Nursing staff in limbo as public health faces change

Published: 02 November 2011

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), today (2 November), welcomed the Health Select Committee’s report on Public Health which recommended that uncertainty around the future structure and focus of public health in England must be resolved as quickly as possible.

Commenting on the report, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

“I am pleased to see the Health Committee’s report echoing many of the concerns raised by the RCN around the Government’s proposals on Public Health.  For example, we argued strongly that the introduction of an untried and untested Health Premium could increase health inequalities, directing resources away from where they’re most needed. We also share the Committee’s concerns around ring-fencing of the public health budget, with a recent survey of our members finding that 76% fear it could be raided by local authorities for other areas, such as road maintenance and housing.

“Many public health nurses are currently in a state of limbo as they await to see how proposed transfers to local authorities will affect their jobs and the services they offer to the public. The RCN has consistently argued that trade unions should be fully engaged as stakeholders in this process and that staff retain NHS pay, terms and conditions, with access to an NHS pension. Anything less could lead to fragmentation and present significant challenges to public health as a career path. We’re not surprised that the committee has also highlighted evidence which shows that frontline services are not being protected, despite Government claims to the contrary.”

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media

2. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations