Policy briefings

• Publications - cross border care Feb. 2013
  Published: 05 Feb 2013 - PDF File 142.3 KB
  In March 2011 the EU adopted a directive to clarify patients’ rights to be reimbursed by their home health system if they seek treatment in another EU country. This RCN position statement explores the background and implications of the legislation which needs to be adopted in the UK by October 2013. It outlines the RCN’s position and how the directives’ provisions should be applied to ensure better patient care.

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<div class="bri_name">Publications - cross border care Feb. 2013</div>
<div class="bri_pubdate">Published: 05 Feb 2013 - PDF File 142.3 KB</div>
<div class="bri_desc">In March 2011 the EU adopted a directive to clarify patients’ rights to be reimbursed by their home health system if they seek treatment in another EU country. This RCN position statement explores the background and implications of the legislation which needs to be adopted in the UK by October 2013. It outlines the RCN’s position and how the directives’ provisions should be applied to ensure better patient care.</div> </li>

• RCN Factsheet on Specialist nursing in UK - 2013
  Published: 05 Feb 2013 - PDF File 130.4 KB
  The RCN has received a lot of international interest with regards to specialist nursing in the UK. This factsheet provides a brief overview on specialist nursing roles, specifically addressing issues like regulation, education, scope of practice and evidence that demonstrates the value of specialist nurses.

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<div class="bri_name">RCN Factsheet on Specialist nursing in UK - 2013</div>
<div class="bri_pubdate">Published: 05 Feb 2013 - PDF File 130.4 KB</div>
<div class="bri_desc">The RCN has received a lot of international interest with regards to specialist nursing in the UK. This factsheet provides a brief overview on specialist nursing roles, specifically addressing issues like regulation, education, scope of practice and evidence that demonstrates the value of specialist nurses.</div> </li>

• The NHS Mandate
  Published: 04 Feb 2013 - PDF File 174.1 KB
  A key part of the recent NHS reforms is the formation of the NHS Commissioning Board to provide leadership of the NHS in England and commission some services. The work of the Board will be governed by a formal mandate from the Secretary of State for Health, which delegates responsibility and sets objectives for the period April 2013 to March 2015. This briefing provides an explanation of what the mandate is, a summary of the objectives contained in it, and the RCN’s position.

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<div class="bri_name">The NHS Mandate</div>
<div class="bri_pubdate">Published: 04 Feb 2013 - PDF File 174.1 KB</div>
<div class="bri_desc">A key part of the recent NHS reforms is the formation of the NHS Commissioning Board to provide leadership of the NHS in England and commission some services. The work of the Board will be governed by a formal mandate from the Secretary of State for Health, which delegates responsibility and sets objectives for the period April 2013 to March 2015. This briefing provides an explanation of what the mandate is, a summary of the objectives contained in it, and the RCN’s position.</div> </li>

• Public health reforms in England
  Published: 31 Jan 2013 - PDF File 173.7 KB
  The Health and Social Care Act 2012 radically reforms the way that health care is commissioned in England. As part of these reforms, local public health services will move from the NHS into local authorities. A new body – Public Health England – will be set up to provide strategic leadership support and health protection functions. This fact sheet outlines these major changes, and the RCN’s views on them.

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<div class="bri_name">Public health reforms in England</div>
<div class="bri_pubdate">Published: 31 Jan 2013 - PDF File 173.7 KB</div>
<div class="bri_desc">The Health and Social Care Act 2012 radically reforms the way that health care is commissioned in England. As part of these reforms, local public health services will move from the NHS into local authorities. A new body – Public Health England – will be set up to provide strategic leadership support and health protection functions. This fact sheet outlines these major changes, and the RCN’s views on them.</div> </li>

• Personal Medical Services - proposed contractual changes
  Published: 16 Jan 2013 - PDF File 89.9 KB
  The Department of Health is consulting on proposed changes to primary medical care contractual arrangements which will impact on Personal Medical Services (PMS) contractors from April 2013. This briefing summarises the changes and asks RCN members for feedback.

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<div class="bri_name">Personal Medical Services - proposed contractual changes</div>
<div class="bri_pubdate">Published: 16 Jan 2013 - PDF File 89.9 KB</div>
<div class="bri_desc">The Department of Health is consulting on proposed changes to primary medical care contractual arrangements which will impact on Personal Medical Services (PMS) contractors from April 2013. This briefing summarises the changes and asks RCN members for feedback.</div> </li>

• Revision of European Legislation on Medical Devices
  Published: 10 Jan 2013 - PDF File 164.0 KB
  The new draft EU regulations on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices were published on 26th September 2012 with a stated aim to ‘achieve a suitable, robust, transparent and sustainable regulatory framework’ for medical devices and in vitro devices. These seek to replace three existing directives dealing with medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices which were agreed in the 1990’s. The RCN has developed a position statement on these proposals which is attached and focuses on • Extending the scope of the legislation to include invasive and implantable devices without a medical purpose (within proposed medical devices legislation) • Extending the definition of an in vitro device to include genetic tests • Clarifying that a device sold over the internet for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes must comply with both of the proposed regulations • Clarifying existing rules on self testing and signposting to healthcare professionals • Requiring all manufacturers of implantable devices to provide an ‘implant card’ for users. • Establishing a system of unique device identification (UDI), a central database to underpin the reporting system and a requirement on manufacturers of certain products to produce a summary of safety and clinical performance of the device. • Requiring competent authorities to encourage healthcare professional to report nationally and to develop a standard form for healthcare professionals when they report This position statement will help inform the RCN response to the UK consultation on its position.

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<div class="bri_name">Revision of European Legislation on Medical Devices</div>
<div class="bri_pubdate">Published: 10 Jan 2013 - PDF File 164.0 KB</div>
<div class="bri_desc">The new draft EU regulations on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices were published on 26th September 2012 with a stated aim to ‘achieve a suitable, robust, transparent and sustainable regulatory framework’ for medical devices and in vitro devices. These seek to replace three existing directives dealing with medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices which were agreed in the 1990’s. The RCN has developed a position statement on these proposals which is attached and focuses on • Extending the scope of the legislation to include invasive and implantable devices without a medical purpose (within proposed medical devices legislation) • Extending the definition of an in vitro device to include genetic tests • Clarifying that a device sold over the internet for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes must comply with both of the proposed regulations • Clarifying existing rules on self testing and signposting to healthcare professionals • Requiring all manufacturers of implantable devices to provide an ‘implant card’ for users. • Establishing a system of unique device identification (UDI), a central database to underpin the reporting system and a requirement on manufacturers of certain products to produce a summary of safety and clinical performance of the device. • Requiring competent authorities to encourage healthcare professional to report nationally and to develop a standard form for healthcare professionals when they report This position statement will help inform the RCN response to the UK consultation on its position.</div> </li>