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EFSA/ECDC EU report on antimicrobial resistance

Bacteria found in humans, animals and food continue to show resistance to widely used antimicrobials, according to this report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Abstract:

The data on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria in 2015, submitted by 28 EU Member States (MSs), were jointly analysed by EFSA and ECDC. Resistance in zoonotic Salmonella and Campylobacter from humans, animals and food, and resistance in indicator Escherichia coli as well as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in animals and food were addressed. ‘Microbiological’ resistance was assessed using epidemiological cut-off (ECOFF) values; for some countries, qualitative data on human isolates were interpreted in a way which corresponds closely to the ECOFF-defined ‘microbiological’ resistance. In Salmonella from humans, high proportions of isolates were resistant to ampicillin, sulfonamides and tetracyclines, whereas resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was low. In Salmonella and Escherichia coli isolates from fattening pigs and calves under one year of age, resistance to ampicillin, tetracyclines and sulfonamides was frequently detected, whereas resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was uncommon. For the first time, presumptive extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-/AmpC-/carbapenemase-production in Salmonella and Escherichia coli was monitored in humans (Salmonella), meat (pork and beef), fattening pigs and calves. Varying occurrence/prevalence rates of ESBL-/AmpC-producers were observed between countries, and carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli were detected in single samples of pig meat and from fattening pigs from two MSs. Resistance to colistin was observed at low levels in Salmonella and Escherichia coli from fattening pigs and calves under one year of age and meat thereof. In Campylobacter from humans, high to extremely high proportions of isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and tetracyclines, particularly in C. coli. In a few countries, a third to half of C. coli in humans were resistant also to erythromycin, leaving few options for treatment of severe Campylobacter infections. High resistance to ciprofloxacin and tetracyclines was observed in C. coli isolates from fattening pigs, whereas much lower levels were recorded for erythromycin. Co-resistance to critically important antimicrobials in both human and animal isolates was generally uncommon.

Read the scientific report (February 2017)

Activities, News, Projects Hospeem

Call for tender to subcontract external expertise

Open call for tender for Research on Promoting effective recruitment and retention policies for all health workers in the EU by ensuring access to continuing professional development (CPD) and healthy and safe workplaces supportive of patient safety and quality care.

Leading partner: EPSU
Co-beneficiary: HOSPEEM
Date of publication on the HOSPEEM website: 20 January 2017
Deadline to respond: 18 February 2017

Download the Call for Tender

TENDER SPECIFICATIONS FOR SUBCONTRACTING EXTERNAL EXPERTISE

Purpose of the contract

Support is being sought from an external expert to help facilitating the implementation of the project run by the EU-level social partners in the hospital/health care sector EPSU and HOSPEEM. The contractor will provide support in the preparation, running and follow-up to the two conferences that will be organised in the context of the project. He/She will also contribute to identifying relevant literature on the two subjects addressed under the project and at the two conferences, to gathering possible speakers/experts that can provide input during the two conferences and to gathering good practice examples from EPSU affiliates and HOSPEEM members.

Tasks to be performed by the contractor

  • Identifying and providing EPSU and HOSPEEM with relevant literature on the two subjects addressed under the project related to the two conferences
  • Supporting EPSU and HOSPEEM in identifying the speakers/experts, in drafting the agendas of the two conferences to be organised and in facilitating the events content-wise.
  • Attending both conferences and preparing a report from both events. The contractor will have to submit the two reports to the respective Steering Group for amendments and final approval
  • Supporting EPSU and HOSPEEM with the gathering of good practice examples from EPSU affiliates and HOSPEEM members and research or publications from other projects
  • Following the second conference, the contractor will be asked to participate in a follow-up meeting gathering both Steering Groups to assess the results of the project
  • Drafting of a short overall report/take-home messages from the project

Time scheduling

The two-year project is scheduled to begin in January 2017 and end in December 2018.

The expert will be selected by the EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats on the basis of the tender prior to the joint kick-off meeting of the two Steering Groups.

She/he is expected to participate in the following meetings foreseen under the project.

a) Steering Groups

  • Meeting Day 1 (28 February 2017): Joint kick-off meeting of the two Steering Groups [morning] and first meeting of the Steering Group on CPD to prepare event 1 on continuing professional development (CPD) [afternoon]
  • Meeting Days 2 and 3 (October 2017): Second meeting of the Steering Group on CPD to assess event 1 on CPD and to discuss possible follow-up activities [first day/half day] and first meeting of the Steering Group on occupational health and safety at the workplace (OSH) to prepare event 2 on OSH on the topics musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) & and psycho-social risks and stress at work (PSRS@W) [second day/half day]
  • Meeting Day 4 (June 2018): Second meeting of the OSH Steering Group to assess event 2 on OSH and to discuss possible follow-up activities
  • Meeting Day 5 (December 2018): Final joint meeting of the two Steering Groups

b) Conferences

The expert is also expected to attend the two conferences to be held in the framework of the project, the first on CPD (currently the dates foreseen are 19 and 20 June 2017 in either Amsterdam or Utrecht, Netherlands) and the second on OSH (MSD and PSRS@W) foreseen for March 2018 (the exact date has not yet been scheduled) in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The expert is expected to deliver a first draft of the reports from the two conferences at the latest three months after they will have taken place respectively.

Payments and standard contracts

The contract will be drawn up between EPSU and the contractor. Payments will be made in three instalments dependent on the contractor carrying out the relevant stages of the work as listed above. The first payment of EUR 3.000 (20%) will be paid upon signing the contract. The second payment of 40% will be paid on presentation of the report from the first conference (to be held in June 2017) and a final payment of 40% on completion and presentation of the two reports, taking on board suggestions for revisions or additions by the members of Steering Groups 1 on CPD and 2 on OSH and/or the EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats, to be received on Meeting Day 4.

The travel and accommodation expenses for the contractor to attend the project conferences or meet with the EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats will be covered by the overall travel and accommodation budget of the project.

Price

The maximum funding for this work is EUR 15.000 (all taxes and charges included).

Selection criteria

The offers received to the call for tender will be examined by the EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats – which can decide to also consult with representatives of EPSU affiliates and HOSPEEM members, where appropriate – on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Proven knowledge / Evidenced track record of research (supported by publications, academic articles etc.) on continuing professional development (CPD) in the field of health care and on occupational health and safety at the workplace (OSH), specifically on musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work
  • Experience of working with social partners
  • Particular expertise for the hospital/health care sector
  • Knowledge of the functioning of European Social Dialogue and of its outcomes
  • Proven ability to facilitate meetings in English and to draft documents in English
  • Respect of the budgetary constraints
  • Previous work in collaboration with European social partners will be considered as an asset

Award criteria

The contract will be awarded to the tender offering the best value for money, taking into account the specific selection criteria set out above. The principles of transparency and equal treatment with a view to avoiding any conflicts of interest will be respected.

Content and presentation of the bids

The bid has to contain information related to the services to be provided as specified above under the headings “Tasks to be performed by the contractor” and “Selection criteria”.

Bids must be received within 30 days after the date of publication of this call for tenders on the websites of EPSU and HOSPEEEM and additional channels of publication or circulation as to be decided by the EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats.

The EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats will assess the tenders considered eligible and will make the final selection according to the above mentioned selection and award criteria and the list of tasks the contractor is expected to perform.

Bids submitted in English must include:

  • All information and documents necessary to enable the EPSU and HOSPEEM Secretariats to appraise the bid on the basis of the selection and award criteria set out above;
  • A detailed CV of the expert(s) involved in the project activities;
  • Explanation of the proposed methodology for conducting the work.

Deadline for submission of the bids

The bids should be submitted to EPSU, Mathias Maucher, mmaucher@epsu.org, within the 30-day deadline starting from the date the tender first appears on the EPSU and HOSPEEM websites.

Activities, News, Social Dialogue Hospeem

10th anniversary of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector

HOSPEEM and EPSU celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector on the occasion of their plenary meeting organised in Brussels on 2 December 2016.

The Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector was set up in September 2006 at the joint request of the hospital sector social partners. The inaugural meeting of the Committee was held on 20 September 2006.

HOSPEEM and EPSU were honoured and delighted to host Mr. Xavier Prats Monné, Director General of DG SANTE, and Mr. Michel Servoz, Director General of DG EMPL, on the occasion of this celebration that was attended by more than 70 participants.

HOSPEEM and EPSU have established fruitful cooperation and close working relations with DG EMPL and DG SANTE over the years and appreciate their presence as an expression of interest and support for their work and activities.

This celebration provided the opportunity to stress the crucial role played by the hospital sector social partners and the importance of the hospital sector social dialogue.

This event also offered an excellent opportunity to highlight the major achievements of HOSPEEM and EPSU over the last decade as well as to exchange on future challenges and priorities.

Xavier Prats Monné underlined in his speech the positive changes taking place in the health sector, made possible thanks to the quality, skills and dedication of health professionals. Looking at the challenges for the next decade, he stated that none of them would be addressed without looking at the workforce and without a strengthened effort on recruitment and retention.

Michel Servoz stressed the good functioning and efficiency of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector. He also emphasized the crucial dimension of this sector for the quality of life and focused on three major challenges faced by this sector, i.e. skills, job creation and innovation, on which social partners have a major role to play.

The Secretary Generals of EPSU and HOSPEEM also respectively delivered a speech to celebrate 10 years of successful European social dialogue in the hospital sector.

Jan-Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary, underlined the importance of the principle of autonomy of social partners and put the emphasis on the need to further build up and strengthen the capacities of national employers’ and trade union organisations.

In his speech, Tjitte Alkema, HOSPEEM Secretary General, paid tribute to the commitment and active involvement of HOSPEEM and EPSU members in the hospital social dialogue, saying that it had been, and would always be, fundamental in achieving great results.

News Hospeem

HOSPEEM 10th Anniversary, 2006-2016

The 10th anniversary of HOSPEEM was celebrated at the occasion of the General Assembly on December 1st 2016 at the European Economic and Social Committee.

 

Tjitte Alkema, Secretary General of HOSPEEM stated that:

“In 2016 HOSPEEM celebrates ten years of commitment to represent the interests of hospital and healthcare employers across Europe. HOSPEEM is now a structured platform of employers supplying services of general interest, with a unique expertise in the field of workforce and industrial relations’ issues for the hospital and healthcare sector and a distinct voice influencing EU policy-making.

This 10th anniversary is an opportunity to look back at our major achievements and to look at future challenges. Since 2006 HOSPEEM has been working closely with the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) to establish and sustain a fruitful Hospital Sector European Social Dialogue. In this context we have been able to build a climate of mutual respect and trust also leading to the signature of a number of significant agreements and guidelines. As a European independent, membership-based organisation HOSPEEM has effectively supported its members to implement outcomes of Social Dialogue through exchanges of good practices and innovative capacity building activities.

As a recognised social partner HOSPEEM has been a key player in the European Social Dialogue for the last ten years. HOSPEEM is successfully ensuring that the views of employers are being heard at the highest level in the European institutions. In the years to come, HOSPEEM is looking forward to further build the future of hospital care empowering on-the-ground hospital employers and managers.”

The first HOSPEEM brochure was published at the occasion of the 10th anniversary.

PDF - 304.4 koDownload the new brochure

 

 

 

 

 

Social partners also celebrated 10 years of fruitful social dialogue at the plenary meeting of the HOSPEEM-EPSU Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector on December 2nd.

PDF - 304.4 koDownload the presentation “highlights of 10 years of social dialogue”
Watch the video “celebrating 10 years of Social Dialogue 2006-2016”


Activities, News, Social Dialogue Hospeem

HOSPEEM-EPSU joint declaration on CPD and LLL for all Health Workers in the EU

The EU hospital social partners HOSPEEM and EPSU adopted a HOSPEEM-EPSU joint declaration on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Life-Long-Learning (LLL) for all health workers in the EU in November 2016, after several months of work and negotiations.

It is addressed to all workers in the hospital and healthcare sector in an equal manner, irrespective of age, profession and employment contract.

The agreement emphasizes the major role social partners have to play in the field of CPD and LLL, in partnership with competent authorities and other relevant stakeholders, and on the respective responsibilities of employers and workers. In the joint declaration, HOSPEEM and EPSU stress that CPD and LLL initiatives should be considered as a long-term investment in current and future qualifications and competences of the health workforce and not as a cost factor.

The joint declaration aims at providing inspiration, guidance and support to social partners in their actions in the field of CPD and LLL in the different Member States and at encouraging investments in this field. It is structured along a statement of key principles that should guide activities undertaken in the field of CPD and LLL. The principles are general and can be used at all levels by all stakeholders.

The HOSPEEM-EPSU joint declaration will be enriched in 2017 with a separate document gathering existing good practice examples. This document will be elaborated in the context of the joint HOSPEEM-EPSU EU-funded project (VS/2017/0017) “Promoting effective recruitment and retention policies for health workers in the EU by ensuring access to CPD and healthy and safe workplaces supportive of patient safety and quality care”.

HOSPEEM and EPSU were invited to present their joint declaration on the occasion of the DG SANTE Expert Group “European Health Workforce” on 22 November 2016.

The joint declaration is now available in English, French, German, Spanish and Swedish.

PDF - 304.4 ko HOSPEEM-EPSU joint declaration on CPD and LLL in EN – FR – DE – SV – ES

Activities, News Hospeem

EU-OSHA Campaign – Healthy Workplaces for All Ages

EU-OSHA Campaign – Healthy Workplaces for All Ages

HOSPEEM has become an official campaign partner of the EU-OSHA 2016-2017 campaign, Healthy Workplaces for All Ages. This Europe-wide campaign raises awareness of the importance of good occupational safety and health management throughout the working life and of tailoring work to individual abilities — whether at the start of a worker’s career or at its close. The Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2016-2017 aims to promote sustainable work and healthy ageing and the importance of prevention throughout the whole, to provide employers and workers with information and tools for managing OSH in the context of an ageing workforce; and to facilitate the exchange of information and good practice.

“Sustainable participation of all health professionals is the most direct contribution to dealing with potential workforce related issues. HOSPEEM therefore warmly supports the 2016-2017 EU-OSHA Campaign promoting Healthy workplaces for all ages, thereby identifying the need for continuing focus and priority on sustainable participation over the entire professional career, from internship until retirement. Together with its counterpart EPSU (the European Federation of Public Service Unions), HOSPEEM will continue to promote the creation and maintenance of the safest possible workplaces and to promote active participation in continuing professional development (CPD) and life-long learning (LLL) for all health professionals irrespective of age, profession or employment contract. A joint declaration on this topic that HOSPEEM and EPSU intend to agree on before the summer of 2016 will give a strong impulse to the promotion of CPD and LLL both at European and national level. I am convinced that these initiatives will lead to a more sustainable participation of health professionals of all ages” says Tjitte Alkema, Secretary General of the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM).

HOSPEEM will give visibility to the EU-OSHA campaign mainly through its website and its newsletter as well as by disseminating information on the campaign and raise awareness of the issue among its member organisations. HOSPEEM will support and contribute to the EU-OSHA campaign together with EPSU in the context of relevant activities of their Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee and in the framework of their upcoming joint project focusing on retention of health workforce and foreseeing a seminar dedicated to the campaign topic.

There are lots of ways to get involved in the Healthy Workplaces for all Ages campaign. Find out more information on the Healthy Workplaces for All Ages Campaign website. Publications, campaign materials and practical tools and guidance are available here.

Activities, News, Social Dialogue Hospeem

HOSPEEM-EPSU report on the use and implementation of the Framework of Actions on Recruitment and Retention

During the Plenary meeting of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector (SSDC HS) held on 10 December 2015 HOSPEEM and EPSU adopted a joint follow-up report on the use and implementation of their Framework of Actions on Recruitment and Retention (FoA R&R)signed on 17 December 2010.

This report gathers good practice examples for each of the 5 key thematic areas covered by the Framework of Actions on Recruitment and Retention, presents the main challenges faced by HOSPEEM members and EPSU affiliates with regard to recruitment and retention of health workers in their respective countries and focuses on social partner-based measures and activities. It also contains some conclusions and recommendations.

It has been elaborated in parallel to and in exchange with the researchers working on the DG SANTE Study “Recruitment and retention of the health workforce in Europe” published in July 2015.

Read here the HOSPEEM-EPSU Report on the use and implementation of the Framework of Actions on Recruitment and Retention : Dissemination of insights and good practices : Final version (EN)

News Hospeem

High-level meeting with Commissioner Andriukaitis

On 11 January 2016, Tjitte Alkema, HOSPEEM Secretary General, and Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary, met with Vytenis Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety.

The purpose of this high-level meeting was to discuss the involvement and the role of European social partners in the hospital and healthcare sector in EU initiatives and to identify how HOSPEEM, EPSU and DG SANTE could best cooperate and support each other’s work.

The meeting provided Tjitte Alkema and Jan Willem Goudriaan the opportunity to present the main priorities on the agenda of HOSPEEM and EPSU and to promote their ongoing joint activities in the field on Recruitment and Retention, Continuous Professional Development and Life-Long-Learning and Occupational Safety and Health.

Issues related to health workforce planning, mobility of health professionals, cross-border ethical recruitment and retention, patient safety, investments in health systems, economic governance and capacity building were also addressed with the Commissioner.

Vytenis Andriukaitis underlined that these matters were core concerns for him and asserted that he was willing to deal with them, in cooperation with social partners and other Commissioners.The Commissioner expressed his deep interest and full support for the work carried out by HOSPEEM and EPSU, as well as his readiness to take part in it.

Vytenis Andriukaitis also encouraged Tjitte Alkema and Jan Willem Goudriaan to make the work and achievements of HOSPEEM and EPSU more visible and highlighted the need to draw the attention of society on these central issues.

During the meeting Tjitte Alkema raised the major problem faced by hospital and healthcare employers in the field of capacity building, namely the absence of independent employers’ organisations in some European countries. The Commissioner expressed his awareness of the issue and stressed the importance of a well-functioning social dialogue.

Vytenis Andriukaitis and the sectoral social partners HOSPEEM and EPSU agreed to meet on a regular basis in the future, to further exchange and strengthen cooperation.

To read the article written by EPSU on this meeting, click here

 

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