RCN Congress 2011

Published: 15 June 2011

Angela Steen reports on Congress 2011, including the forum fringe event

Anna and I attended Congress as voting members and received a warm Liverpudlian welcome!

A huge buzz was in the air as members discussed whether Secretary of State Andrew Lansley would speak to the auditorium or a chosen number of delegates as part of the Government’s ‘listening exercise’.

Although there were many members disappointed that he chose to only speak to a few delegates it was an excellent opportunity for the RCN to engage with the Government and for Andrew Lansley to hear what RCN members had to say.

The RCN members did not disappoint and asked pertinent questions on relevant issues that affect us all in clinical practice.

Concerns about clinical care, job security and pay were high on members agenda at both Congress and while networking in between sessions.

 Delegates voted 97 per cent for Council to ballot members on industrial action if there is an incremental pay freeze or any other proposals reducing the value of any part of our nationally agreed terms and conditions which reflected members passion about our profession. Dr Peter Carter said in his keynote speech: “We will stand up, we will fight and we will be heard.”

There were several interesting debates and an opportunity to catch up with the progress of issues that were discussed at last year’s Congress in Bournemouth. You can see video clips from Congress 2011 on the Congress web pages.

Healthy tan or deathly tan?

Healthy tan or deathly tan was the title of our forum fringe event and Val Loftus, Dermatology Skin Cancer Nurse from North Wales, gave an interesting presentation on how to she has targeted  the younger population on sun safety and the dangers of sunbed use through attending festivals and raising awareness.

 The British Association of Dermatologists is undertaking several mole and sun protection events at various festivals around the country this summer of which some of you may be volunteering, so please send me your feedback.

 Anna concluded the session by giving practical sun awareness health promotion targeting babies, children and adults. More than 50 delegates chose our fringe event from a hectic programme which reflects how sun awareness issues affect us all whichever clinical area we work in. The presentation led to an interesting question and answer session.