The Policy and International Department
The Policy and International Department has established a number of processes that help RCN members and other interested parties to understand and engage in the process of policy development.
For further information on our role, go to the May 2012 newsletter (PDF 183KB) [see how to access PDF files].
The department works proactively with a range of governmental and non-governmental organisations to analyse, understand, and influence the development of health and social care policy. As part of sharing that learning with members, and encouraging involvement, the team has produced briefings on a number of issues that impact on nurses and nursing.
The Policy and International Department also manages the process of allocating all policy consultation documents received by the RCN to the staff member with the appropriate expertise to lead a response.
For more information on international/EU health and social care issues, you can visit the international section of the policy and international web pages.
Members can also share their views on policy in the Discussion Zone or by emailing: policycontacts@rcn.org.uk.
Team members and areas of work covered
Please follow the links on the team members' names to find out more about them and to get in touch with them directly.
Howard Catton, Head of Policy and International
- Manages the Policy and International Department
- Directs on health, social and nursing policy reform
- Supports the RCN Council and Executive Team.
Susan Williams, Senior International Adviser
- Manages EU/international team
- Relations with EU/international partners
- Global health services reform and patient mobility issues
- EU policy on free movement of professionals.
Stuart Abrahams, Policy Adviser
- Co-ordinator and project manager for specific strands of health policy
- RCN Health and Social Care Project Group.
Leela Barham, Policy Adviser
- Health care system regulation
- Economic regulation in the NHS
- NHS finance systems
- Competition in the NHS / Plurality of providers
- Levers for quality.
Andrew Wardle, Assistant International Adviser
- International development partnerships related to the Millennium Development Goals
- Promoting volunteering
- Promoting understanding of global health issues.
Matthew Hamilton, EU/International Adviser
- EU and international nursing and health policy
- Lobbying on nursing issues at EU and international level
- EU workforce and health and safety policy
- EU research and innovation.
Emily Pollinger, Policy Adviser
- The future nursing workforce and policy
- Staffing levels and skill mix.
Mark Platt, Policy Adviser
- Patient and public involvement and engagement
- Patient experience
- Patient choice.
Laura Aylett, Assistant Policy Adviser
- Monitoring NHS economic climate
- Frontline First.
Alex Callaghan, Assistant Policy Adviser
Laura Clarke, Assistant Policy Adviser
- Reform of social care and support services
- Care homes and integration
- Personal health budgets.
Loren Mathias, Assistant International Adviser (Nursing)
- Identifying nursing best practice internationally on policy and practice issues
- Organising international visits
- Relations with nursing associations and international organisations.
Nandh Rehal, Office Manager
- PA to Howard Catton, Head of Policy and International.
- Administration support to the unit
- Assists with the consultation process.
Jasmine Belgrave, Project Administrator
- Administration support to the department
- Administration support to the Future Nurse Future Workforce Project Group (future nurse policy)
- Assists with the consultation process.