Communications Report to Council

Council Agenda item: 07/04

23 February 2007

Communications Report to Council
November 2006 to January 2007

UK – Media

Date / Topic /

Media

/ Interviewee/background brief
1/11/06 / NHS Together Westminster Lobby / BBC Radio 4, Sky News, BBC News 24, Capital Radio,
Evening Standard, BBC Radio Shropshire, Financial Times, Newcastle Evening Chronicle), Oxford Mail, Heartland Evening News, Grimsby Telegraph, Sheffield Star / RCN General Secretary interviewed, RCN London Regional Director, Bernell Bussue, quoted, RCN West Midlands Regional Director, Ann Leedham-Smith, interviewed.
2/11/06 / NHS IT System - Patient Records / Guardian / RCN viewpoint quoted
2/11/06 / Affordable Housing / Evening Standard / RCN London Region Operational Manager, Nora Flanagan, quoted
3/11/06 / Parking Fees / Guernsey Press / RCN branch convener, Bev Clark, referenced
7/11/06 / NMC Cases / The Times / RCN Primary Health Care Adviser Lynn Young, commented
9/11/06 / NHS Deficits - DoH predicted a £94m net deficit by the end of the 2006-07 / Daily Express, Daily Mail, The Times, BBC Online, The People,
BBC 2 Politics Show, BBC Breakfast News / RCN General Secretary quoted and interviewed.
10/11/06 / Standardised healthcare terminology / E-Health / Informatics Advisor, Anne Casey, quoted
11/11/06 / Leeds Rally / BBC Online, BBC Radio Leeds / RCN Regional Director Yorkshire & Humber, Kevin Austerberry, quoted
11/11/06 / Pay Grievance at Pennine Acute NHS Trust / The Manchester Evening News / RCN Officer, Jeanine Dyson, commented
12/11/06 / King’s College Hospital NHS Trust Reward Scheme / The Times / RCN mention.
14/11/06 / Key Worker Housing / The Times / RCN Welfare Adviser, Claire Cannings, commented
14/11/06 / Hospitals treating pets / The Times / RCN Head of Policy, Howard Catton, quoted
17/11/06 / Protection of Vulnerable Adults List - Four RCN nurses won their High Court case / Radio 5 Live, Financial Times, Daily Mail, BBC Online,
The Times
Kent & Sussex Courier / RCN Executive Director, Alison Kitson, interviewed and quoted.
RCN Legal Director, Richard Bernhard, commented
RCN mention
17/11/06 / Underage Drinking / IRN Radio / RCNExecutive Director, Alison Kitson, interviewed
19/11/06 / Mental Health Bill / The Observer / RCN Executive Director, Alison Kitson, quoted
21/11/06 / RCN evidence to Independent Pay Review Body / The Daily Telegraph,
Sky News Radio, Sky Breakfast News / RCN General Secretary commented,
RCN Head of Employment Relations, Josie Irwin, interviewed
29/11/06 / Nurse Misconduct Cases / BBC Breakfast News, Radio 5 Live / RCN Executive Director, Alison Kitson, interviewed
29/11/06 / Uniforms - cultural dress rules / The Times / Howard Catton, RCN Head of Policy Development & Implementation, quoted
5/12/06 / Student nurses -physiotherapists and nurses are changing career direction / Guardian / Susan Watts, RCN Student Adviser, commented.
6/12/06 / NHS Reform - PM Tony Blair defends reform plan after protests about local A&E closures / Guardian, Telegraph, The Times, Birmingham Post / RCN General Secretary quoted
6/12/06 / Government’s 1.5% Limit on Public Sector Pay Increases / Politics.Co.Uk / RCN General Secretary appealed
6/12/06 / RCN Pension Scheme / Guardian / RCN General Secretary referenced
7/12/06 / A&E Units - new ‘super-casualty’ units are to be introduced as part of Labour’s NHS Reforms. / Metro / RCN General Secretary quoted
7/12/06 / NHS Direct - David Edmonds has been chosen to head the trust that will run NHS Direct. / Guardian / RCN mention
7/12/06 / NHS Deficits / Daily Mail / RCN figures referenced
8/12/06 / Princess Royal - attended a Think Tank Meeting at HQ. / The Daily Telegraph, Court Circular, The Times Court Circular / RCN hosted event
11/12/06 / Article on why nurses keep their professional attributes a secret / Guardian / RCN mention
12/12/06 / NHS Deficits - David Nichols states that the NHS must balance its books this financial year and create a £250m surplus in 2007/08. / Daily Express, PA News, Sunday Express / RCN General Secretary quoted and commented
17/12/06 / DoH Party throws a £130,000 party. / Sunday Mirror / RCN quoted
17/12/06 / RCN Pension - proposed sale of London HQ / Observer / RCN mention
17/12/06 / Agency Nurses - two out of three agency nurses also have full-time jobs in the NHS / The People / RCN General Secretary and RCN Head of Employment Relations, Josie Irwin, quoted
19/12/06 / Older Patients risk Malnutrition - Age Concern’s ‘Hungry to be Heard’ campaign / Daily Express / Pauline Ford, RCN Adviser in Nursing Older People, quoted
20/12/06 / Final Interview with Dr. Beverly Malone / Guardian / RCN General Secretary interviewed.
20/12/06 / NICE dismisses appeal for cancer drug / Newcastle Evening Chronicle / RCN mention
21/12/06 / PlymouthUniversity closes Nursing and midwifery training campus / Western Morning News, Herald Express / Sue Matthews, RCN S.W. Regional officer, commented
21/11/06 / NHS Deficits - RCN called for more time for NHS trusts gripped by financial crisis. / Birmingham Post, Liverpool Daily Post, Coventry Evening Telegraph, Norwich Evening News, Lancashire Telegraph, Hull Daily Mail, Western Daily Press / RCN Executive Director, Janet Davies, quoted.
22/12/06 / Training Costs - £600m spent last year on training health workers who are yet to find jobs. / Daily Mail / RCN referenced.
4/1/07 / Predicted Shortage of Nurses: leaked government document - NHS pay and workforce strategy (2008-2011) - predicts a shortage of 14,000 nurses by 2011. / Widespread media coverage: 5 Television, 10 national newspapers, 2 radio, 18 regional newspapers / RCN Executive Director, Janet Davies, interviewed and quoted, RCN Head of Policy, Howard Catton, was interviewed and quoted, RCN quoted, Sue Tarr RCN Operational Manager, London Region, interviewed,RCN Officer, Kathy Ibbotson, quoted.
4/1/07 / School Nurse Shortage in Wandsworth PCT / BBC London / London Regional Officer Paula Delaney was interviewed
4/1/07 / Deficits - Newly-qualified nurses are unable to find jobs / Yorkshire Post, Scarborough Evening News / RCN Deputy President, Bobbie Chadwick, was quoted. RCN figures referenced.
8/1/07 / First General Secretary Interview with Peter Carter / Evening Standard / RCN General Secretary interviewed
8/1/07 / Shortage of Community Matrons / Daily Mail / Lynn Young, RCN Primary Health Care Adviser, comments.
8/1/07 / Dementia Drugs Companies apply for Judicial Review / Shields Gazette, Northern Echo / RCN mention
9/1/07 / Medicine Administration / The Times / RCN Nursing Prescribing Adviser, Matt Griffiths, quoted
9/1/07 / Reporting Accidents in the workplace to managers. / The Times / RCN Primary Care Adviser, Lynn Young, quoted
9/1/07 / IPPR Report - claims health bosses could save millions every year if they stopped patients staying in hospital too long / Leicester Mercury / RCN Executive Director, Janet Davies, was quoted
10/12/07 / Road Pricing Scheme / Daily Telegraph / RCN Head of Policy, Howard Catton, commented
11/11/07 / MRSA Targets - leaked DoH memo states that the NHS is not on target to reduce MRSA cases by 50% / BBC Online,
BBC News 24, IRN Radio, LBC Radio, Sky News Radio / RCN General Secretary quoted
RCN Head of Policy, Howard Catton interviewed
12/1/07 / Administration - nurses accused of neglecting basic care in favour of paperwork. / Guardian / RCN Head of Policy, Howard Catton, commented
??? / Early nurse retirement on ill health grounds. / The Times / RCN’s Work-injured Nurses Group Chair, Vivienne Ferris, quoted.
17/1/07 / Low Staff Morale at City & Sandwell hospitals. / Birmingham Mail / RCN Regional Director, Ann Leedham-Smith, quoted
18/1/07 /

Nurse Training Query

/ Independent / Cathy Taylor, RCN Careers adviser, credited
19/1/07 / GP Pay: Patricia Hewitt suggested that the government should have capped GPs pay. / Oldham Evening Chronicle / RCN General Secretary quoted.
20/1/07 / Parking Charges at Leicester NHS Trust / Leicester Mercury / Regional Officer, Cliff Edwards, was quoted.
21/7/07 / Pay: Gordon Brown faced above-inflation public sector pay demands / The Telegraph / RCN referenced.
23/1/07 / David Cameron said nurses should be guaranteed a job for 12 months after qualifying. / Evening Standard, BBC Online / RCN General Secretary was quoted.
23/1/07 / Nurse Robotics / Evening Standard, London Lite / RCN London Director, Bernell Bussue, quoted.
24/1/07 / MRSA - David Cameron said the NHS Code of Practice should be changed. / Daily Express / RCN General Secretary quoted

Westminster – Parliamentary and Political Activity

Date / Topic / RCN representation
17 October / Attended launch of End Child Poverty Action Group at the House of Commons, the RCN is a member of the campaign. / Aileen Keyes, Parliamentary Officer
1 November / Assisted in the logistics of Keep the NHS Public Rally at Westminster. RCN members took part in a rally outside of Parliament and met with their MPs to voice their concerns about deficits and the current pace of reform in the NHS. / James Drewer, Campaigns and Communication Officer, Aileen Keyes, Parliamentary Officer, Claire Kwan and April Cole, Parliamentary Assistants
20 November / RCNaccompanied representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society and Royal College of Psychiatrists to a meeting withHealth Ministers Andy Burnham and Ivan Lewis, to discussthe NICE decision to limit the prescribing of Alzheimer's drugs. The group discussed revisions to prescribing guidelines and how this will work in practice, the Minister offer to look at any discrepancies in guidance. / Heidi Baldwin, Chair of the Older People and Mental Health Forum, Aileen Keyes, Parliamentary Officer
21 November / Attended a briefing hosted by Health Minister, Rosie Winterton MP and Professor Louis Appleby, National Clinical Director for Mental Health on the recently published Mental Health Bill which looks to update the 1983 act / Aileen Keyes, Parliamentary Officer
28 November / Issued briefing to MPs in preparation for the 2nd reading of the Mental Health Bill. / Aileen Keyes, Parliamentary Officer
November / Attended a Cancer Research UK reception in the House of Commons hosted by Ian Gibson MEP on the Government’s cancer plan / Claire Kwan, Parliamentary Assistant
November / Briefed Graham Stewart MP on Community Hospitals / James Drewer, Campaigns and Communications Officer
7 December / Issued briefing on health visitors and their importance to implementing the Government’s social exclusion plan and the move to community care (as detailed in Our health, our care, our say) to Graham Allen MP in preparation for an adjournment debate (to be held on 31 Jan) / Claire Kwan, Parliamentary Assistant and Alison Cairns, Head of Government and Parliamentary Affairs
12 December / Prepared briefing for Beverly Malone General Secretary meeting with the Prime Minister / Alison Cairns, Head of Government and Parliamentary Affairs
End December / Issued RCN CSR submission to Treasury Select Committee inquiry into to CSR and call for additional evidence / Gary Brisley, Senior Communications Officer – input from ERD/Policy/PND
15 January / Submitted the RCN’s written response to the Health Select Committee’s call for responses to its Public and Patient Involvement in the NHS inquiry / James Drewer, Campaigns and Communications Officer and Claire Kwan, Parliamentary Assistant
19 January / Prepared briefing for Dr Carter, General Secretary Meeting with Baroness Emerton and Baroness Cumberlege / Alison Cairns, Head of Government and Parliamentary Affairs
23 January / Briefed key MPs on RCN’s ten minimum standards and Wipe It Out campaign in preparation for the Opposition day debate on Healthcare Acquired Infection / Aileen Keyes, Parliamentary Officer
26 January / Briefing prepared in advance of Baroness Jay’s debate on palliative care and issued to interested peers including, Baroness Emerton, Baroness Masham, Baroness Finlay and Baroness Cumberlege / Aileen Keyes, Parliamentary Officer, Alison Cairns, Head of Government and Parliamentary Affairs

RCNEngland - Parliamentary and political activity

Date / Topic / RCN representation
November / 1st November saw a large number of English MPs lobbied in Parliament under the ‘NHS Together’ banner / All English regions
November / Meeting with Green MEP for London Jean Lambert to discuss a number of issues / RCN London Director Bussue, RCNLondon PAO Laurence Meehan and RCN European Officer Paola Schweitzer
November / Meeting with Chair & adviser to Leeds City Council Health OSC / Kevin Terry, Public Affairs
November / Close involvement with Beverley Health Action Group (CHANT) andGraham Stuart MP / Wendy Train, Assistant Officer, Yorkshire & Humber Region
November / RCN activists at Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust attend rally at St Helier where MP’s Paul Burstow and Tom Brake / Led by RCN Steward Mike Smith and RCN London Officer Paula Delaney
November / Meeting in Parliament with Hammersmith MP Greg Hands to discuss local health issues / RCN London Director Bernell Bussue, RCNLondon PAO Laurence Meehan and Local Steward Leisa Oliver-Goodall
November / Over 600 nurses, clinicians, porters, cleaners and other hospital staff marched through Leeds on Saturday 11 November to highlight NHS deficits, job cuts and service reductions in Leeds and throughout the region / Yorks and Humber Officer
November / Meeting with Mark Simmonds MP for Boston and Skegness to discuss the health care agenda in Lincolnshire. / RCNEast Midlands Director Helen Willetts
November / Meeting with Graham Allen MP for North Nottingham / RCNEast Midlands Director Helen Willetts
November / Following the senior student nurse conference held in September 2006 at TeessideUniversity, several newly qualified nurses have now written to their local MPs with the assistance of the regional office / RCN Northern Office
November / Meeting Alan Simpson MP for Nottingham South to discuss current health care issues. / RCNEast Midlands Director Helen Willetts
November / RCN held a joint surgery with Geoff Hoon MPfor Derbyshire and Ashfield. / RCNEast Midlands Regional Office
November / RCN represented at public meeting in Banbury with local MPs regarding the potential changes to the HortonHospital / RCN South Eastern Office
November/ December / Discussions with Milton Keynes Overview and scrutiny committee regarding concerns re closure of a unit at Milton Keynes general / RCN South Eastern Team Leader Patricia Marquis
December / Attended North West Regional AssemblyDiversity event, Celebr8 / RCN North West Director, Steve Flanagan
December / Accompanied Stephen Hughes MEP on hospital visit to highlight European needlestick legislation / Lin Clarkson, Assistant Regional Officer, Northern Region
December / London Civic Forum briefing on the London Plan. Discussion with Mayors officials about Housing, transport and the environment / RCN London Director Bernell Bussue and RCNLondon PAO Laurence Meehan
December / London Assembly Member Jeanette Arnold met with RCN Members at a branch meeting to discuss future of WhippsCrossHospital / RCN London Assistant Officer Jo Alderson
December / Meeting in Parliament with Harry Cohen MP to discuss Whipps Cross / RCN London Director Bernell Bussue, RCNLondon PAO Laurence Meehan and RCN Assistant Officer Jo Alderson
December / Plymouth RCN SW board members run a Minority Ethnic Group and in December they held an International Party which Conservative MP for Plymouth Gary Streeter opened. / RCN SW board members
December / RCN London made submission to London Assembly Health and Public Services Committee’s investigation on Mental Health / RCN Public Affairs Officer Laurence Meehan
December / Harrow Council's Children and Young People Scrutiny Sub Committee published its Challenge Panel report on School Nursing which included a submission from RCN London / RCN Public Affairs Officer Laurence Meehan and RCN Parliamentary Officer Aileen Keyes
December / Local MP John Austin Bexley Care Trust attended a NHS Public meeting. / RCN London Officer Stephen Awosunle
December / Meeting with Patricia Hewitt MP to discuss the health care agenda in Leicester. / RCN East Midlands Director Helen Willetts, Officers Cliff Edwards and Deborah Haynes and 40 RCN members
December / Spoke at a Keep the NHS Public rally in Leicester / RCN Officer Helen Morrison
December / Two Marches held at the North Herts and EastHertsHospital to oppose the closing of the A & E Department at QueenElizabethHospital. Local MP’s/dignitaries attended / RCN Eastern Officer Martin Woodcock, Board member and UK Steward Anne Wells and local members
December / Leeds Oversee and Scrutiny Board informed by RCN about Leeds Teaching Hospital / RCN POA Kevin Terry and Bobbie Chadwick
December / Closer relationships have been fostered with local MP’s in Stoke-on-Trent following the Westminster Rally and local representatives are in dialogue with all 3 with a view to more collaborative working. / RCNWest Midlands Office
December / Visit to see Patricia Hewitt in her Leicester Office / RCNEast Midlands Director Helen Willetts and Officer Cliff Edwards
December / The Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt was at SouthamptonGeneralHospital on where she spoke to RCN members / Gil Gardiner, Lead Steward
December / Delegation to No. 10 with the President and General Secretary to deliver the petition on ‘Keep nurses working keep patients safe’ / Yvette Wells
January / Meeting with London Assembly Liberal Democrat Member Geoff Pope to discuss London issues / RCN London Director Bernell Bussue and RCNLondon PAO Laurence Meehan
January / Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee event in the Eastern Region, put on by the SHA and the Regional Members of the O & S Committees. / RCN Eastern Primary Care Adviser Kellie Norris and Independent Sector Adviser Teresa Budrey
January / Meeting with Andrew Lansley to discuss the review of Acute Services in Hertfordshire / RCN Eastern Board members and local members
January / Close working with Councillor Penny Hall of the Gloucestershire HOSC to develop good links between the committee and the RCN / RCN South West project leader Sarah Zanoni
January / RCN in Salisby has met with MPs and is in close contact with the Chair of the Trust regarding Deficits. / Jane Bovey, Lead Steward
January / Meeting with Bill Adams, Regional Secretary of the Yorkshire & Humber TUC / RCN Yorkshire & Humber Director, Kevin Austerberry & Kevin Terry
January / Meeting with Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary of the Northern TUC / RCN Northern Director, Glenn Turp & Kevin Terry, Public Affairs
January / Yorkshire & Humber NHS Together meeting / Kevin Terry, Public Affairs
January / Meeting with Greg Mulholland MP, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust,Patient & Public Involvement Forums to discuss WharfedaleHospital / Sue West, RCN Officer & Kevin Terry, Public Affairs
January / North West NHS Together meeting / RCN North West Director, Steve Flanagan & Kevin Terry Public Affairs

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