HOSPEEM Study Visit to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in March 2014

In line with the priority of strengthening the cooperation within HOSPEEM membership, it is a pleasure to inform you that at the beginning of the spring a HOSPEEM study visit to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia gave a unique opportunity to visit members’ organizations and their associated organizations there. This was an occasion to meet with hospital managers, trade unions and government representatives, to hear about their priorities and challenges as well as having a fruitful exchange on EU topics.

Very impressive was to observe the level of innovation and research applied in the healthcare structures of the three countries, although at a different speeds resulting from available budgets. At the same time it was also particularly striking to hear how in an integrated Europe major threats to healthcare systems still exist. Referring here to Latvia, where political instability and major budget cuts due to the economic crisis since 2009 have very negative effects on hospitals, health workers and patients, endangering even basic access to healthcare services.

On top of this a major problem common to Baltic systems remains the brain-drain of high qualified and skilled health professionals which poses a serious challenge to the training performance and the sustainability of health systems. Ethical international workforce recruitment and retention is one of the issues identified as HOSPEEM’s priority since its foundation and this is one of the areas where our organisation can have a major positive impact. What we are doing in this field is of a primary importance for the sustainability of our health systems and we will be able to achieve only by keeping on working together

HOSPEEM thanks Jevgenjis Kaleis, Sigitas Griskonsis, Urmas Sule as well as their board and staff members for the warm welcome and the fruitful exchange which HOSPEEM will treasure for keeping on promoting and representing members’ interests at European level.

 

 

 

Joint Statement of HOSPEEM and EPSU on the new EU Occupational Safety and Health Policy Framework

On 31 May 2013, the European Commission launched a public consultation further to results of the evaluation of the European Strategy on Safety and Health at Work 2007-2012. This was aimed at gathering contributions from the public for the new EU policy framework. Welcoming this initiative, HOSPEEM and EPSU responded to the consultation (see HOSPEEM response).

At the Plenary meeting of the sectoral social dialogue for the hospital sector held on 11 December 2013 HOSPEEM and EPSU approved a joint statement. With this document, HOSPEEM and EPSU aim to highlight common priorities and views for the new EU policy framework on occupational safety and health at work.

Download the Joint Statement

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector: Main activities and outcomes in 2013

In this document you can find the highlights of the work of the HOSPEEM-EPSU Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector.

In 2013 the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector dealt with a range of topics, carried out project-related activities and agreed on several documents.

Download the document

Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector: Main activities and outcomes in 2012

In this document you can find the highlights of the work of the HOSPEEM-EPSU Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector.

In 2012 the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital and Healthcare Sector dealt with a range of topics, carried out project-related activities and agreed on several documents.

Download the document

Adoption of the implementation report of the multi-sectoral guidelines to tackle work-related third-party violence

At the the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector Plenary Meeting of 11 December 2013, HOSPEEM and EPSU members adopted the report on the use and implementation of the Multi-sectoral guidelines to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work including recommendations. 

The joint evaluation and implementation report contains examples on how the multi-sectoral guidelines have been promoted and implemented by the member organisations of the signatory parties in the framework of projects and campaigns.

The report also contains recommendations for further steps and summarise the main challenges, whereof the main highlights are the following:

• A social partner agreement on preventing third-party violence could be a further step to a more stringent implementation of the guidelines if there is consensus between the social partners to start any negotiations.
• Further projects, conferences, and training for the social partners’ affiliates at local, regional and national level should be considered to implement the guidelines, with financial support of the European Commission.
• National projects could receive financial support from the European Social Fund.
• The implementation of the multi-sectoral guidelines should become an integral part of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Work programmes of the respective social dialogue committees who signed the guidelines. A follow-up report should be conducted by 2015 to evaluate progress on the implementation of the guidelines and identify the potential need for further action.

Download the report

EPSU-HOSPEEM Guidelines and examples of good practice to address the challenges of an ageing workforce in the healthcare sector

Brussels, 11 December 2013: Signature of the EPSU-HOSPEEM guidelines and examples of good practice to address the challenges of an ageing workforce in the healthcare sector.

In the context of the Plenary Meeting 2013 of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector, the Secretary General of HOSPEEM, Tjitte Alkema, and the Chair of EPSU’s Standing Committee “Health and Social Services”, Liza di Paolo Sandberg, signed the joint guidelines and examples of good practice to address the challenges of an ageing workforce in the healthcare sector. The document had been agreed upon in October 2013, following nearly two years of negotiations.

The aim of the document is to provide guidance to support social partners as well as decision makers, managers, workers and other stakeholders at national, regional and local and level, addressing different aspects related to age management policies such as flexible working arrangements, talent management and training, health and safety at work, workforce planning and retirement planning. It is for the social partners at all levels to work in partnership and to consider how this guidance can complement their own systems, initiatives and measures.

Read and download the press release

EPSU-HOSPEEM Guidelines to address the challenges of an ageing workforce in the healthcare sector:

 Download in ENG  Download in FR  Download in DE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background: HOSPEEM-EPSU work on ageing workforce 2006-2013

HOSPEEM-EPSU Study (2006) “Promoting realistic active ageing policies in the hospital sector” : Download in EN  Download in FR

Technical Seminar HOSPEEM-EPSU “Managing the ageing workforce: Challenges, opportunities and experiences” (Brussels, 27 April 2012)  Download the programme

Documents provided by HOSPEEM members and EPSU affiliates

Finland

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH): Working time + Occupational health – EN
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH): Shift planning + Ergonomics – EN
Public Works Department: Helsinki case study in good health age programme – EN

Germany

Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege (BGW): Älter werden im Pflegeberuf – DE
Initiative Neue Qualität der Arbeit (INQA)-Ratgeber Demographie: Angebote für Unternehmen im demographischen Wandel – DE
Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Securing the Future with Prevention: Strategies for a World of Work aligned to Demographic Change – EN

The Netherlands
StAZ: Memo “Active Ageing + Dutch Ageing Workforce Policies” – EN

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Nothern Ireland
DWP: Health Sector: Tackling Ageing Workforce Issues: Resource Pack – EN
DWP/NHS: Managing Ageing Workforce Health & Social Care – EN
Agewell Initiative – Sandwell Primary Care Trust (NHS) – EN
Guide Employers Performance & Retirement Practices (UK) – EN
RCN: Protecting employment for older nurses – EN
RCN: Nurses later stage careers – EN

Background documents collected by HOSPEEM and EPSU Secretariats 

DG EMPL: Integration Ageing Workforce (2001) – EN
CEEP: Valuing Age (2003) – EN
EFILWC: Working conditions ageing workforce (2008) – EN
EFILWC: Search engine for good practices in ageing management of Eurofound
OSHA: Thematic Webpage “Ageing Workers – Safety and Health”
OSHA: Thematic Webpage “Ageing Workers – Safety and Health”
EU Trio Presidency: Assessing Future Health Workforce Needs (2010) – EN
HOPE: Ageing Workforce and Ageing Patients (2010)
ETUI: Occupations and Ageing@Work (2010): Download in EN Download in FR
Eurofound: Sustainable Work and the Ageing Workforce – Report on the basis of the 5th European Working Conditions Survey (2012)
DG EMPL: EEO Review – Employment Policies to Promote Active Ageing 2012 (2012): Download in EN, Download in FR and Download in DE
Andrea Winkelmann-Gleed: Demographic change and implications for workforce ageing in Europe: Raising awareness and improving practice (WLRI Working Paper 5)

Research Papers and Presentations at Technical Review Seminar “Employment policies to promote active ageing” in the framework of the Mutual Learning Programme under the European Employment Strategy, 11 June 2012, Brussels 

Paper “Globalization and the Labour Market Situation of Older Workers: Exploring Trends, Challenges and Strategies for Adaptation”, Dirk Hofäcker, MZES, Mannheim (Germany)
Paper “Living Longer – Working Better”, Donald Storie, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND), Dublin
Presentation “Elaborating guidance and good practice in relation to various challenges of an ageing health care workforce: Flashlights on work in progress between EPSU and HOSPEEM”, Mathias Maucher, EPSU
Presentation “The role of measures to encourage older workers to stay longer in the labour process”, Jan Schugk, Confederation of Finnish Industries

Liaison Forum Social Dialogue, 27 May 2013, Brussels

Presentation “Managing the Ageing Workforce:-A joint priority of HOSPEEM and EPSU, the European Social Partners in the hospital sector: Guidelines and examples of good practice to address the challenges of an agein workforce”, Elisa Benedetti, HOSPEEM

 

Film DG EMPL "From needlesticks to sharps. The added value"

In Europe, it is estimated that there are 1 million needlestick injuries annually. Film produced by the European Commission, DG EMPL, on the genesis and the year-long policy process towards the adoption of directive 2010/32/EU to prevent injuries with medical sharps.

Watch the video in English:

Watch the video in Spanish:

Link to DG EMPL webpage for the video in other languages

Guidance (Guidelines, Handbooks, Tool Kits, Films)

GUIDANCE, HANDBOOKS, TOOLKITS

I) FROM EUROPEAN OR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OR NETWORKS

European Commission / DG EMPL :
Film “From needlesticks to sharps. The added value (in 21 languages)

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU OSHA), Bilbao
a) Information on prevention from sharp injuries at the workplace (available in many languages, the link is the one to the English language webpage)
b) E-fact 40 – Risk assessment and needlestick injuries
c) Factsheet 41 – Biological agents
d) E-fact 40 – Risk assessment for care workers

European Biosafety Network :
Implementation Guidance Toolkit for EU Council Directive 2010/32/EU (version of January 2013)

PDF - 583.9 ko EBN Toolkit Implementation Guidance Dir 2010/32/EU
This document was drafted in 2012 by the European Biosafety Network (EBN) and colleagues of UNISON.
More information on the EBN sent to the EPSU Secretariat and links to their website and other documents issues can be found in the file below.

PDF - 120.4 ko info EBN

World Health Organisation (WHO)
WHO – Policy Checklist for Bloodborne Exposure Control

II) FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Belgium
Prévention des Blessures Par Objets Tranchants (CSC SP)
PDF - 989.3 ko Guidance – Belgium : Prevention from Sharps Injuries” / CSC SP – in FR

Cyprus
a) Appendix A : Draft Safety and Health at Work Laws 1996-2011 The Safety and Health at Work : Framework Agreement on the prevention of injuries caused by sharp objects in the hospital sector and the broader health care sector : Regulations 2012
Παράρτημα Α : ΠΡΟΣΧΕΔΙΟ : Οι περί Ασφάλειας και Υγείας στην Εργασία Νόμοι του 1996 έως 2011 : Οι περί Ασφάλειας και Υγείας στην Εργασία (Συμφωνία – Πλαίσιο σχετικά με την πρόληψη των τραυματισμών που προκαλούνται από αιχμηρά αντικείμενα στον νοσοκομειακό τομέα και ευρύτερα στον τομέα παροχής φροντίδας υγείας) : Κανονισμοί του 2012
PDF - 259.2 koCY – Regulation Transposing FA

b) Ministy of Health : Central Committee : Hospital Infections : Instructions for management of contaminated sharps
ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟ ΥΓΕΙΑΣ : ΚΕΝΤΡΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ : ΕΝΔΟΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΑΚΩΝ ΛΟΙΜΩΞΕΩΝ : ΟΔΗΓΙΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΔΙΑΧΕΙΡΙΣΗ ΜΟΛΥΣΜΕΝΩΝ ΑΙΧΜΗΡΩΝ ΑΝΤΙΚΕΙΜΕΝΩΝ
PDF - 367.9 ko MoH – Instructions Management Contaminated Sharps

c) General Hospital Nicosia Office : Hospital Infection Control : Guidelines for the management of waste
ΓΕΝΙΚΟ ΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΟ ΛΕΥΚΩΣΙΑΣ ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΕΛΕΓΧΟΥ ΝΟΣΟΚΟΜΕΙΑΚΩΝ ΛΟΙΜΩΞΕΩΝ : ΟΔΗΓΙΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΔΙΑΧΕΙΡΙΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΠΟΡΡΙΜΜΑΤΩΝ
PDF - 140.5 ko General Hospital Nicosia Hospital Control Guidelines Waste Management

Denmark
Arbejdsmiljoeweb : Stikboksen – et ressourcested om stikskader på sygehuse – in DK

Finland
a) Irmeli Vuoriliuto : Do not let a needlestick get you by surprise : Accident Hazard – Tehy Study on Needlesticks and Injuries that occured due to sharps injuries – in EN
PDF - 2.1 Mo Guidance : Finland : Tehy Study Prevention Needlestick Injuries – in EN

b) Information Leaflet Tehy

I) FIN
PDF - 113.1 ko TEHY leaflet – FIN

II) SV
PDF - 122.4 ko TEHY leaflet – SV

III) EN
PDF - 127.6 ko TEHY leaflet – EN

Germany
a) Modellprojekt “STOP Nadelstich – Sicherheit durch Training + Organisation + Produktauswahl”
b) Webseite UK NRW/bgw “Sicheres Krankenhaus”
c) Case Study (EU-OSHA) from University Hosptial Heidelberg : Needlestick — how to prevent needlestick injuries effectively ?

Hungary
Prevention of blood- and bodily fluid-borne viral diseases during health care
PDF - 235.6 koGuidance : Hungary : National Center for Epidemiology Guidance – in HU

N.B. : The guidance was issued in 2003 by the National Center for Epidemiology.
Summary information on the main contents : The guide addresses themes like vaccination, post-exposure prophylaxis, prevention, assessing the probability of transmission, disinfection, waste treatment, prohibiting recapping, etc. 10 years ago, safety devices were very rare so there is not too much information on them.

Italy
a) Azienda Ospedaliera “Maggiore Della Carità”, Novara : Disposizioni in merito alle contaminazioni con materiale biologico a seguito di infortunio
PDF - 129 ko Guidance : Italy : Guidance Hospital Novara – in IT

b) Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilievo Nazionale e di Alta Specializzazione (ARNAS) Garibaldi Catania : Servizio Prevenzione et Protezione : Procedure da adottare nella manipolazione di strumenti acuminati e/o taglienti
PDF - 158.7 ko Guidance : Italy : Guidance Hospital Catania – in IT

The Netherlands
a) Werkgroup Infectiepreventie : Ziekenhuisen : Accidenteel Bloedcontact (October 2012) – in NL
PDF - 180.7 ko Guidance : The Netherlands : Report WG Prevention Sharps Injuries – in NL

b) Amendments in Dutch Legislation in view of Implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU (August 2011) – in NL
PDF - 88.6 ko Guidance : The Netherlands : Amendments Dutch Legislation Implementation Directive 2010/32/EU – in NL

Spain
a) FSP UGT : Manual de Uso
PDF - 1.3 Mo FSP UGT Manual de Uso

b) Poster 1 “No Se Declaran Los Acidentes – Enfermera”
PDF - 361.2 ko FSP UGT Poster 1 “No se declaran los acidentes” – Enfermera

c) Poster 2 “No Se Declaran Los Acidentes – Enfermero”
PDF - 275.9 ko FSP UGT Poster 2 “No se declaran los acidentes” – Enfermero

e) Poster 3 “No Dejes Que Juegen Con Tu Salud”
PDF - 172.6 ko FSP UGT Poster 3 “No Dejes Que Juegen Con Tu Salud”

Sweden
a) Swedish Legislation (2005) : Arbeitsmijöverkets Författningssamling (AFS 2005:1) : Mikrobiologiska Arbeitsmijlörisker – Smitta, Toxinpåverkan, Överkänslighet (2005) – in SV
PDF - 411.8 ko Guidance : Sweden Legislation 2005 / Arbeitsmijöverkets Författningssamling (AFS 2012:7) – in SV

b) Swedish Legislation (2012) : Arbeitsmijöverkets Författningssamling (AFS 2012:7) : Mikrobiologiska Arbeitsmijlörisker – Smitta, Toxinpåverkan, Överkänslighet. Arbeitsmijöverkets Föreskrifter om Ändring i Arbeitsmijöverkets Föreskrifter (AFS 2005:1) om Mikrobiologiska Arbeitsmijlörisker – Smitta, Toxinpåverkan, Överkänslighet (2012) – in SV
PDF - 1.7 Mo Guidance : Sweden Legislation 2012 / Arbeitsmijöverkets Författningssamling (AFS 2012:7) – in SV

c) Description & Summary Project Prevention from Needlestick Injuries : Insatser för förebyggande av skador och smitta pga. vassa instrument, bl.a. stick- och skärskador inom hälso- och sjukvården (in SV)
PDF - 251.2 ko Guidance – Sweden : Project “Reduction of Sharps Injuries” – in SV

d) Study on the prevention from injuries with sharps injuries (in SV)

I) Summary in EN
PDF - 103.1 ko Summary Information IVN Study Sharps Injuries – EN

II) Detailed information in SV
Stick- och skärskador inom hälso- och sjukvården – Förebyggande insatser för skador och smitta pga. vassa instrument

United Kingdom
a) Joint Social Partners’ Guidance
PDF - 497.7 ko Guidance : United Kingdom : Joint Social Partners’ Guidance “Needlestick Injury” – in EN

b) NHS Employers / Partnership for Occupational Safety and Health in Healthcare (POSHH) & Safer Needles Network : Advise on the Prevention from Sharps Injuries
PDF - 521.4 ko Guidance : United Kingdom : NHS / POSHH : Advise Prevention Sharps Injuries – in EN

c) Royal College of Nursing (RCN) : Sharps Safety : RCN Guidance to support implementation of the EU Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries in the health care sector]
PDF - 843.9 ko Guidance : United Kingdom : RCN : Sharps Safety – in EN

d) UNISON : Needlestick injuries. A guide for Local Government safety representatives

FILMS

EC/DG EMPL film “From needlesticks to sharps – The added value” on the making of directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries

During summer 2011 DG EMPL produced a video on the elaboration of the Framework Agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector concluded by HOSPEEM and EPSU on 17 July 2009.

Based on the procedures stipulated in Art. 154 and 155 2 of the TFEU this autonomous agreement of the European sectoral social partners in the hospital sector on 10 May 2010 became Directive 2010/32/EU.

The video “From needlesticks to sharps – The added value” i.a. contains interviews with Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, General Secretary of EPSU, Godfrey Perera, Secretary General of HOSPEEM, François Ziegler, DG EMPL, Steven Hughes, MEP, and Ana Salegui, a Spanish nurse injured in 1991 and later in Spain becoming a spokesperson for other health workers suffering from a sharps injury.
It has been issued in 2011 in a version with English subtitles. As of February 2012 the film has also become available in all offical EU languages.

PSI Film “Sharp Sense – Promoting the safety of health care workers”


This project has received funding from the European Commission