Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

WellbeingOccupational HealthOpinion

Devil’s advocate: RCN restructure is a golden opportunity for OH

by Personnel Today 8 Sep 2008
by Personnel Today 8 Sep 2008

The restructuring of the Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN) professional advisory department has been greeted with almost universal dismay. Support for an online petition on an OH issue is unprecedented. And while political leadership in occupational health nursing is nothing new, this issue may mark a milestone even if it was too late to change the outcome.


Aside from the fact that one of OH nursing’s most energetic leaders will no longer be employed by the RCN, we should consider carefully the wider implications of this change. Is this change a setback or an opportunity?


Past progress?


Some may argue that OH nursing has made substantial progress in recent years. I would not. Changes in OH nurse training have not proved beneficial changes in OH nurse registration have been unhelpful innovations in practice have been uncommon participation in nursing politics has been limited and, there seem to be fewer OH nurses in influential academic, public and private sector roles.


This lack of progress is not attributable to the work of the RCN’s professional leads, but there are few tangible and enduring benefits that might justify their retention as a driver of OH professionalism.


Future potential


Certainly the professional leads have been a valued source of experienced advice. However, the evolution of online forums means it is easy to tap into a wider pool of experience for free. These forums have the advantages of rapid responses, access to a wide breadth of knowledge, peer review and debate, and the learning is shared among all participants.


A key role for professional leads has been as a focal point for OH issues. It is this issue that I fear has been counter-productive in the past but provides the most opportunity in the future. The direction of OH nursing in the RCN should have been driven by the elected representatives. They share the responsibility. More importantly, they have the mandate from members. They have power. RCN employees, up to and including the chief executive, are accountable to the membership.


This, then, is the opportunity. Rather than bemoan a restructuring, OH nurses have been given an opportunity to hold the RCN leadership to account without any perceived barriers – to stand for election, to vote, to represent, to make sure the full weight of the RCN is behind occupational health.


Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

OH nursing needs a more powerful voice – not the voice of one person, but the voice of the organisation with the largest membership of registered health practitioners in the UK.


Richard Preece is a consultant occupational health physician.

Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
Woolworths to focus on Christmas despite slump
next post
Government moves to help manufacturers build shiny new image

You may also like

Two-thirds drink to cope with work stress and...

14 Jul 2025

‘Frustrating’ that NHS Plan has overlooked OH, warns...

8 Jul 2025

Four in 10 call centre workers to quit...

8 Jul 2025

Third in north west fear ill health will...

2 Jul 2025

Welfare cuts would ‘undermine workforce inclusion and business...

27 Jun 2025

Supporting employees through substance abuse

24 Jun 2025

One in four young workers rate mental health...

17 Jun 2025

Workplace disputes: ‘Most employment tribunals could be avoided’

12 Jun 2025

CIPD Festival of Work: ‘Wellbeing is not an...

11 Jun 2025

How employers can support cancer carers better

11 Jun 2025

  • Empower and engage for the future: A revolution in talent development (webinar) WEBINAR | As organisations strive...Read more
  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today