RCN responds to research linking night working to breast cancer

Published: 17 March 2009

For immediate use: Monday 16th March 2009

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today responded to a UN study linking night working with higher incidence of breast cancer by calling on employers to ensure that healthcare staff get the preventive health checks and rest periods they are entitled to.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said:

“Nurses and Healthcare Assistants who work at night do a vital job, often under a great deal of pressure, and will be concerned to hear about this research. It is now more important than ever that staff are getting adequate breaks and preventive health checks, both of which staff who regularly work night shifts are entitled to in law. While nursing staff cannot avoid working at night, their employers need to do everything possible to protect their health and to establish shift patterns which enable staff to rest properly between shifts.

“However, clear guidance is needed if staff and employers are to mitigate these risks for healthcare workers, and the RCN will await the recommendations of the UN agency and the Health and Safety Executive, both of which are due to report further. These recommendations need to be made available as soon and as widely as possible to ensure that the risks to workers can be reduced and that staff can be reassured as much as possible.”
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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.