Letter from the Chair: Sandra Grieve
I hope you have been keeping an eye on the RCN restructuring programme because these changes will affect the way forums work and how they deliver information to members. The Travel Health Forum has been totally committed to involvement with all the various consultations and proposals.
It is now clear that the number of forums will be reduced from 75 to 42. Thus Travel Health has been placed in the new “Public Health Forum” alongside the Occupational Health, Sexual Health, TB Nurses and Health Visitors forums. Logically this makes sense and we already have links with these disciplines. All of the forums acknowledge that each has its own unique contribution to make to RCN members.
The current economic climate has led to the RCN tightening its belt and making changes, among which is a move to an online newsletter. For now this will run alongside printed copies for those who do not wish to have an e-copy.
The RCN website has been reorganised and Travel Health has its own “community” at www.rcn.org.uk/travelhealth . Information lost during the alterations will be replaced there and there is a forum discussion area. Have a look on the RCN website discussion zone, have a chat and send us your views.
It is hoped that the restructuring and forum rationalisation programmes will be completed and implemented by October 2009.