Guest guest Posted June 14, 2001 Report Share Posted June 14, 2001 and Liz, thanks for that. It is very disappointing that Lord Hunt is saying that the Government has accepted the JM consultation report - I thought that was part of what the consultation period was about? So do we now flood Lord Hunt personally with letters protesting about this acceptance before the end of the consultation period and then continuing to argue for about title? , further advice please? Thanks, June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2001 Report Share Posted June 15, 2001 My Philip Hunt letter (direct from him) is I think identical. But sometimes although letters are bland and noncommittal the issues are taken on board behind the scenes. So its worth keeping the momentum going. Bcc: From: " Houston " <annamhouston@...> Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 08:23:45 +0100 Reply-to: Subject: NMCHV Here is my disappointing response in my post today from - Lord Hunt via my local MP regarding the consultation process on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Houston The Hon Soames House of Commons Dear Thank you for your letter of 12 April enclosing one from Mrs Houston of Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College, about the consultation document on establishing the new Nursing and Midwifery Council. I am grateful to Mrs Houston for expressing her views on the proposals as they affect health visiting. With regard to the subject of health visiting in general, the Government Strategy 'Saving Lives and Making a Difference', recognises Health Visitors as key public health professionals with a crucial role in the delivery of health improvement. I hope that Mrs Houston will be reassured that the omission of Health Visitor from the name of the new Council is no reflection of the importance we attach to the increasingly complex role of health visiting and its expansion into public health. We will of course give careful consideration to Mrs Houston's comments before finally putting forward legislation for Parliamentary approval. Philip Hunt Enclosed information Sheet came with this letter Information Sheet Health Visiting The Government recognises the crucial role played by Health Visitors in the delivery of health improvement. The Government Strategy'Saving Lives and Making a Difference'includes a comprehensive programme of action for developing the public health role of health visitors through the 'Health Visiting and School Nursing Development programme'. As part of this programme a number of new health visitor appointments of leadership posts have been made to develop and demonstrate the new roles. The posts demonstrate new ways of working more creatively which focus on particular aspects of local needs, for example social exclusion, supporting vulnerable families, teenage pregnancy, ethnic health issues. Health visitors also featured among the Health Action Zone fellowship awards; are directly involved in Sure Start programmes; in Primary Care Beacons and in community development. NMC Proposals On 30 March the Government published plans for establishing a new regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, to replace the UKCC and the four national boards. The consultation period was due to end on I June, but has been extended to the end of the month. The Government accepted the argument that midwifery regulation is a separate case due to the statutory protection of its function and the achievement of its professional standards through supervision. For this reason it has been agreed to provide for a statutory Midwifery Committee. But it should be noted that the new Council will be free to establish a Health Visiting committee. As they stand, the proposals contain several safeguards for Health Visiting. Health Visitors will have a separate register, protection of their professional title and be guaranteed equal representation on the Council with nurses and midwives, and from each UK country. The new Council will have a duty to have regard to the interests of each profession and it will not be able to decide matters solely affecting one profession against the wishes of members who are practitioners of that profession. The safeguard of professional regulation for health visitors is therefore fully preserved. But we have accepted the recommendation of JM Consulting's independent report that the new body should be called the Nursing and Midwifery Council to reflect the professions it must cover and to keep the name brief and easily recognisable for the public. The new Council will certainly be concerned with the regulation of health visitors and there will be ample scope to address specific issues about their education, training and clinical practice. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2001 Report Share Posted June 15, 2001 Yes, June, I do think we all need to write again to our MPs: we probably need a 'Mayday phase 2' now the election is over; just to remind MPs who forgot in the 'heat of the chase' that this very important issue is still very important. What is interesting about Lord Hunt's letter (identikit, I note!) is that he has focused on trying to reassure health visitors that they are valued. Well, I think our staffing levels and stress levels might speak for how much they are valued, but that is not the point here. Excuse me whilst I shout: THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM INCOMPETENCE AND MISCONDUCT THIS IS ABOUT MAINTAINING STANDARDS OF THE HEALTH VISITING PROFESSION THIS IS ABOUT RECOGNISING THAT HEALTH VISITING IS A PROFESSION IN STATUTE, AND NEEDS REGULATING AS SUCH. We do need a 'phase 2' of the campaign, and we must turn around the professional associations, because they are the ones that are briefing the government and that should have made clear to them that health visitors will not accept being regulated by a different profession, now or in the future. We need to convince our colleagues, so they call all the professional associations to book about this. Best wishes junet579@... wrote: and Liz, thanks for that. It is very disappointing that Lord Hunt is saying that the Government has accepted the JM consultation report - I thought that was part of what the consultation period was about? So do we now flood Lord Hunt personally with letters protesting about this acceptance before the end of the consultation period and then continuing to argue for about title? , further advice please? Thanks, June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2001 Report Share Posted June 17, 2001 Thanks . I'm sure we all feel you are entitled to shout in the circumstances. In the Thatcher years some of us went on a march with the HVA/TUC to save the NHS - perhaps now we'll have to do the same specifically for health visiting! How ironic that the CPHVA would not now be involved. I quite fancy demonstrating outside Parliament in my cardigan anyway. ('Hunt, Hunt, Hunt, Out, Out, Out" or similar)? and Frances, have you got your banners ready? - I'm sure Mike could do a splendid one! (Sorry folks, I feel in need of a bit of light relief before getting down to business again) June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2001 Report Share Posted June 17, 2001 Well we could encourage a demonstration again! cardigans unite or was it twin set and pearls? - I think they are back in fashion again. In message <11e.6c0778.285e6975@...>, junet579@... writes >Thanks . I'm sure we all feel you are entitled to shout in the >circumstances. In the Thatcher years some of us went on a march with the >HVA/TUC to save the NHS - perhaps now we'll have to do the same specifically >for health visiting! How ironic that the CPHVA would not now be involved. I >quite fancy demonstrating outside Parliament in my cardigan anyway. ('Hunt, >Hunt, Hunt, Out, Out, Out " or similar)? and Frances, have you got your >banners ready? - I'm sure Mike could do a splendid one! (Sorry folks, I >feel in need of a bit of light relief before getting down to business again) >June -- Rowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2001 Report Share Posted June 18, 2001 Dear , I for one would much appreciate a really succint 'phase 2' letter with which to persuade my colleagues to function on. Regards, Ruth Grant Cowley wrote: Yes, June, I do think we all need to write again to our MPs: we probably need a 'Mayday phase 2' now the election is over; just to remind MPs who forgot in the 'heat of the chase' that this very important issue is still very important. What is interesting about Lord Hunt's letter (identikit, I note!) is that he has focused on trying to reassure health visitors that they are valued. Well, I think our staffing levels and stress levels might speak for how much they are valued, but that is not the point here. Excuse me whilst I shout: THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM INCOMPETENCE AND MISCONDUCT THIS IS ABOUT MAINTAINING STANDARDS OF THE HEALTH VISITING PROFESSION THIS IS ABOUT RECOGNISING THAT HEALTH VISITING IS A PROFESSION IN STATUTE, AND NEEDS REGULATING AS SUCH. We do need a 'phase 2' of the campaign, and we must turn around the professional associations, because they are the ones that are briefing the government and that should have made clear to them that health visitors will not accept being regulated by a different profession, now or in the future. We need to convince our colleagues, so they call all the professional associations to book about this. Best wishes junet579@... wrote: and Liz, thanks for that. It is very disappointing that Lord Hunt is saying that the Government has accepted the JM consultation report - I thought that was part of what the consultation period was about? So do we now flood Lord Hunt personally with letters protesting about this acceptance before the end of the consultation period and then continuing to argue for about title? , further advice please? Thanks, June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 18, 2001 Report Share Posted June 18, 2001 Dear June, I remember demonstrating at the Elephant and Castle (DHSS) in 1971 - am a dab hand at banners now as my daughter was national chair of hunt sabs only a few years ago. Ruth Grant junet579@... wrote: Thanks . I'm sure we all feel you are entitled to shout in the circumstances. In the Thatcher years some of us went on a march with the HVA/TUC to save the NHS - perhaps now we'll have to do the same specifically for health visiting! How ironic that the CPHVA would not now be involved. I quite fancy demonstrating outside Parliament in my cardigan anyway. ('Hunt, Hunt, Hunt, Out, Out, Out" or similar)? and Frances, have you got your banners ready? - I'm sure Mike could do a splendid one! (Sorry folks, I feel in need of a bit of light relief before getting down to business again) June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2001 Report Share Posted June 20, 2001 Thanks Ruth - your offer may need to be taken up. That's three potential demonstrators so far! Any others? June Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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