Guest guest Posted March 20, 2003 Report Share Posted March 20, 2003 -I have thought for some time that I need/would like a union that represents the views and wishes of practising HV's.I do not think RCN is any answer.I agree if it were not for Senate I would not be so informed of developments. But it seems to me an impossibility.to find such a thing Ann >From: " Houston" >Reply- > >Subject: Unisons position >Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 16:56:06 +0000 > > > >With your new hat on at Unison, I want to ask you a few things: >I have just come back from the UKPHA conference in Cardiff and the rumours >were rife about word coming from the nursing division at DOH about health >visitors being taken out of anything to do with public health because of all >the problems associated with the register and the NMC and the need to get >health visitors back into the nursing box where some people think we can >'behave' >Along the same lines - At the keynote speech raised a question with >Hazel Blears Minister for Public Health about the position of health >visiting in relation to multi-agency working being stopped because of this >thing about health visitors having to be reminded that they are nurses. >Now I hope I haven't misquoted 's question I am sure she can correct me >when she gets back from Cardiff. >The ministers response was one of shock and a strong reiteration about how >much health visitors are valued members of the public health workforce. >Anyway, this set me thinking about how quiet the CPHVA is regarding these >really big issues and we have no-one to lobby on our behalf for the things >that we have stated that we want like direct entry that was regarded so >positively at the AGM last year. I thought maybe it is time I found out >about what Unison could do for me and possibly us! >When I was working with Margaret and on the scoping project I was >responsible for all the research interviews we completed with the unions and >I was really impressed with Unison who were the only union who stated that >they would consult with their membership on the interview questions that I >presented to the representative and this meant that the data was a solid >grass roots representation of the issues as seen by the practitioners >themselves. You could really see the difference in the data when the >practitioners were in the process, rather than in the dark which is where I >feel a lot of practitioners are at the moment, they dont know about these >issues if they are not on Senate. I dont know how many times that gets said >to me in the course of my work. >So the point of this missive: >1. I am worried about this rumour from DOH, I am really worried about the >disillusionment and loss of numbers of health visitors in real terms. Since >the labour government came to power with all the cries of public health is >the way forward and the enhanced role of health visitors and the importance >of the proactive role of health visitors in front line work the numbers have >gone up by 100 that's 5% less than when I came into the profession. It isn't >that many years until my own retirement (now dont all say it you look >too young to be retiring) and I do fear for this profession. Someone at the >conference who works in communications said to me 'have you no-one who can >lobby on your behalf' and I thought no actually we dont have, the CPHVA have >been quiet for years (sorry Mark if you are reading on or still with the >story your inheritance and not your fault, but this is what I really think) >2. I am really really keen on direct entry as a method of regenerating the >profession and I have been reading with great interest all these brilliant >courses that all these talented Senate members are designing in education. >In Sure Start let me tell you there are loads of really talented people who >could fill those places. >Where does unison stand on all of this and should I think about joining and >why should I think about joining Unison - what will it do for health >visiting in these difficult times? > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________ >Chat online in real time with MSN Messenger http://messenger.msn.co.uk > Overloaded with spam? With MSN 8 you can filter it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2003 Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 I have not been into my e-mail for three days as I been laid up in bed with this horrible flu bug and I am not sure what I am saying is coherent but I think what you are asking for is a professional organisation and a professional voice. For groups like nurses, midwives and health visitors and allied heath professionals, it is essential their representing body understand the professional issues or they cannot argue coherently on any front - for pay, for things like registration or indeed in disciplinary and grievance matters unless they do so. For me that is the big gap - I was in at the CPHVA the other day for a charitable trust meeting and it felt like a Union building and just like Moreland Street the old MSF building. At least Southwark Street when I was there has an air of professionalism about it with the journal and the library etc. Margaret Unisons position >Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 16:56:06 +0000 > > > >With your new hat on at Unison, I want to ask you a few things: >I have just come back from the UKPHA conference in Cardiff and the rumours >were rife about word coming from the nursing division at DOH about health >visitors being taken out of anything to do with public health because of all >the problems associated with the register and the NMC and the need to get >health visitors back into the nursing box where some people think we can >'behave' >Along the same lines - At the keynote speech raised a question with >Hazel Blears Minister for Public Health about the position of health >visiting in relation to multi-agency working being stopped because of this >thing about health visitors having to be reminded that they are nurses. >Now I hope I haven't misquoted 's question I am sure she can correct me >when she gets back from Cardiff. >The ministers response was one of shock and a strong reiteration about how >much health visitors are valued members of the public health workforce. >Anyway, this set me thinking about how quiet the CPHVA is regarding these >really big issues and we have no-one to lobby on our behalf for the things >that we have stated that we want like direct entry that was regarded so >positively at the AGM last year. I thought maybe it is time I found out >about what Unison could do for me and possibly us! >When I was working with Margaret and on the scoping project I was >responsible for all the research interviews we completed with the unions and >I was really impressed with Unison who were the only union who stated that >they would consult with their membership on the interview questions that I >presented to the representative and this meant that the data was a solid >grass roots representation of the issues as seen by the practitioners >themselves. You could really see the difference in the data when the >practitioners were in the process, rather than in the dark which is where I >feel a lot of practitioners are at the moment, they dont know about these >issues if they are not on Senate. I dont know how many times that gets said >to me in the course of my work. >So the point of this missive: >1. I am worried about this rumour from DOH, I am really worried about the >disillusionment and loss of numbers of health visitors in real terms. Since >the labour government came to power with all the cries of public health is >the way forward and the enhanced role of health visitors and the importance >of the proactive role of health visitors in front line work the numbers have >gone up by 100 that's 5% less than when I came into the profession. It isn't >that many years until my own retirement (now dont all say it you look >too young to be retiring) and I do fear for this profession. Someone at the >conference who works in communications said to me 'have you no-one who can >lobby on your behalf' and I thought no actually we dont have, the CPHVA have >been quiet for years (sorry Mark if you are reading on or still with the >story your inheritance and not your fault, but this is what I really think) >2. I am really really keen on direct entry as a method of regenerating the >profession and I have been reading with great interest all these brilliant >courses that all these talented Senate members are designing in education. >In Sure Start let me tell you there are loads of really talented people who >could fill those places. >Where does unison stand on all of this and should I think about joining and >why should I think about joining Unison - what will it do for health >visiting in these difficult times? > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________ >Chat online in real time with MSN Messenger http://messenger.msn.co.uk > Overloaded with spam? With MSN 8 you can filter it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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