RCN supports bill on sunbeds

Published: 28 January 2010

RCN Supports a Private Member’s Bill asking for ban on sun bed usage for under 18s

The Royal College of Nursing is supporting Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan’s private members bill which would ban under 18s from sun beds and ensure that all sun bed usage in England and Wales would be supervised.  Health Secretary Andy Burnham is backing the bill, which had its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, January 29.

The RCN debated the use of sun beds at its RCN Congress in 2002 which resulted in a clear majority of delegates calling for the statutory regulation of sun bed outlets.

Nurses want to see tanning salons offering sun bed treatments for over 18s to be licensed, supervised and subject to routine inspections.

Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: “The RCN met with Julie Morgan recently and we are delighted to support this bill. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. However, it can be one of the few diseases which can be minimised if people protect themselves from harmful UV rays, especially when they are young.  Passing this bill would be an important step in protecting our young people.” 

He added: “The Royal College of Nursing would encourage the importance of educating the public about sun and skin protection, including campaigning to raise awareness of the dangers of sun beds and providing information about skin cancer prevention and the need to seek early medical advice.”

As the primary motivation of sun bed outlets is to generate profit, the concern for health risks can be given low priority. Evidence of this has been seen recently in Wales when adolescents under the age of 16 have gained access to sun bed outlets with negative health consequences.  In other parts of the UK there is evidence that schoolchildren have been encouraged to use these facilities with incentives such as special '2 for 1 offers'  for children in school uniform.

Tina Donnelly, Director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, said: “It is clear that sun beds represent a health risk particularly to adolescents who are common users of these facilities. The lack of regulation of these facilities is a concern. An individual can set up a sun bed outlet without any training or knowledge of the health effects. This bill would protect young people.”

According to figures from the Welsh Assembly Government, the occurrence of malignant melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, has doubled over the last two decades to nearly 500 cases per year in Wales, and in 2005 there were 88 deaths in Wales from malignant melanoma.  Exposure to ultraviolet radiation has been reported as an important factor in the development of skin cancers. 

Ends

Notes to Editors:

The RCN is the largest professional body for qualified, registered nurses and nursing students with 400,000 members in the UK including over 23,500 members in Wales.
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