Last updated: 31 May 2010

President’s Message


Dear EFN Members and Colleagues,


When this update is published the Executive Committee will be in Spain to have their meeting. We will be in Spain because the Spanish NNA, in cooperation with other stakeholders, have arranged a two days seminar about implementing the “COUNCIL DIRECTIVE implementing the Framework Agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector concluded by HOSPEEM and EPSU”.

 

Having achieved that this sector agreement has become a directive shows that if all sides in a social dialogue is willing to reach an agreement it is possible, and in that case social dialogue is a very powerful tool. In this case it is the first time a sector agreement has been changed into a directive.

 

I am looking very much forward to this conference with our colleagues from Spain, as sharp injuries are affecting more than 1 million healthcare workers in Europe each year. In my point of view implementing the directive at national level is not enough. To prevent sharp injuries, we all: the governments, the employers, the nurses and other healthcare workers have to stand together and take our responsibilities to bring the problem into each and every healthcare workplace in Europe to secure that training information and personal policies take this serious problem into account .

 

                                               Grete Christensen

                                                    EFN President

 

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EFN UPDATE - JUNE 2010



News from EFN

 

EU Health Policy Forum

The EFN participated in the EU Health Policy Forum (EUHPF) held in Brussels on 20 May 2010. This first meeting of the renewed group of the EUHPF mainly focused on the current and future work of the EUHPF: 1/ EU 2020 strategy (The main priorities involve growth at several stages based on knowledge and innovation, sustainability and social and territorial cohesion. 2 of the 5 targets are social orientated: a growing employment rate, education and lifelong learning which gives EUHPF a field to lobby); 2/ implementation of the Health Strategy 2008-2013 (The Spanish Presidency presented a consensus text of the Patients’ rights on Cross border healthcare Directive, which received a wide support, and expects to have a political agreement by the 8 of June and to start a second reading in the European Parliament); 3/ Strategic Priorities and work plan 2009/2010 – next steps 2011/2012 (Priorities will be tackling the budget, e-Health and EU workforce, as well as the reform of the cohesion policy); 4/ EU Open Health Forum conference in June 2010.

 

Update

Nurses and Health Technicians of Serbia Congress

The EFN participated in the Congress of the Nurses and Health Technicians of Serbia held in Zlatibor-Serbia on 19-23 May 2010, which brought together 1.400 nurses. Invited as keynote speaker, the EFN General Secretary made a presentation on “Directive 36, Bologna Process, and the role of EFN in the nursing profession”. The EFN General Secretary also met the delegate of the Ministry of Health to exchange views on the process of TAIEX and the challenges for the nursing education in Serbia – Less than 10% of the nursing workforce complies with DIR36. Bridging courses will then be needed to skill up for compliance with the Directive. There is a clear will and leadership from the Serbian National Nursing Association to move forward, to make change possible and to move the nursing profession of Serbia into the EU.

 

Update

Croatian Nurses Association Nursing Congress

The EFN participated in the Croatian Nurses Association Nursing Congress “Nursing: The spectrum of differences”, that took place in Zagreb – Croatia, on 15-18 May 2010, and brought together over 300 nurses. Several important topics for nurses and the nursing profession where discussed, such as: nursing in the process of Croatian accession to the European Union, nursing migration, patient safety, nursing ethics, leadership in nursing, nursing research, nursing education and continuous professional development. Invited as key speakers the EFN made a presentation on “nurse migration” and highlighted its implications in education, safety and workforce planning.

 

Update

ICN, ICM, & WHO Triad meeting

The EFN participated in the Triad meeting organised by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 14-15 May 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland, which brought together Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers, representatives of national nursing and midwifery associations and regulatory bodies from 85 countries. Several key issues where discussed, such as: strengthening Health Systems, Chronic disease and Primary Health Care, and Nursing contribution in development of health care delivery. Invited as keynote speaker the EFN made a presentation on “The economic Crisis: Impact and the way forward” and highlighted EFN members’ key concerns, such as: health budget cuts, staff lay-offs, closure of units, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, reduced salaries; as well as their key priorities in an attempt to gain a much wider perspective on the collective issues of concern for Nursing and Health in the EU, such as: Nurse Education; Workforce planning, working conditions, and pay; Patient safety and quality of care.

 

Update 

News from the EU

 

Patient’s Rights in Cross-Border Healthcare Directive

Following the initial examination and compromise texts by the FR, CZ and SE Presidencies of the legislative proposal for a Directive on Patient's Rights in Cross-Border Healthcare - aiming to facilitate the access to safe and high-quality cross-border healthcare and promotes cooperation on healthcare between the EU Member States -, and the discussions in the Employment, Social Policy and Health Council (EPSCO) on 1st December 2009, where the European Health Ministers were not able to find an agreement, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) examined on 19 May 2010 the Spanish Presidency's compromise text on the Directive, which received a wide support with the exception of provisions on e-health. The EPSCO Council should meet on 7-8 June 2010 and is expected to confirm political agreement on the proposed Directive. If an agreement is reached a second reading in the European Parliament can be done before the end of the year and the Directive can be adopted.