Resolutions and matters for discussion

The Congress 2010 resolutions and matters for discussion were confirmed by Council on 15 January 2010 (read about how items are submitted). Please see below for a list of what was discussed and debated in Bournemouth at Congress 2010, including emergency items. Click on the title of each item to view the debate, its outcome and the progress made since Congress.

(M) = matter for discussion (R) = resolution

1. Caring to the end (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to lobby for fully funded palliative care services.

2. Heroin on the NHS? (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether heroin should be provided on the NHS as an alternative to current drug misuse treatments.

3. Fair care for trans people (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to lobby for consistent and equitable care for trans patients.

4. Busting the myth on NHS pensions (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to publicly defend NHS pensions and challenge the illusion of the gold-plated pension scheme for public sector workers.

5. Sick day - no pay? (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the advantages and disadvantages of withholding pay for the first five days of any period of sickness absence.

6. A learning disability nurse in every hospital? (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to lobby for a learning disability liaison nurse in all hospitals.

7. First aid training for children? (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on governments to mandate the teaching of first aid to school children.

8. Too scared to care (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether or not the fear of litigation overrides our commitment to care

9. Room for one? (M)
That this meeting of RCN congress discuss whether single rooms in hospitals are an aspiration too far.

10. Personality disorder - resource source (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to lobby for adequate funding and training for staff treating people with a diagnosed personality disorder.

11. Children - ward or walk-in? (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the implications of reducing the status of children's wards in district general hospitals to 18 hour ambulatory care units.

12. Putting it right for agency workers (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress welcomes the adoption of the Temporary Agency Workers Directive and urges Council to press the Government to fully implement the Directive to ensure that health care workers have their employment rights secured in legislation.

13. 0% drink driving (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to lobby for legislation which reduces to zero the permissible level of alcohol intake before driving.

14. Too much, too young (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the impact that early sexualisation has on young girls.

15. Who best to be boss? (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress believes that directors of nursing rather than general managers should be responsible for line managing nurses.

16. Priority care for front-line? (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress believes that health carprofessionals should be given priority access to health care services.

17. Mandatory medication training? (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to lobby for comprehensive validated medication training to be made mandatory to all health care support workers/health care assistants working in the independent sector.

18. Does watching work? (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether prescriptive observation of patients at risk of self harm and suicide is fundamentally flawed.

19. STIs - age no barrier (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress requests Council to lobby for a campaign aimed at older adults (45-64) to highlight their increasing risk of sexually transmitted infections.

20. Advance regulation for advanced nursing (R)
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to lobby the NMC to resolve the lack of regulation of Advanced Nursing Practice.

21. Working in a blame culture? (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the difficulties that nursing staff encounter from the increasing blame culture in our society.

22. Acute to community – can we do it? (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether nursing staff have sufficient training and support to make the transition from an acute to a community setting.

23. Following leaders or leading followers? (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether today's nurses are leaders or followers.

24E. Understanding the person (R)
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges Council to take action to ensure nurse education is fit for purpose in meeting the needs of people living with dementia.

25E. Hard Times (R)
That this meeting of Congress calls on governments and health care organisations across the UK to guarantee that safe staffing levels and nursing expertise will not be sacrificed to make ends meet in tough financial times.

26E. Enabling not disabling (R)
In the light of the political speakers presentations at Congress this week RCN Congress asks Council to mount a campaign to combat the unilateral and piecemeal dismantling of NHS pay and terms and conditions of services.

27E. Reducing the impact of disability on nursing careers (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discuss the impact of disability on nursing careers and discuss how the college can better support this strand of diversity so as not to lose the experience and empathy that disabled nurses bring.

28E. Health screening for over 40s (M)
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether offering universal access to health screening for the over 40s is the best way to spend NHS budgets when money is tight.