Letter from the Chair: JACKY ROGERS (Spring 2009)
A new year and time for me to make you aware of the changes that have been taking place within the RCN and the impact these will have on the forums.
Over the past couple of years, the RCN has been going through a programme of change and, as we all know from experience, change management is never easy! For RCN forums this has been a rollercoaster. The number of forums is being reduced substantially, mainly by a process of mergers and rationalisation, and for us "chairs" it has been a stressful process, with each of us fighting to retain the status quo.
However, we have now emerged on the other side and 2009 will see our energy and commitment thrown into shaping the future.
Joining with our colleagues in public health
Our Sexual Health Forum is now part of a new Public Health Forum, merged with our colleagues in travel health, occupational health, health visiting and TB nursing. The new style forums will start to take shape from next October. We can reassure you that we will continue to have an online presence with our online community at www.rcn.org.uk/sexualhealth and encourage you to go online and keep up to date.
Meanwhile there is a transition process which will see the five chairs of the forums which will merge to form Public Health meeting with our new Adviser Jan Maw. Our immediate task is to plan and submit proposals to ensure the new steering group will be representative of the various constituent parts.
I hope I haven't lost you! This is a major change both for our forum and for you. We will keep you informed of any changes in structure.
So what about the newsletter and annual conference?
I believe that in the short term these will stay as they are. In fact we have a conference planned in London for June (see our Events and conferences page) and I hope you will make a big effort to come. There will be meetings related to sexual health in the future, of course, but I really don't have the details yet. I do hope you understand.
As part of this brave new RCN world I am delighted to say hello and welcome to our new and very capable Adviser to the Public Health Forum. Jan Maw (jan.maw@rcn.org.uk) has a daunting task ahead!
And though I have introduced her before, I'm sure you will find our new Membership Co-ordinator, Sandra Hall (sandra.hall@rcn.org.uk) a very useful person to know.
Sadly we must say goodbye and thanks to Vanessa Griffiths, a steering group member for several years. Vanessa is resigning as she feels her new career move takes her out of the sexual health field though I'm sure she will continue to carry a banner for us.
Do come and meet us in June at the RCN Sexual Health Conference - who knows what the future will hold!