The massively powerful but apparently cash-strapped nurses union the Royal College of Nursing seems to be out of step with one of the biggest changes to health policy in a generation. A week before Dame Carol Black is set to announce a raft of recommendations aimed at boosting access to occupational health services, the RCN is under fire for getting rid of one of their professional advisers for occupational health nurses.
What logic is there in withdrawing advice for OH nurses when they are about to take up a central role in plans to remodel NHS services so that they focus on working age people?
Over 200 members of the JISCMAIL OH online forum have signed a petition to get OH nurse Sharon Horan reinstated as PND advisor after the RCN announced it is to axe the position. Some OH nurses are considering moving to an alternative trade union. The RCN might feel this is a small price to pay because OH nurses are such a small group but surely they have a responsibility to all members. The RCN has an OH forum which runs an annual conference. Is this next for the axe? I should declare a slight interest as Horan is a member of the Occupational Health journal advisory board (I am the editor) and a regular contributor to the publication.