Consultation responses

The RCN welcomes this consultation paper which aims to set out the Conservative Party's vision for the future development of nursing. The paper addresses some key themes for nursing and many of the issues raised are of mutual concern to the RCN.

Regulation of health and social care is undergoing a major period of transition as the new Care Quality Commission (CQC) begins its work as a new regulator in England. It replaced the three regulators (Commission for Social Care Inspection, Healthcare Commission and Mental Health Act Commission) which used cover social care, health care, and mental health respectively. This consultation set out the CQC's compliance guidance.

Nurses work in diverse areas and are faced with the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption on a daily basis. This ranges from having to deal with violent and aggressive patients in A&E, to caring for people and their families suffering from long term conditions as a direct result of drinking alcohol. In 2004, the Government published the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England.

The NHS Constitution has applied to the NHS and health services in England since its launch in January 2009. The Health Bill seeks to provide a legal basis for the NHS Constitution and is currently being debated in Parliament. This consultation seeks views on three questions from the State of Readiness Group in the context of the current legal duty being debated in Parliament- the duty to have regard to the Constitution.

This document sets out the services that will require registration with the Care Quality Commission and the registration requirements that service providers will need to meet. A consultation was launched seeking views on whether the draft Regulations would establish the framework described.

The RCN warmly welcomes this consultation as it is imperative that the safety of women and girls is seen as an issue which is important to health and nursing. The RCN has worked closely with DH colleagues over a number of years to establish a permanent voice of nursing in the strategic developments relating to the physical, emotional and sexual safety of women and girls in all settings.

The Cooperation and Competition Panel (CCP) is a new independent, arms length, agency with a remit to provide advice to the Department of Health, Monitor and Strategic Health Authorities in England on whether there are breaches of the principles and rules of co-operation and competition.

On 21 January 2009 the Department of Health launched a consultation on improving the quality and efficiency of care and support through improvements in the sharing and use of information. The consultation focuses on care and support for adults, and on assisting the continued development of personalisation by helping people to choose services better suited to their needs.

This Department of Health consultation seeks views on four sets of regulations required to implement the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will regulate the quality of health and adult social care, as well as those detained under the Mental Health Act.