Last updated: 05 May 2008

President’s Message

Dear EFN Members and Colleagues,


As we learned at the last EFN General Assembly in Copenhagen, equal pay between men and women and between the private and the public sector, as well as the nurses’ working conditions are very important issues for many European NNAs and nurses. But also the involvement in health policy discussions is high on the agenda. Health is in many aspects a key issue within the EU.

 

At the Health Minister meeting in April it was stressed that a structured cooperation between the EU Commission and the Council is necessary in order to implement the EU Health strategy. I agree that a closer cooperation is needed to secure the right of the patients and the working conditions for the nurses in Europe. 

 

I want to thank all the National Nurses’ Associations for their contribution to a very successful General Assembly.

 

                                               Grete Christensen

                                                    EFN President

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05 May 2008


News from EFN

 

EFN Spring General Assembly - Copenhagen

The EFN held its 88th General Assembly, on 10-11 April 2008, in Copenhagen, where important issues were discussed: EFN involvement in several EU projects (EUNetPaS, HealthPROelderly, Mobility of Health Professionals, Human Resources Planning in Nursing), and EFN input to EU consultation processes (Health Services Directive, Patient Safety, Mobility of Health Professionals, Information to Patients, Needlesticks Injuries); and where EFN Position Paper on Structural Funds was approved. A ‘Tour de table’ revealed that several EFN Members are negotiating with their governments for better salaries’, better working conditions, and equal pay between men/women, private/public, and that others are undertaking reforms within the nursing education system, according to Bologna, the nurses’ competencies and prescription.

 

Update

EU Consultation on Patient Safety

Following the EFN General Assembly, where the EFN members were informed and asked to provide their contribution to this important consultation, the EFN gave its input to the EU public consultation on Patient Safety, which results will help the European Commission to develop its proposal on general patient safety issues planned for the end of 2008. The deadline to answer to this consultation is 20 May 2008.

 

To answer to this consultation, click here.


Update

EU Consultation on Information to Patients

On 7 April 2008, the EFN provided its input to the European Commission DG Enterprise and Industry public consultation for a legal proposal on information to patients, through the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA). EPHA response to the consultation underlines EFN opposition to advertising of prescription-only medicines and emphasises the role of nurse prescribers and how they provide information to patients on medicinal products. Furthermore, EFN believes that DG SANCO should take the lead on this issue and not DG ENTERPRISE!

Update

News from the EU

 

EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct

The European Federation of Public Services Unions (EPSU) and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM) signed a “Code of Conduct and Follow-up on Ethical Cross-Border Recruitment and Retention in the Hospital Sector”, which establishes a commitment by both employers and trade unions in the European Union to promote ethical recruitment practices at European, national, regional and local levels. The EFN members, who support this important development, would use this paper in their Social Dialogue with the employers.

Update