Congress agenda items 2005-2012
This list of Congress agenda items should help you to see what's been debated before. Remember, just because something has been discussed, doesn't mean it can't be revisited if the situation has changed or there are new developments around the issue.
2012
1. Corridor wards
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for an end to the use of inappropriate areas as extra bed capacity.
2. Paying for donations
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to lobby against any moves to change the law to enable payment for live tissue donation.
3. Jam, Jerusalem or jobs in the NHS?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the ‘Big Society’ within the context of the NHS and the work undertaken by volunteers.
4. Cashing in on good health
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to lobby in favour of moves to offer financial incentives to be healthy.
5. What place for private companies?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the increasing role of private companies in both the commissioning and delivery of NHS services as a consequence of health and social care reforms.
6. Video games
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to lobby for the tightening of controls governing the supply of adult rated video games.
7. Transformation or not?
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on Council to denounce downgrading under the guise of service transformation.
8. Shift impacts
This meeting of RCN Congress calls on employers to do more to reduce the recognised harmful effects of shift working on staff and patients.
9. TUC – to affiliate or not
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether the RCN should be affiliated to the TUC.
10. Too much at risk?
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to oppose service redesign which results in the loss or fragmentation of specialist knowledge, expertise or staff who deliver quality services for all vulnerable groups.
11. Media – friend or foe
That this meeting of RCN Congress debates whether the media is a friend or foe of nursing?
12. Flu jabs for all?
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to lobby for all nursing staff and students to be required to have an annual flu vaccination and for it to be provided free of charge.
13. Retirement age – an issue for the future?
In view of the increasing retirement age, this meeting of RCN Congress believes that careers will not exist for older nurses to work safely.
14. General hospitals – what next?
That this meeting of RCN Congress has an open and honest debate about the long-term future of general hospitals in the UK.
15. Not in your own time
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to urge health employers to ensure that all mandatory training is undertaken in work time.
16. Trade union erosion?
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on Council to lobby to ensure that the power of trade unions representing health care staff is not eroded.
17. Techno care
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses how advances in technology can help to provide safer, timelier and more effective care.
18. Opportunities outside the NHS
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the benefits and opportunities for nursing staff who work outside the NHS.
19. Cuts, or cuts to care?
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to monitor the impact of cuts on patient care and to campaign against them at UK,, national and local levels.
20. Rhetoric or reality?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the question “non-judgmental care: rhetoric or reality?”
21. Nurse education – is it fit for purpose?
That this meeting of RCN Congress considers whether pre-registration nurse education is fit for purpose.
22. Universal screening
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to lobby for government to regulate the marketing and sales of health screening products and services to individuals.
23. Preceptorship – in the community?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses how preceptorship will be implemented within community services.
24. Putting money where it’s needed
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to lobby for financial resources to precede or accompany the patient so that their needs are met regardless of location.
25. Nursing the next generation
That this meeting of RCN Congress recommends a career in nursing to the next generation.
26e. Regulation of professional nursing
That this meeting of the RCN Congress considers how, given the current turbulence in the NMC, the RCN can take a leadership role in assuring the proper regulation of professional nursing.
27e. NHS Direct and 111
That this meeting of the RCN Congress asks Council to call on the Department of Health to urgently reconsider the replacement of NHS Direct with 111.
28e. Local Pay
In the light of the Chancellor’s comments and the increasing interest of political parties in the devolved countries in local pay bargaining, Congress urges Council to take all necessary steps to prevent its implementation.
29e. Conspiracy of Silence
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discuss how to end the conspiracy of silence from political and health leaders about the state of our NHS.
30e. NMC Fees
That this meeting of the RCN Congress condemns the 60% hike in NMC fees.
31e. Partnership arrangements
That this meeting of the RCN Congress calls on the current Secretary of State for Health Mr Andrew Lansley and his government to enter into meaningful partnership arrangements with the trade unions and employers.
2011
1. Pay cuts
That this meeting of RCN Congress is opposed to the pay cuts that are being imposed on the NHS workforce without consultation or due diligence to the current ‘equal pay for equal value’ pay system.
2. Medicines waste
That RCN Congress asks Council to investigate and promote ways to reduce the cost of prescribed medication and unnecessary wastage.
3. Partnership and austerity
That RCN Congress considers the advantages and shortcomings of working in partnership with employers and governments during this period of financial austerity.
4. Transparency in service re-design
That RCN Congress calls on Council to lobby the Department of Health and the devolved administrations to mandate NHS service providers to publish all risk assessments and patient quality impact assessments in advance of any service redesign.
5. Proposed welfare reforms
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the potential impact of health and wellbeing resulting from the Government’s proposed welfare reforms.
6. Outcomes not income
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on Council to lobby for services to be provided on the basis of outcome rather than income.
7. Re-emergent diseases
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the re-emergence of diseases, such as tuberculosis, and the contribution nursing can make to reducing them.
8. Safe staffing levels
That RCN Congress urges Council to campaign for legally enforceable staffing levels to safeguard standards in the current economic climate.
9. Social networking and nursing
That RCN Congress discusses whether social networking sites are good for nursing.
10. Blood donation
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to lobby to remove the exclusion on gay and bisexual men donating blood.
11. Quality placements
That RCN Congress urges Council to lobby for all students to be given appropriate quality placements leading to a minimum of a one year position with preceptorship upon registration.
12. Assessment of staff
That RCN Congress discusses the introduction of an annual physical and psychological assessment for all staff.
13. Equity and Excellence and patient care
That this meeting of RCN Congress does not believe that changes to commissioning arrangements outlined in the NHS white paper ‘Equity and excellence: liberating the NHS’ will best serve patients, health care, or the NHS in England.
14. Working across all clinical specialties
That RCN Congress calls on UK governments to require nurses to work across all clinical specialties.
15. Access to care
That this meeting of RCN Congress considers how to achieve equitable access to health care services for older people who live in care homes.
16. Skills passport
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to lobby for the Skills Passport for Health to be implemented across the NHS and other sectors where nurses are employed.
17. Return to SENs
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether the introduction of the support worker/assistant practitioner is a return to the State Enrolled Nurse.
18. Nursing workforce
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to lobby all UK governments to ensure nurses play a key role in workforce planning, education commissioning and the design of the future nursing workforce.
19. Community mental health nursing
That RCN Congress discusses the changing role of community mental health nurses across the UK.
20. Public spending and vulnerable adults
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to monitor the disproportionate effects that reductions in public spending may have on those adults who are most vulnerable to abuse and neglect.
21. Qualifications and experience
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to investigate how appropriate nursing experience can be recognised and accredited.
22. Cuts and patient/staff safety
That RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to lobby to minimise the impact of cuts on patient and staff safety following the Lord Young Review on Health and Safety.
23. Funding international work
That RCN Congress considers if the RCN can continue funding its international work given the domestic economic situation.
24. Dual diagnosis
That RCN Congress discusses the challenges faced by nurses working across all health care sectors in managing people with dual diagnosis.
25. Value for money in health care systems
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether the current systems of health care regulation across the UK are proportionate and represent value for money.
26. Hate crime
That RCN Congress calls on Council to promote awareness of the impact and effect of hate crime.
27e. NHS reforms
That this meeting of the RCN Congress, in the light of Anne Milton's Congress address, has no confidence in Andrew Lansley's management of this Coalition Government's NHS reforms.
28e. One family, one union, one voice, no imposition
Following the minister offering job protection for some staff in return for a freeze in increments, Congress urges Council to ballot the membership for industrial action in the event of any imposition of an incremental pay freeze or any other proposals reducing the value of any part of our nationally agreed terms and conditions.
29e. Nurses subsidising health services
That RCN Congress calls for an end to nurses subsidising health services.
30e. Royal wedding bank holiday
That this meeting of RCN Congress demands that all health care employers apply bank holiday rates of pay for the royal wedding on 29 April.
2010
1. Caring to the end
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to lobby for fully funded palliative care services.
2. Heroin on the NHS?
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
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
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?
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?
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?
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on governments to mandate the teaching of first aid to school children.
8. Too scared to care
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether or not the fear of litigation overrides our commitment to care.
9. Room for one?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether single rooms in hospitals are an aspiration too far.
10. Personality disorder - resource source
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?
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
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
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
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the impact that early sexualisation has on young girls.
15. Who best to be boss?
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?
That this meeting of RCN Congress believes that health care professionals should be given priority access to health care services.
17. Mandatory medication training?
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?
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
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
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?
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?
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?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether today's nurses are leaders or followers.
24e. Understanding the person
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
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
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
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the impact of disability on nursing careers and discusses 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
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.
2009
1. A uniform approach?
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to lobby the Government to follow the example of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and introduce a national uniform for all English NHS clinical staff where appropriate to promote the professional image of health care workers and to ensure patients can easily identify the staff caring for them.
2. Eat well, stay well
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses how best to encourage people to make healthy lifestyle choices in the current economic climate.
3. Nowhere to go
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to lobby agencies to urgently review access to health and social care by groups regarded as being socially excluded, such as travelling communities and homeless people.
4. ISA – for better or worse?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the introduction of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) register.
5. HR – a positive contribution
That this meeting of RCN Congress agrees that Human Resource management in the health care sector has made no positive outcomes to patient care or the workforce in general.
6. There they go!
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to lobby governments to ensure that the retention of nursing staff matches service needs.
7. Agenda for Change, changed agenda?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether Agenda for Change has made a positive contribution to the delivery of patient care.
8. Young hearts
That this meeting of RCN Congress demands accessible cardiac screening for young people.
9. It’s in the mix
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to lobby to ensure appropriate skill mix is integral to patient safety and the quality agenda.
10. RCN reps – what next?
That this meeting of RCN Congress considers the future of the RCN representative.
11. HPV vaccine for all
That this meeting of RCN Congress supports the right of young people to obtain equal access to the HPV vaccine.
12. Foundation for a healthy future?
That this meeting of RCN Congress considers whether foundation status is a healthy option for the NHS.
13. Leading change for nurse leaders
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to develop a strategy that supports directors of nursing with executive responsibility in commissioning.
14. Green light for red light?
That this meeting of RCN Congress makes appropriate recommendations to the UK Government to allow up to four sex workers to work together legally before requiring a license.
15. APs – who needs them?
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to evaluate where, when, and why we need assistant practitioners.
16. NHS Ltd – worth the price?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the impact of a finance-driven, business-orientated NHS on patient care.
17. Waste not, want not
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the real impact of waste management and waste segregation policies on patient care.
18. Union matters
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to lobby for the implementation of equitable and accessible trade union facilities agreements.
19. A word for dyslexia
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to influence employers to recognise and provide for the needs of nursing staff with dyslexia and similar conditions.
20. Putting its house in order
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether the NMC has restored the faith of nurses in its fitness to practice.
21. Diversity, equality, opportunity
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to ensure that its own diversity reflects the diversity of RCN members.
22. Millennium goals or own goals?
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to work at home and internationally to account for progress on achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals.
2008
1. Presumed consent is not informed consent
That this meeting of RCN Congress opposes any attempt to make consent to organ donation presumed.
2. Health care reform – how far, how fast?
That this meeting of RCN Congress supports the need for faster, more rapid change in the NHS.
3. Time to care for the Pay Review Body
That this meeting of RCN Congress requests RCN Council to act to protect and maintain the NHS Pay Review Body.
4. Out-of-hours community nursing - a challenge too far?
With continuing public concern over out-of hours GP cover, this meeting of RCN Congress considers the challenges and opportunities for nurses to provide out-of-hours care.
5. Contracts out
That this meeting of RCN Congress demands that RCN Council lobbies government to end contract cleaning in the NHS.
6. The NHS at 60 – what next?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether the NHS has reached a birthday milestone or the age of retirement.
7. A lost generation
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks RCN Council to lobby government to end the scandal where children are expected to be the main carer for a dependent parent or sibling.
8. Stop-watch care
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the impact of the four hour emergency care target on patient care and staff morale.
9. Left holding no baby
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to lobby for the implementation of the 2004 NICE guidelines on the availability of IVF.
10. Testing times
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses alternatives to the continuing assessment of pre-registration students.
11. Young, gay and ignored
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to develop and promote best practice to combat the barriers to health and homophobic bullying faced by LGBT youth in the UK.
12. Maintaining standards, safeguarding care
That this meeting of RCN Congress requests RCN Council to mount a campaign to get government to establish a national standard for advanced health care assistant training and assessment with those who reach competence being registered and regulated by a national body independent of employers.
13. End Rule 12?
That this meeting of RCN Congress votes to put in motion the process to abolish rule 12.
14. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 – implications for health care, impact on nursing
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the implications of the new regulations relating to the Mental Capacity Act and the powers of Lasting Power of attorney on nurses.
15. A loss of faith
That this meeting of RCN Congress condemns the drastic cuts to hospital chaplaincy services by NHS trusts.
16. Do we practice what we preach?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether nurses are good role models to their clients when it comes to health-related behaviours.
17. Special (but only while needed)
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to make renewed effort to campaign to ensure that ex-members of the armed forces, who suffer psychological problems relating to their service time, can access appropriately skilled and knowledgeable mental health services.
18. Payment by results or poor results?
That this meeting of RCN Congress debates the inequalities of payment by results for patient care in the NHS.
19. Vulnerable adults - what difference can training make?
That this meeting of RCN Congress takes action to ensure that vulnerable adults are given the same consideration as vulnerable children, and that fully resourced training for all nurses who care for vulnerable adults is made mandatory.
20. Men can be victims too
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the lack of awareness of, and resources for, male victims of domestic violence.
21. Safe drinking
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the nurse’s role in promoting safe and responsible alcohol use.
22. Telecare in the community
That this meeting of RCN Congress supports the implementation and use of telehealth services in the community for patients with chronic long term conditions.
23. A sporting chance
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the opportunities for improving health in the UK in advance of the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth games.
24. Just because we can does it mean we should?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the medical and technological advances in patient care and the ethical dilemmas faced in clinical practice.
25. Those who can, do!
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks if there should be a requirement for nursing lecturers to maintain practice competence to support their relevant academic knowledge.
26. You must be joking
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses humour in health, health care and nursing.
2007
1. Right numbers, right care
That this meeting of RCN Congress demands UK-wide legislation to ensure appropriate staffing levels.
2. Cutting back on basics?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the impact of NHS modernisation on essential training and education of health care staff.
3. Changing times - changing us?
That this meeting of RCN Congress considers the challenges of the rapidly changing health and social care environment and how it impacts on where and how RCN members are employed.
4. Fair care for people with dementia
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for RCN Council to lobby health care providers, commissioners and government to enable people with dementia to have access to a full range of health care services.
5. No more Trust or bust
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for government to stop closing health services for cost reasons alone.
6. Crisis in the community
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the impact of the current NHS financial crisis on community nursing.
7. Lost in transition
That this meeting of RCN Congress agrees that there should be standards to ensure safe and effective transfer from children and young peoples’ services to adults’ services.
8. Picking up the paperwork
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the need to increase administrative support for nurses so they can spend more time directly caring for patients.
9. Expert nurse - looking after the future
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges government to safeguard the role of the expert nurse in the 21st century.
10. More support for perinatal mental illness
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to lobby government for the appropriate resources to assess, support and treat women who develop perinatal mental illness.
11. Practice placements - can we find the time
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses how we sustain 2,300 hours of practice placement learning in the current NHS climate.
12. Agenda for Change – independent sector needs it too
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to fight for nurses in the independent sector to receive Agenda for Change pay, terms and conditions.
13. Back WHO on malaria
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for RCN Council to lobbies the UK governments and the International Council of Nurses to back the World Health Organization’s drive to control malaria.
14. How far can it go?
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for government to privatise the NHS.
15. Include not exclude
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses how best to provide health care, and facilitate access to it, for people who are not registered with GPs.
16. Step it up for Hep C
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for government to fully fund the Hepatitis C strategies.
17. Sentenced to poor health
Calls for RCN Congress to condemn the current overcrowding in prisons because of the effect that this has on prisoners’ health and on the prison nurses who care for them.
18. Computerised patient records - what can they offer?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the potential of computerised patient records to show explicitly how nursing makes a difference to patient care, to provide evidence to support staffing and skill-mix decisions, and help to cost care.
19. Better at Home
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges government to expand and develop resources within the community setting for technologically- dependent neonates and children.
20. Shifting care - or reducing services?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses how the care given to older people and the mentally ill is being affected by the move from secondary to primary care.
21. Help for performance management
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the support needed for managers who are accused of bullying and harassment whilst attempting to manage performance.
22. It's taking a gamble
That this meeting of RCN Congress believes that the relaxation in gambling legislation will impact negatively on public health and calls on RCN Council to lobby government to amend the legislation.
23. All on board
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls on RCN Council to set up an English National Board, on a par with the RCN Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland boards, to bring together the work of the RCN English regions.
24. Voice at the top
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to lobbies government to ensure that nursing has strategic input to all bodies concerned with health regulation and policy development.
25. Respite care - a postcode lottery
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the impact on “informal” carers when properly resourced respite care is unavailable.
26. No more bangers for cash
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges RCN Council to lobby government to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public.
27. Continental shift
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the opportunities to support and enhance the mobility of a pan-European nursing workforce.
2006
1. Your care - your say
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges Council to recognise the important contribution that cottage hospitals make to patient care in many isolated rural areas and to campaign against their closure.
2. Here we go again - another merger
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses the impact on staff morale and patient care of the continual merger culture.
3. Secondment of health care assistants
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges the Council to lobby for more secondment opportunities for health care assistants to access nurse education.
4. Call for nurse prescribers to be supervisors
That this meeting of the RCN Congress calls on the government to change the regulations, so that experienced nurse prescribers can become 'supervisors' to nurse prescribing students.
5. Privatisation of the NHS
That this meeting of the RCN Congress condemns the proposals to transfer community services out of the NHS.
6. Safe self harm - is it possible?
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses the nurse's role in enabling safe self harm.
7
Think nursing - think global
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses how the constituent parts of the RCN can engage in global health issues.
8. A crime against women and children - female genital mutilation
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses the legal, health and child protection implications of female genital mutilation.
9. Maternity rights for nurses
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges Council to campaign for better support for nursing students who become pregnant.
10. Fair student bursaries
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges the Council to lobby for a UK-wide review of the provision of non-means tested bursaries for all pre-registration nursing and midwifery students.
11. Don't stop us working
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges the government to ensure that every newly qualified nurse has a job to go to at the end of their course.
12. Financial crisis
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges Council to lobby government to address the serious financial crisis facing the NHS.
13. Congress voting rights
That this meeting of the RCN Congress, in the light of changes proposed by the Professional Development Framework, discusses the distribution of voting rights at RCN Congress.
14. Smacking - there are alternatives!
That this meeting of the RCN Congress voices its support for the campaign to ban physical punishment of children.
15. Soaring fuel prices penalise community staff
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges Council to lobby government to raise the level of fuel reimbursement for those nurses who are required to use a motor vehicle to carry out their duties.
16. The independent sector's contribution
That this meeting of RCN Congress believes it is now time the independent sector's contribution to health care to be fully recognised.
17. Supporting victims of date rape
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses how to protect people against 'date rape' drugs.
18. Zero tolerance or zero action?
That this meeting of RCN Congress condemns the inaction by politicians regarding making violence against nurses a specific offence.
19. Dress to impress
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses how a nurse's appearance at work instills confidence in the public and promotes professionalism.
20. Developing entrepreneurship
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges Council to develop practical support for nurses working as entrepreneurs.
21. Nursing research Council
That this meeting of the RCN Congress demands there should be a research council for nursing.
22. More than physical health
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges the UK government to take up the health promotion agenda for mental health as well as physical health.
23. Nurses in the media
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses the media's poor portrayal of nursing.
24. A change for the worse?
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses the results of Agenda for Change.
25. Parking charges
That this meeting of the RCN Congress calls for an end to parking charges in health care settings.
26. Getting it wrong?
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses whether resources allocated to some health care promotion campaigns could better used in providing direct care to patients.
27. Involving service users
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses whether there should be a governance framework to protect patients in the current drive for user involvement.
28. Chief nursing officer's role
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses the role of the chief nursing officers.
2005
1. All fair in care?
That this meeting of RCN Congress believes that everyone should have equal access to health care regardless of their lifestyle before, during and after treatment.
2. Care for people with learning disabilities
That this meeting of RCN Congress condemns the reduction in numbers of learning disability nurses and the subsequent dilution of care for people with learning disabilities.
3. The Euthanasia debate
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether euthanasia should be available in the UK in the light of recent cases of people going abroad to get help to end their lives.
4. Double jeopardy?
That this meeting of the RCN Congress believes that the Council for the Regulation of Health care Professionals powers are unnecessary as those of the NMC are sufficient.
5. Can IT really help?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether the spread of information technology has a positive or negative impact on the nurse patient relationship.
6. Money for nothing
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to address the issue whereby GPs take payment for work carried out by nurses, midwives and health visitors.
7. One world?
That this meeting of RCN Congress deplores the practice of supplying out of date drugs and medical appliances to the developing world.
8. Pension trap
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses the implication for nurses and nursing of the UK governments' proposal for reforming the pension systems.
9. The right to know?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the ethical implications of not informing family members about a relative who is a carrier of a genetic condition.
10. Decriminalising prostitutes
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for the decriminalisation of prostitutes.
11. Free long term care for all
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to campaign for the Scottish model of providing free nursing and social care for older people to be extended to the other countries of the United Kingdom.
12. The numbers game
That this meeting of the RCN Congress urges Council to lobby the NMC to provide guidance on suitable student numbers in placement areas.
13. No fares please!
That this meeting of RCN Congress supports free public transport for nurses and nursing students to encourage recruitment and retention.
14. Immunisation – bringing back public trust
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the nurse’s role in restoring public trust in national immunisation programmes.
15. Short changed at the bank?
That this meeting of RCN Congress demands that UK governments ensure that the practice of exploiting staff on the bank stops and overtime payments are appropriately used within the Agenda for Change agreement.
16. What does Agenda for Change mean for higher education?
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to urge government to act on the serious impact that pay and career modernisation in the NHS will have on the recruitment and retention of nurse educators.
17. Unsocial hours - finding the way forward
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the way forward in developing new pay agreements for unsocial hours under agenda for change.
18. Could we Cope?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses whether nurses have enough information, training and appropriate equipment to deal with major incidents.
19. Caring or controlling?
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the changes in mental health legislation on the nurse/patient relationship.
20. Accountability of Council
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses ways of increasing the accountability of Council.
21. Back to square one?
That this meeting of RCN Congress condemns the latest re-organisation of primary care trusts in England and the introduction of ‘practice led commissioning’ as a waste of time and resources.
22. Valuing the voluntary sector
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discusses the extent to which nurses rely on the voluntary sector to support their work.
23. A branch for older people?
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for a specific branch of nursing to meet the needs of older people.
24. HCA s – Further Widening the Membership
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the implication of the Council’s decision to widen the membership.
25. Professional development
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks Council to lobby the government to ensure that nurses have the same rights as doctors to continuing professional development.
26. Free Prescriptions
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to lobby for the abolition of NHS prescription charges.
27. Working can damage your health
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the dilemma faced by nurses when exposed to tobacco smoke in the workplace and the action the RCN can take towards achieving a smoke free environment for nurses.
28. Transferable skills
That this meeting of the RCN Congress believes that national standards should be identified so that nursing skills can be transferred across all health care providers.
29. Green please!
That this meeting of RCN Congress urges Council to lobby health care providers and the UK governments to recycle more of the vast quantities of waste produced in the delivery of services.
30. Political football?
That this meeting of RCN Congress calls for the end of political control of the NHS.
31. Champions for health
That this meeting of RCN Congress discusses the effect of a good national team win on the health of the nation.
32 e. National Review of Mental Health Nursing
That this meeting of the RCN Congress discuss the review into Mental Health Nursing and the effect this will have on other fields of nursing.
33 e. Nurses’ pensions
That this meeting of RCN Congress condemns any proposals to increase the pensionable age of nurses.
34 e. Drugs and dementia
That this meeting of the RCN Congress opposes the proposals from NICE to withdraw anti dementia medication.
35 e. Industrial action
That this meeting of Congress asks Council to impress upon the Government that they will not rule out industrial action over pensions if all other measures fail.
