”, in Pamplona. Spain has a new Act on Dependence and different stakeholder expressed their concern on the lack of implementation, mostly due to financial lack of resources. Mostly, the private sector organising elderly care and chronic care complains of the lack of development and implementation. In the session on health professions, the General Practitioner presenting his views stressed the importance of nursing leadership in long term care. “Doctors should not lead long term care” was a statement coming from the physicians present and of course private sector. As such, the discussion on skill mix and skill needs is quite relevant. The Spanish EU Presidency will have patient safety and long term care high on its political agenda.
To see the EFN presentation video
To see other presentations' video
(go to 'Canales' section - II C.I. DEPENDENCIA)
International Nurses’ Day – 12 May 2009 (12/05/2009)
We live in a constantly changing world. This is our reality, our challenge and our opportunity as nurses, to make a significant difference to the people all over the world. And we have never been in a better position to do so, despite the current economical and financial crisis. In this International Nurses’ Day, and in a context of European elections, the EFN published a Manifesto based on EFN Members’ experience, which is calling on the MEPs to support three priorities and use their influence to help: Implement the European Directive which regulates the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (DIR 36); Plan the EU Workforce for Health to meet citizens’ needs; and Deliver Quality and Safeguard Patient Safety. With up to 6 million nurses within Europe, the EFN and its members are a significant voting force. The EFN members are taking this opportunity to raise awareness of their national EU candidates on the issues that are essential for nurses and the nursing profession in their own country, and to ensure that the elected MEPs will be able to play a key role in ensuring that the nurses’ concerns, at national level, are also adequately addressed in the work of the European Parliament.
EPP Debate on the Economic & Financial Crisis
(05/05/2009)
The EFN Secretary General participated in the High level panel debate on “Europe in the economic & financial crisis: How to bring back prosperity for everyone?” held on 4 May 2009, in Brussels. Prior to the ECOFIN Council, this meeting brought together Ministers of Finance from the European countries and the keynote speech was delivered by Mr. Lucas Papademos, Vice-President of the European Central Bank. Although the discussion was orientated towards the bank sector and setting up a new risk Council, only the Minister of Finance from Finland, Jyrki Katainen, touched upon health. He made reference to the Finish recession in the nineties and this was an opportunity to express EFN members concerns as set out in the EFN Press Release. In the panel feedback, the main focus was on pension reform (working until 67), development of more skilled workforce and getting people a job.
Spring EFN General Assembly, 16-17 April 2009
(21/04/2009)
The EFN organised its 90th General Assembly in Brussels where members discussed important issues related to EFN/ICN and EFN ongoing lobby activities: Green Paper on EU Workforce for Health; Skill Mix & Skill Needs; Social Cohesion Funds; Patient Safety EU Project (EUNetPaS); EU Council Recommendations on Patient Safety & Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs); Quality Standards; the Bologna Summit and last but not least the upcoming European Parliament (June 2009) and WHO RC (September 2009) elections. The EFN members took generously time sharing their national key concerns as regards the impact of the financial/economic crisis on nurses and nursing. The majority of the countries reported that the crisis was felt through health budget cuts, staff lay-offs, closure of units, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, reduced salaries, reduced intake of nursing students, forced unpaid leave and reduced pension schemes. This is leading to increased nursing workload, and to unsafe services and unsafe patient care. In the follow-up of this Tour de Table, the EFN published a Press Release on this important issue, calling the Heads of State and Finance Ministers to invest and protect health and social services, to build the workforce for health, and to financially support the member states hardest hit.
Next to the EFN General Assembly, the EFN members had the opportunity to follow a lobby course organised on 15 April 2009, by the European Training Institute. The EFN members were orientated how to lobby and adapt their strategies according to the ongoing changes at EU Institutions level, and how to input the decision-making processes. Finally, a visit to the European Parliament was organised for the members to get a full picture on how this institution is functioning.
Health in Times of Global Economic Crisis (06/04/2009)
The EFN General Secretary represented the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) in the WHO High Level meeting “Health in times of global economic crisis: implications for the WHO European Region”, held on 1-2 April 2009, in Oslo, Norway, in which national governments discussed how the health sector can help mitigate negative health and social impacts and counter the economic downturn. Interesting for EFN was that governments stressed the importance of primary health care, skill mix and skill needs to achieve more health for our money and the importance of recruitment and retention strategies for health professionals, specifically nurses. Interesting speeches came from Alan Maynard, Martin McKee and Mary Robinson, underlining the importance of “think out of the health box”.
Follow the speeches, presentations and discussions online
EFN & ICN Presidents meet in Cyprus (30/03/2009)
The EFN President, Ms Grete Christensen, was invited to participate in the meetings organized by the Cyprus Nurses and Midwives Association (CYNMA), a Member of EFN, on the occasion of Dr. Hiroko Minami, ICN President, visit to Cyprus, on 23-25 March 2009. As key speaker in this event, Ms Christensen made a presentation on "European Nursing workforce: Problems and Perspectives" and stated that the topic “EU Workforce for Health” is of high priority for EFN members as the “Current European trends in health system reform, with their overarching concern for cost-containment, have had a downside for nursing in many European countries. This is reflected in cuts in nursing budgets, the loss of a nursing voice in governmental decision-making processes, increases in nursing workloads, and serious concerns about patient safety and the quality of care. These trends need to be countered by effective and efficient EU added value policies”. This event brought together Academics of the Nursing departments from all Nursing Universities, MPs, Ministry of Health Officers, Nurses, representatives of Nursing Unions and the Nursing & Midwifery Council.
EFN provides input to Skill Mix-Skill Needs Debate
(25/03/2009)
DG Employment brought together experts with an in-depth expertise in the health and social services sector in the domains of human resources, with key knowledge in foresight and scenario analysis, as well as in the field of education and training. The EFN Position Statement on Skill Mix and Skill Needs guided the discussion related to Nursing and amended quite extensively the draft findings of the comprehensive analysis of emerging competences and economic activities in the Health and social services sector. The elaborated scenarios of future evolution of health and social services sector until 2020 and the implication on employment in existing occupations and on new skills needed for jobs in the sector were extensively discussed.
When it comes to Information to Patients, Nurses have their say! (03/03/2009)
The EFN participated as key note speaker in the roundtable on “Information to Patients” organised by the European Regional and Local Health Authorities Network (EUREGHA) on 3 March 2009, in Brussels. The aim of this event, which brought together regional and local authorities, was to open up a constructive debate and explore the ways in which local and regional health authorities could better improve the information to citizens and, thereof, achieve greater health outcomes. The EFN General Secretary stressed that “Being innovative in skill mix and extending roles and responsibilities is one element of the equation, next to working in multi-disciplinary teams, wider health teams and learning from each other.” In relation to the European Commission proposed Directive, the EFN supports EPHA response on Information to Patients.
European Commission Call for Proposals 2009: New funding opportunities in health (02/03/2009)
The European Commission published, on 26 February, the work plan for 2009 - implementing the second Health Programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-2013) -, together with the announcement of the calls for proposals for projects, operating grants, conferences and joint actions. All proposals should address important problems in the European public health sector and be in line with the European Commission priorities stressed in the Work Plan 2009. The successful proposals should concentrate on aspects of public health that cannot be achieved on a national level, and ensure a significant impact across the EU. An Information Day, in which the EFN is taking part, will be organised on 18 March 2009 in Luxembourg. The deadline for submitting proposals is 20 May 2009.
The EFN addressed the Chief Nursing Officers meeting on Education and Workforce (10/02/2009)
The EFN was invited to make a presentation on Education and on Workforce in the Chief Nursing Officers meeting that took place in Prague on 4-6 February 2009, under the auspice of the Czech EU Presidency. The conference discussed on ‘Education’, to which the EFN highlighted the need for implementing DIR36, the recognition of variability of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and the importance of Social Cohesion Funds to make a difference in the field, and advocated for “one voice for nurses and nursing”. The Chief Nursing Officers welcomed a closer collaboration with EFN. The second day conference concentrated on the “Green Paper on EU Workforce for Health”, in which the main challenges for nurses and nursing: recruitment and retention, ethical recruitment code and the lack of comparable data, were discussed. The EFN stressed the importance of developing an EU workforce planning mechanism, the emphasis of a gender perspective in the Green Paper and the need for concrete action based on the EU Member States best practices.
EFN Experts Platform on Education (28/01/2009)
The EFN organised a meeting, on 26 January 2009, with the EFN Members experts on Education to discuss the implementation of the EFN Policy & Position Statements on Synergies between Directive 36, Bologna, and European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The experts mainly focussed on the challenges around Directive 36 and the lack of synergy with Bologna and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and concluded that there is incompatibility between prescribed Directive 36 Nurse training hours and ECTS, and that no valid and reliable measurement of nurse competencies exists. It was also expressed that the clinical outcomes cannot be separated from the academic level of achievement; and that a single European level of Nurses, which would improve patient outcomes and facilitate recruitment and retention of nursing staff, is needed but may not be enough in light of nurse shortage. Finally, the experts’ group believe that the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) should be included in Directive 36; and that from a practical point of view the experts could develop a generic tool for bridging courses, recognising the differences between the EU Member States, and initiate a pool of Nurse Professors to support those Member States starting with a nursing faculty. The EFN is looking forward to provide its input to the Bologna Summit to take place on 28-29 April 2009, in Belgium.
Health First Europe Exhibition on “the future of Health” (08/01/2009)
The EFN is taking part in the exhibition organised by Health First Europe (HFE) in the European Parliament, from 6 to 9 January 2009, under the patronage of the MEP Elizabeth Lynne. The aim of this event is to raise awareness of the EU on the quality of healthcare and safety of patients and healthcare workers in Europe. In the last months, healthcare quality and patient safety have been a priority on the European agenda. Some initiatives were undertaken, such as: the adoption of a proposal for a directive to facilitate the application of European patients’ rights in relation to cross-border healthcare; the adoption of a Communication and a proposal for a Council Recommendation on Patient Safety, including the prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs); and the launch of the Green paper on the EU Workforce for Health. The EFN hopes that these recent initiatives are just the beginning of EU action in the area of health. Therefore, the EFN invites you to visit the exhibition at the “Espace Bar” (3rd floor, ASP) and to take a few minutes examining the available information.
05/01/2009
Dear Colleagues,
Happy New Year! 2008 was an exciting lobby year for EFN, with a very positive end: the launch of the Green Paper on EU Workforce for Health and the Council Recommendations on Patient Safety and Healthcare Associated Infections, both under the overall framework of the ambitious Health Services Directive. These concrete outcomes were only possible due to the EFN members input to the EU policy-making processes and DG Sanco leadership in policy-making. The EFN has now a solid governance structure with strong leadership of the Executive Committee which reflect the courage of all nurses believing in the values and principles of nursing. All these positive developments led to an increased membership of National Nursing Associations joining the EFN, similar to the enlargement of the EU. It becomes clear that the EFN members feel safe in the “House of Nurses” and that investing in EFN means investing in nursing leading to EU policies reflecting the daily reality of millions of nurses in the EU and Europe. Even in difficult economical times, high living costs and extremely difficult working conditions, the EFN keeps on leading change in policy affecting the daily life of six million nurses. Therefore, we all need to be optimistic about the future and being proud to be a nurse.
Grete Christensen Paul de Raeve
EFN President EFN General Secretary
