Consultation responses

The purpose of this consultation was to seek views on the NMC proposal to introduce a scrutiny fee for applications for initial registration made by nurses and midwives trained in a relevant European state other than the UK (EU applications).

The European Commission sought the views of public and private organisations, companies and citizens on how Europe could scale up innovation to meet the challenges of the ageing population in Europe, and in particular on a pilot European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on active and healthy ageing.

This is the RCN’s response to the Commission on Funding of Care and Support’s call for evidence on the future funding of care and support. The RCN is also responding to the Government’s consultations: A Vision for Adult Social Care: Capable Communities and Active Citizens and Transparency in outcomes: a framework for adult social care.

The CQC plan to launch a single fee scheme that will cover all providers that are registered from April 2011, including providers new to registration such as dental services and independent ambulance providers. This consultation asked for opinions on their proposals for this scheme.

RCN response to Department of Health questions seeking views on aspects of the global health strategy.

The Department of Health gave various bodies the opportunity to comment on the proposal to extend the Healthy Start scheme to allow beneficiaries to spend their vouchers on plain frozen fruit and vegetables in addition to milk, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables.

This consultation document sought views on proposals amending the NHS Constitution to:- Insert an expectation that NHS staff will raise concerns about safety, malpractice or wrong doing at work which may affect patients, the public, other staff or the organisation itself as early as possible; Insert a NHS pledge to support all staff in raising concerns about safety, malpractice or wrong doing at work, responding to and where necessary investigating the concerns raised; and Highlight in the NHS Constitution the existing staff legal right to raise concerns about safety, malpractice or other wrongdoing without suffering any detriment.

The Government has set out its plans to establish a Cancer Drugs Fund from April 2011. This announcement follows the Coalition Government's initial commitment to create a Cancer Drugs Fund to help patients get increased access to innovative new cancer drugs that extend life or improve quality of life.

The Single Equality Scheme brings together all of the London Deanery's existing policies on race, gender and disability and extends their commitment to embracing equality and diversity by including issues of age, sexual orientation, gender identity and religion and belief.

The RCN welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation on the structure of the Public Sector Equality Duties.