RCN commits to Long Acting Reversible Contraception accreditation scheme

Published: 17 December 2009

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today (16 December) announced that it would continue providing accreditation for nurses offering Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC).

The announcement follows an internal review which focused on finding a sustainable solution to providing LARC accreditation. LARC covers nurses fitting intrauterine techniques (IUTs) and subdermal contraceptive implants (SDIs). Through the internal review it became clear that the current costs of accreditation were not covered by the fee charged and, in effect, this service was being heavily subsidised by the RCN.

From 1 April 2010 the RCN will provide the accreditation at a cost of £300 for members and £400 for non-members. Re-accreditation will cost £150 for members and £200 for non-members. The deadline for processing applications for LARC accreditation at the current rate is 28 February 2010.

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Notes for Editors

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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.