Complete survey on EU influence on nursing

Published: 24 January 2013

European Union (EU) employment legislation can help to protect the safety of health care staff in the UK, the Royal College of Nursing has said.

The comments were made following Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech on the UK’s future in the European Union.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary Dr Peter Carter said the EU has influenced a wide range of policies and legislation that impact on nursing practice and nurses’ working lives such as the directive on the prevention of sharps injuries.

“It’s important that UK organisations continue to influence EU negotiations on key employment and professional nursing issues, and this can only be done by working constructively with colleagues in other EU countries,” he said.

The RCN is calling on members to complete to short survey to find out how important you think it is that the EU should continue to influence nurses’ rights and decisions on different aspects of health in the UK.
Complete the RCN survey by 5 February.

Further information

The UK government is consulting on the impact of the European Union on many sectors in the UK, including health. The RCN will respond in relation to EU competences in health and their impact on nursing.  Find out more in RCN briefings.