1 Maternity Rights and BenefitsBelow are details for women members of their antenatal and maternity rights. These rights are the least that an employer can provide without breaking the law. The NHS should provide better rights than the legal minimum. At present the unions are negotiating nationally changes to maternity, paternity, adoptive and parental leave and pay. When agreed these will be circulated to all reps. Changes for 6th April 2002
Below are details for women members of their antenatal and maternity rights. These rights are the least that an employer can provide without breaking the law. The NHS should provide better rights than the legal minimum. At present the unions are negotiating nationally changes to maternity, paternity, adoptive and parental leave and pay. When agreed these will be circulated to all reps.
Changes for 6th April 2002
2 National Care Standards CommissionA recognition agreement has been signed between the National Care Standards Commission and amicus-MSF, together with the RCN and Unison. The largest group of staff in amicus affected are NHS pharmacists within the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists. The joint union discussions with first the Department of Health Implementation Team and now the Commission itself were attended last year by Ian Simpson, the then Professional Secretary of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, on behalf of all amicus-msf members. Since April 2002 Jean Curtis, current Professional Secretary, has attended the joint meetings, strongly supported by advice from the Section General Secretary, Barry Jones. Barry and Jean have also met the Director of HR to discuss specific pharmacist issues. This is ongoing. The National Care Standards Commission was set up under the Care Standards Act 2000 as part of the governments action plan to improve protection of vulnerable people. The Commission took over the regulation and inspection of care homes and private hospitals from the inspection units of Local Authorities and Health Authorities in April 2002. In addition more services are regulated than previously including all care homes run by Local Authorities and many private clinics previously not regulated. The Commission will split in around 2004 as part of the government's plans to streamline the inspection systems. The section of the Commission concerned with regulation of private and voluntary healthcare will merge with CHI and the Audit Commission to form the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection, and the rest of the Commission, concerned with the regulation of nursing and social care, will merge with the Social Services Inspectorate to form the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Jean Curtis Professional Secretary Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists
A recognition agreement has been signed between the National Care Standards Commission and amicus-MSF, together with the RCN and Unison.
The largest group of staff in amicus affected are NHS pharmacists within the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists. The joint union discussions with first the Department of Health Implementation Team and now the Commission itself were attended last year by Ian Simpson, the then Professional Secretary of the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, on behalf of all amicus-msf members. Since April 2002 Jean Curtis, current Professional Secretary, has attended the joint meetings, strongly supported by advice from the Section General Secretary, Barry Jones. Barry and Jean have also met the Director of HR to discuss specific pharmacist issues. This is ongoing.
The National Care Standards Commission was set up under the Care Standards Act 2000 as part of the governments action plan to improve protection of vulnerable people. The Commission took over the regulation and inspection of care homes and private hospitals from the inspection units of Local Authorities and Health Authorities in April 2002. In addition more services are regulated than previously including all care homes run by Local Authorities and many private clinics previously not regulated. The Commission will split in around 2004 as part of the government's plans to streamline the inspection systems. The section of the Commission concerned with regulation of private and voluntary healthcare will merge with CHI and the Audit Commission to form the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection, and the rest of the Commission, concerned with the regulation of nursing and social care, will merge with the Social Services Inspectorate to form the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
Jean Curtis Professional Secretary Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists
3 AsbestosThe proposed regulations on Asbestos will prohibit its use in future and control working on it. Many older Hospitals and other NHS buildings have asbestos in them and the new regulations will ensure that staff are not exposed to asbestos fibres. However Ian Duncan Smith has objected. The following is taken from Risks published by the TUC and available on line to all Health and Safety reps via www.tuc.org.uk TUC dismay as Tories oppose asbestos duties The TUC has responded with dismay to claims by Conservatives that new asbestos laws are unnecessary because white asbestos is "low risk" and because unscrupulous contractors are overcharging for asbestos surveys and removal. The Tories have demanded a parliamentary debate before the new asbestos management regulations, due to take effect in the autumn, are introduced. John Bercow MP, shadow minister for work and pensions, said the government's plan to introduce the regulations before parliament reconvened was "extraordinarily cavalier". In a letter to Andrew Smith, the government work and pensions secretary, Mr Bercow said: "Many experts argue that there is no evidence that white asbestos is ordinarily harmful, still less lethal." TUC's Owen Tudor responded: "The HSC has been consulting on these Regulations for four years. That consultation has shown that the only people opposed are the asbestos industries who reject all regulation as unnecessary, and the cost benefit assessment shows that the HSC's proposals will actually save Britain money. The evidence of the risks from white asbestos is so overwhelming that even the World Trade Organisation, a group with the primary aim of protecting free trade, accepted that the white asbestos ban introduced across the European Union is entirely justified." The TUC indicated sympathy with arguments about overcharging, but stressed that these problems should be and were being tackled separately.
The proposed regulations on Asbestos will prohibit its use in future and control working on it. Many older Hospitals and other NHS buildings have asbestos in them and the new regulations will ensure that staff are not exposed to asbestos fibres. However Ian Duncan Smith has objected. The following is taken from Risks published by the TUC and available on line to all Health and Safety reps via www.tuc.org.uk
TUC dismay as Tories oppose asbestos duties The TUC has responded with dismay to claims by Conservatives that new asbestos laws are unnecessary because white asbestos is "low risk" and because unscrupulous contractors are overcharging for asbestos surveys and removal. The Tories have demanded a parliamentary debate before the new asbestos management regulations, due to take effect in the autumn, are introduced. John Bercow MP, shadow minister for work and pensions, said the government's plan to introduce the regulations before parliament reconvened was "extraordinarily cavalier". In a letter to Andrew Smith, the government work and pensions secretary, Mr Bercow said: "Many experts argue that there is no evidence that white asbestos is ordinarily harmful, still less lethal." TUC's Owen Tudor responded: "The HSC has been consulting on these Regulations for four years. That consultation has shown that the only people opposed are the asbestos industries who reject all regulation as unnecessary, and the cost benefit assessment shows that the HSC's proposals will actually save Britain money. The evidence of the risks from white asbestos is so overwhelming that even the World Trade Organisation, a group with the primary aim of protecting free trade, accepted that the white asbestos ban introduced across the European Union is entirely justified." The TUC indicated sympathy with arguments about overcharging, but stressed that these problems should be and were being tackled separately.
4 Wales TUC Greets First Blow Against NHS ViolenceWales TUC has welcomed new measures to protect NHS staff in Wales from violence, but says more must be done. Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Health Jane Hutt announced this week that Health Authorities have been told by March 2003 they must be operating schemes to cope with disruptive members of the public. David Jenkins, Wales TUC General Secretary, responded: "Violence against staff in Wales has been the unacceptable face of public service for a number of years, and the Wales TUC has lobbying both the Welsh Assembly Government and employers to draw up protection policies, especially in the NHS... No member of the healthcare team wants to see hospitals turned into fortresses because they recognise that families are often put into very stressful situations, but they do have a right to care for and save lives free from assault."
Wales TUC has welcomed new measures to protect NHS staff in Wales from violence, but says more must be done. Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Health Jane Hutt announced this week that Health Authorities have been told by March 2003 they must be operating schemes to cope with disruptive members of the public. David Jenkins, Wales TUC General Secretary, responded: "Violence against staff in Wales has been the unacceptable face of public service for a number of years, and the Wales TUC has lobbying both the Welsh Assembly Government and employers to draw up protection policies, especially in the NHS... No member of the healthcare team wants to see hospitals turned into fortresses because they recognise that families are often put into very stressful situations, but they do have a right to care for and save lives free from assault."
5 'No Work Tax For Health Professionals'Many of you will, by now, have received a supply of post cards highlighting our campaign against the Health Professions Councils proposal to charge a registration fee of between £65 and £85 per annum for registration.
Many of you will, by now, have received a supply of post cards highlighting our campaign against the Health Professions Councils proposal to charge a registration fee of between £65 and £85 per annum for registration.
The response so far has been excellent. In order to request a further supply. please e-mail your name & address to our Database Administrator Jean Smith on JEAN.SMITH@amicus-m.org