Tag: hospital sector

HOSPEEMNewshospital sector
Activities, Projects Hospeem

OSH Project : detailed description

HOSPEEM and EPSU have been provided financial support from the European Commission for a joint project aimed at implementing one main priority of the work programme 2014-2016 of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector, i.e. the promotion of occupational safety and health. In this area, HOSPEEM members and EPSU affiliates have identified “psychosocial risks and stress at work” and “musculoskeletal disorders” as the two main focal topics.

The HOSPEEM-EPSU project “Assessing health and safety risks in the hospital sector and the role of the social partners in addressing them: the case of musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work” (n°VS/2014/0324) builds on previous experiences of joint initiatives/project and was inspired by:

  1. the format of the 2010/2011 Project “Promotion, awareness-raising and dissemination of the multi-sectoral guidelines to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work” and the 2012/2013 Project “Promotion and support of Implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention from sharps injuries in the hospital and health sector“
  2. the concept and approach of the technical seminar “Managing the ageing workforce: challenges, opportunities and experiences”, 27 April 2012. This seminar has set the scene with regard to national situations and has served to create a common understanding of the main issues at stake and action needed.

Aims & tools:

The aims of this project is to:

  • identify how actions aimed at preventing and managing these two occupational hazards can contribute to improved health as well as more attractive retention conditions
  • help members to assess the impact of these two occupational hazards on the management of their healthcare institutions and healthcare personnel and to identify effective actions
  • improve efficiency in the management of healthcare institutions and workplaces by reducing costs linked to loss of productivity, sick leave and occupational diseases within the healthcare sector.

The tools to achieve this objective are:

  • exchange of information/knowledge
  • identification of existing guidance/good practice with high potential for transferability and cost-effectiveness.

Specific objectives:

1. The action is aimed at implementing one of the two main priorities of the work-programme 2014/2016, i.e. occupational health and safety, and strengthen the role of European social partners in the hospital sector

2. The action will improve the functioning and effectiveness of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector. The exchange of knowledge will help create a common understanding of the situation and a common reflection on whether further actions are needed .

3. The action will contribute to the enhancement of awareness amongst employers and workers on the importance of a risk assessment with regard to prevention and risk reduction.

4. The results of the project will be disseminated within the EU Member States and towards the EU level. The results will also feed into the new EU strategic framework on safety and health at work that EPSU and HOSPEEM are expected to set out.

Timeline & phases:

This project runs from the 01.10.2014 to the 30.09.2016 and comprises five main phases:

Preparatory phase:

  • 2 October 2014, Brussels: Meeting of HOSPEEM and EPSU Secretariats (lead: HOSPEEM and EPSU)
  • 12 November 2014, Brussels: kick-off meeting of the Steering Group (lead: contents: HOSPEEM, organisation: EPSU)
  • October 2014 : publication of the call for tenders (lead: HOSPEEM).

Phase II: First event:

  • 25 March 2015, Paris : Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders  (co-organised by FEHAP and supported by HOSPEEM) Total number of participants: 90.

Phase III: Mid-term assessment and organisation of the second event :

  • 4 June 2015, Brussels: Mid-term assessment and organisational meeting of the Steering Group (lead: contents: HOSPEEM, organisation: EPSU)

Phase IV: Second event :

  • 10 November 2015, Helsinki: Conference on psychosocial risks and stress at work (co-organised by JHL, Superlitto and Tehy and supported by EPSU) Total number of participants: 90/100.

Phase V: Follow-up: Final evaluation and possible next steps: 

  • 3 March 2016, Brussels: Final Meeting of the Steering Group (lead: contents: HOSPEEM, organisation: EPSU)

Deliverables:

  • Two conference reports drafted by the expert and to be agreed upon by HOPSEEM and EPSU
  • Two brief documents drafted by  HOSPEEM and EPSU Secretariats summarising the main insight, conclusions and recommendations of each conference
  • Dissemination: Dedicated section of materials & guidance on the HOSPEEM and EPSU websites

 *** Back to main project page ***

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission
Activities, Projects Hospeem

OSH Project : Material and guidance

This dedicated section presents documents (guidance, handbooks, training material etc…) on musculoskeletal disorders and on psychosocial risks and stress at work. Please note that this is work in progress and that this is only an indicative list which does not necessarily reflect the latest regulations and techniques.  

MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS 

I) FROM EUROPEAN OR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OR NETWORKS

ArjoHuntleigh – Technical Committee ISO/TC 159 – Ergonomics
Manual Handling of People in the Healthcare Sector, An edited summary of ISO Technical Report 12296

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
Risk assessment in health care (in EN)
Patient handling techniques to prevent MSDs in health care  (in EN, DE)
European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks-ESENER-2 (in 25 languages)
Webportal on musculoskeletal disorders (in EN)

Eurofound
Managing musculoskeletal disorders, 2007
Working conditions and social dialogue, 2009, p83 – 91.

European Union
Council Directive 90/269/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads where there is a risk particularly of back injury to workers (fourth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (in BG, ES, CS,DA,DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT,HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

European Commission-DG EMPL Social Affairs and Inclusion
Occupational health and safety risks in the healthcare sector – Guide to prevention and good practice (in 22 languages)

II) FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Austria
ArbeitnehmerInnenschutzgesetz (in DE)

Denmark
a) National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NRCWE):
Low back injury risk during repositioning of patients in bed: the influence of handling technique, patient weight and disability, (EN summary) 2008
Webportal “Job and body campaign” (in ENG) with good practices section (in DK)
b) Danish Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet):
Fremtidens arbejdsmiljø 2020 (in DK), 2010
c) BrancheArbejdsmiljøRådet Social & Sundhed (BAR) -Danish Trade Unions and Employers Association :
Forflytningsguide – Til ansatte på sygehuse og elever og studerende på sundhedsuddannelserne (in DK), 2011
Nye veje til den gode forflytning i hjemmeplejen (in DK), 2008
Forflytningspyramiden – Brug mest af det i bunden og mindst af det i toppen (in DK)
Webportal on manual handling of patients (in DK)
d) Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø (NFA):
Hvidbog om sygefravær og tilbagevenden til arbejde ved muskel- og skeletbesvær Årsager og handlemuligheder (in DK), 2008
Hvidbog om risikofaktorer knyttet til fysisk tungt arbejde Resume og hovedkonklusioner (in DK), 2009
Forflytning i et bredere perspektiv, 2005
Webportal with research on musculoskeletal disorder (in DK)

Finland
a) Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department of Occupational Health and Safety
A method for evaluating the load of patient transfers, Occupational safety and health publications 83, 2007 (in EN)
b) Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
A Management Model for Physical Risks in the Care Work, 2010 (in EN)

France
a) Institut national de recherche et de sécurité pour la prévention des accidents du travail et des maladies professionnelles (INRS):
Webportal with resources on  MSD and back pain (in FR)
Dossier médico-technique : Travailleurs lombalgiques. Bases scientifiques des programmes de “retour au travail”  (in FR), 2005
Troubles musculosquelettiques et lombalgies : des maux à traiter sans improvisation, Revue Travail et Sécurité, n° 730, 08/2012, pp. 19-34 (in FR)
Analyse coût-bénéfice des actions de prévention : exemple du risque de manutention pour le personnel soignant, Revue Hygiène et sécurité du travail – Note Documentaire, n° 215, 06/2009, pp. 29-34 (in FR)
Personnels soignants en milieu hospitalier : des performances sous perfusion, Revue Travail et Sécurité, n° 693, 03/2009, pp. 25-39 (in FR)
b) Agence Nationale pour l’Amélioration des Conditions de Travail (ANACT)
L’approche économique des TMS… Intégrer la prévention à la performance, 2007 (in FR)
c) Association Régionale pour l’Amélioration des Conditions de Travail (ARACT) Haute Normandie; Agence Régionale de Santé Haute-Normandie (ARS)
Prévenir durablement les troubles musculo-squelettiques dans les établissements de santé : outils et méthodes pour réduire l’absentéisme et favoriser le maintien dans l’emploi, (in FR) 2013
d) Association Régionale pour l’Amélioration des Conditions de Travail (ARACT) Île-de-France
Aide à l’évaluation des risques professionnels en milieux de soins, 2012 (in FR)
e) Direction de la recherche, des études, de l’évaluation et des statistiques (DREES)
L’organisation du travail à l’hôpital : évolutions récentes, Études et résultats N° 709, 2009 (in FR)
f) Scientific Journal “Perspectives interdisciplinaires sur le travail et la santé (PISTES)”
Comprendre la manutention de patient pour la valoriser : une voie de construction de la santé des soignants, Revue Pistes, n° 1, 05/2012 (in FR, Abstract in EN, ES)
Instruments de manutention des malades, usage du corps et appropriation des gestes collectifs des soignants, PISTES, n° 2, 11/2009 (in FR, Abstract in EN, ES)
g) Ecole Nationale de la Santé Publique (ENSP)
La gestion des risques professionnels liés aux troubles musculosquelettiques : quelle stratégie pour le directeur des soins ? 2007 (in FR)
h) CHU D’ANGERS, Programme CNRACL
Manutentions des patients : ergonomie des équipements, systèmes d’aide à la manutention, 2010 (in FR)

Germany
a)Legal aspects:
Lastenhandhabungsverordnung – LasthandhabV (in DE) (in EN)
Arbeitsschutzgesetz  “Occupational Safety and Health Law” (in DE, in EN)
b) Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung e.V. (DGUV):
Bewegen von Menschen im Gesundheitsdienst und in der Wohlfahrtspflege (in DE) 2014

Ireland
a) Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI)/Health and Safety Authority (HSA)
Guidance on the Prevention and Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in the Workplace, 2013 (in EN)
Guidance on the Management of Manual Handling in Healthcare (in EN)
b) Health Service Executive (HSE)
Manual Handling and People Handling Policy (in EN)

Italy
a) INAIL
I disturbi muscoloscheletrici lavorativi. La causa, l’insorgenza, la prevenzione, la tutela assicurativa, 2012 (in IT)
b) Societa italiana di medicina del lavoro e igiene industriale
LINEE GUIDA per la prevenzio ne delle patologi e correlate alla movimentazione manuale dei pazienti (in IT)

Poland
a) Institute of Occupational Medicine
 Profilaktyka chorób układu ruchu i obwodowego układu nerwowego wywołanych sposobem wykonywania pracy. Poradnik dla lekarzy ( Prevention of musculoskeletal disorder. A guide for doctors), 2010 (in PL)
b) Center for Postgraduate Medical Education in Warsaw
 Medycyna i higiena pracy (A guide for OSH specialists), 2011
c) The Work Foundation, Fit for work Europe, CEESTAHC
 Musculoskeletal disorder and Poland’s labour market, (in EN, PL) 2011

Spain
a) Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo (INSHT):
A portal for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders with documents about manual handling of people (in ES)
A good practice manual about Musculoskeletal disorders prevention in the healthcare sector (in ES), 2011
b) Galician Institute for health and safety at work (ISSGA):
“Prevention Sheet for MHP”(in ES)
c) Vasquian Institute for health and safety at work (OSALAN):
Manual handling of patients in nursing homes (in ES)
d) Institute of Labour and Public Health:
Web portal for socio-sanitary sector on ergonomics and psychosocial risks (in ES)
Prevention Program for Ergonomic and Psychosocial Risks in Social Health Sector – Final Report, 2009-2012

United Kingdom
a)  NHS Employers:
Rapid access to treatment and rehabilitation for NHS staff, 2012
Evaluating health & wellbeing interventions for healthcare staff : key findings, 2014

b)  NHS Employers/Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group (HSWPG):

Back in Work ‘Back pack’, 2014 :
Part 1 of 6: Introduction and key messages
Part 2 of 6: The staff guide 
Part 3 of 6: The line managers guide
Part 4 of 6: The safety representatives guide  
Part 5 of 6: Workplace and individual assessment tool
Part 6 of 6: Further information and quick links

Lone worker guidance:
A guide for lone workers, 2013
A guide for managers, 2013

Guidance on prevention and management of stress at work, 2014
The importance of effective partnership working on health, safety & wellbeing, 2014
Guidelines on prevention and management of sickness absence, 2013
Workplace Health and Safety Standards, 2013
Health and wellbeing in healthcare settings, 2012
Implementing the sharps Directive: Advice from POSHH
Welsh Manual Handling passport scheme, 2003

PSYCHO-SOCIAL RISKS AND STRESS AT WORK

I) FROM EUROPEAN OR INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OR NETWORKS
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
Campaign Guide. Managing stress and psychosocial risks at work, 2013 (in EN)
Managing stress and psychosocial risks e-guide (all languages)
Risk assessment in health care – Section 3.2 and 4.2, (in EN)
Mental health promotion in the healthcare sector – Section 2 & 3 (in EN)
Calculating the cost of work-related stress and psychosocial risks – Literature Review, 2014 (in EN)
European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks-ESENER-2 (in 25 languages)
Webportal on psycho-social risks and stress at work (in EN)

Eurofound & European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA)
Psychosocial risks in Europe Prevalence and strategies for prevention, 2014 (in EN)

European Commission-DG EMPL Social Affairs and Inclusion
Occupational health and safety risks in the healthcare sector – Guide to prevention and good practice (in 22 languages)

International Labour Office (ILO)
Stress prevention at work checkpoints. Practical improvements for stress prevention in the workplace, 2012 (in EN, FR, ES)

II) FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

France
a) Institut national de recherche et de sécurité pour la prévention des accidents du travail et des maladies professionnelles (INRS):
Dépister les risques psychosociaux. Des indicateurs pour vous guider, 2010 (in FR)
Le point des connaissances sur le stress au travail, 2013 (in FR)
Évaluer les facteurs de risques psychosociaux : l’outil RPS-DU, 213 (in FR)
b) Association Régionale pour l’Amélioration des Conditions de Travail (ARACT) Île-de-France
Aide à l’évaluation des risques professionnels en milieux de soins, 2012 (in FR)
c) Avis du Conseil économique, social et environnemental (CESE), Journal Officiel (JO)
La prévention des risques psychosociaux, 2013 (in FR)
d) Direction de la recherche, des études, de l’évaluation et des statistiques (DREES)
Le panorama des établissements de santé, p11-30, 2014 (in FR)
e) Groupe Pasteur Mutualité
Agir sur les risques psychosociaux des professionnels de santé, Madeleine Estryn-Behar (in FR)

 

  • Note: Additional resources are also available on the EPSU website.


*** Back to main project page ***

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission
Activities, News Hospeem

EU-OSHA Healthy Workplaces Campaign

HOSPEEM is an official campaign partner  of the Managing stress and psychological risks at work – Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2014-2015 of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). The Europe-wide campaign aims to raise awareness of the problem and show employers and workers that stress and psychosocial risks can be successfully managed and prevented.

“Promoting occupational safety and health is a major priority for HOSPEEM, a priority that is even reflected in our 2014-2016 work programme. HOSPEEM is therefore strongly committed to making the Healthy Workplaces campaign a success. Together with the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), HOSPEEM is currently running a joint EU project aiming to assess the impact in the hospital sector of health and safety hazards, giving special attention to psychosocial risks and stress at work.

Being the second most frequently reported occupational hazard across the EU, psychosocial risks and stress at work negatively impact the health and well-being of workers and healthcare institutions. Ensuring safer and healthier working conditions is therefore a major challenge for the healthcare sector. For HOSPEEM, the Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress campaign is an opportunity to exchange information and knowledge and to identify existing good practice in this field.” says Tjitte Alkema, Secretary General of the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM).

How to get involved? There are a number of activities and events, find out more information on the Healthy Workplaces Campaign website. For you can watch the “Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress” video  or find useful tools and resources.

 

News Hospeem

Patient safety: new package published by the EC including a report on education and training of health professionals

A patient safety package was recently published by the European Commission highlighting how the Commission and EU countries are addressing the challenge of patient safety, progress made since 2012 and barriers to overcome as foreseen in a Council Recommendation of 2009. While significant progress was made in terms of shaping national programmes for patient safety and putting in place systems for patients to report adverse effects, patient safety is still seldom addressed in education and training of healthcare workers. The documents will feed into the reflection process on future EU-level action on patient safety and quality of care.

Of particular interest for HOSPEEM members are the report and recommendations on education and training of health professionals included in this package. The recommendations take into account the reported initiatives of education and training in patient safety, illustrated with examples and experience from 27 European countries, and complemented by a list factors necessary to their implementation. To read more about the patient safety package, click here.

About, Activities, Study visits Hospeem

HOSPEEM Study Visit to Ireland in April 2014

Following the study visit to members’ organizations in the Baltic States, HOSPEEM visited its Irish member, the Irish Health Service – HSE on 17 April 2014.

During a meeting at the Irish Department of Health, the ongoing reform of the Irish health system was discussed. A deep reform of the system which is based on the 4 key interdependent pillars of health and wellbeing, service reform, structural reform and financial reform and that will change many aspects of the health service leading Ireland to a single-tier health service, supported by Universal Health Insurance (UHI) foreseen to be adopted in 2016.

At the HSE Corporate Employee Relations Services, Mr John Delamere, head of the Corporate Employee Relations (CERS) and representative of HSE within HOSPEEM, and the managers of CERS discussed with HOSPEEM their respective priorities. The focus was put in particular on the areas of common interest in the industrial relations and occupational health and safety fields, where CERS and HOSPEEM are closely working together and will further strengthen their cooperation.

The day was concluded by a visit to the Beaumont Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Ireland with 3,500 employees, 800 beds, with specialisation in neurosurgery, renal medicine and cancer care. HOSPEEM had the opportunity to meet the managing board of the hospital and to appreciate how, even when financial resources are limited innovative management measures and good cooperation with staff can help to maintain high standards of service delivered to patients.

HOSPEEM thanks John Delamere, Norah Mason and HSE CERS, as well as the Beaumont Hospital for the warm welcome and the fruitful exchange.

For more information:

News Hospeem

The Dutch solution to the legal transposition of medical sharps

The development of Health and Safety Catalogues [arbocatalogus] is relatively new in the Netherlands. Dutch legislators have decided to give employers and employees at sector level a significant degree of responsability for health and safety policy. Centralised policy rules and regulations give way to sector-specific customisation. For example The Health and Safety catalogue for the hospital sector has been developed for all members of the Dutch Hospital Association (HOSPEEM Member NVZ- Nederlandse Vereniging van Ziekenhuizen) and organisations covered by the collective agreement of the hospital sector in the Netherlands. This Health and Safety catalogue also covers the use of medical sharps.

In the Netherlands the Dutch Working Conditions Act (Arbeidsomstandighedenwet) determines target requirements for safety and health at work and serves as a guideline. But the Health and Safety catalogue at sector level provides a description of the means and methods agreed upon by employers and employees to meet the target requirements of the Working Conditions Act. In the Health and Safety catalogue employers’ organisations and trade unions describe, on their own initiative, how they will meet the target requirements, including the use of medical sharps for the hospital sector. It is also possible to link a collective agreement with a Health and Safety catalogue and this emphasises the official nature of the Health and Safety catalogue.

To read more about the position of the Dutch Health and Safety catalogue in the Dutch Health and Safety legislation, download the summary.

To find out  what is a Health and Safety catalogue in the Netherlands, download the leaflet of the Dutch Labour Foundation (2007).

 

Activities, Study visits Hospeem

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.

 

 

 

Activities, News, Social Dialogue Hospeem

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

Activities, Projects Hospeem

Promotion and support of the implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and health care sector

The project “Promotion and support of the implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and health care sector” builds on the Sectoral Social Partner’s Framework agreement on the prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and health care sector of 17 July 2009 incorporated in Directive 2010/32/EU.

The deadline for the transposition into national legislation was 11 May 2013.

The project allowed HOSPEEM and EPSU to obtain first hand information on the realities on the ground and on the role of social partners in the transposition of the directive. It also identified guidance to help with the implementation at the workplace level (e.g. as regards risk assessment, training or reporting), and gave inspiration

to those managing and working in the hospital and healthcare sector to have measures in place to reduce risks of workplace exposure to medical sharps injuries, in line with Directive 2010/32/EU.

In the framework of this project, HOSPEEM and EPSU have organized three regional seminars in Dublin (January 2013), in Rome (March 2013) and Vienna (April 2013), and a final conference in Barcelona (June 2013). These events aimed at providing space for mutual exchange on the experiences related to the implementation of the Directive, including the challenges and the problems that might have occurred. The results of a survey addressed to EPSU affiliates and HOSPEEM members were also discussed.The findings gathered during the events, together with the results on the implementation progress in the EU Members States, have been included in the final report from the project that were presented to the European Commission and disseminated.

EPSU member Royal Colleague of Nursing (RCN) on 23 January 2012 issued a press release reacting the PM David Cameron’s speech regarding the European Union where they point to Directive 2010/32/EU as one good example for the benefits and effectiveness of EU employment legislation to protect the health and safety of healthcare staff: “This directive provides much improved protection for nurses and other healthcare workers exposed to the risk of bloodborne viruses such as Hepatitis C from needlestick and other sharps injuries. It was also a directive that was supported by both trade unions and HOSPEEM – the European hospital and healthcare employers’ association”.

Report 1st Regional Seminar Dublin
31 January 2013

Brussels, 5 February 2013 Joint EPSU-HOSPEEM Project “Promotion and support of the implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and health care sector” Regional Seminar 1 – Dublin, 31 January 2013 Godfrey Perera, Chief Executive, HOSPEEM ; John Delamere, Head of Corporate Employee Relations, HSE ; Louise O’Donnell, Coordinator Healthcare Sector, IMPACT ; Tina Weber, ICF GHK (from left to right) during the opening plenary session The first (…)

Report 2nd Regional Seminar Rome
7 March 2013

Brussels, 10 March 2013 Joint EPSU-HOSPEEM Project “Promotion and support of the implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and health care sector” Regional Seminar 2 – Rome, 7 March 2013 The second regional seminar with about 80 participants from 8 European countries (Belgium, Cyprus, France, Italy, Malta, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom) invited to attend the event took place on 7 March 2013 in Rome. It was hosted (…)

Report 3rd Regional Seminar Vienna
16 April 2013

Brussels, 25 April 2013 Joint EPSU-HOSPEEM Project “Promotion and support of the implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and health care sector” Regional Seminar 3 – Vienna, 16 April 2013 The third regional seminar with nearly 110 participants from 8 EU Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia) as well as from Belarus, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova and Russia took place on 16 April 2013 (…)

Report Final Conference Barcelona
20 June 2013

Brussels, 26 June 2013/18 September 2013 Joint EPSU-HOSPEEM Project “Promotion and support of the implementation of Directive 2010/32/EU on the prevention of sharps injuries in the hospital and health care sector” Final Conference – Barcelona, 20 June 2013 The final conference with about 95 participants from 24 out of 28 EU Member States (including Croatia to adhere to the EU as of 1 July 2013) took place on 20 June 2013 in Barcelona. It was hosted by EPSU affiliate Federación de Servicios (…)

Guidance
(Guidelines, Handbooks, Tool Kits, Films)

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 (…)

“From needle-sticks to sharps. The added value” Success Stories from the EU sectoral social dialogue

The added value of the framework agreement on the prevention from sharps injuries (Directive 2010/32/EU) (…)

Activities, Social Dialogue Hospeem

Cross-border recruitment and retention: HOSPEEM-EPSU code of conduct

The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers’ Association (HOSPEEM) have jointly signed a code of conduct on ethical cross-border recruitment and retention.

Through the code of conduct the European social partners in the hospital sector want to address inequalities and unnecessary burdens on healthcare caused by unethical recruitment practices. With this agreement they establish in the European hospital sector social dialogue a full commitment to promote ethical recruitment practices at European, national, regional and local level.

The choice of the world health day 2008 as the date for the official signature of the agreement is not casual. The cross-border movement of healthcare professional is indeed an increasingly expanding phenomenon that clearly goes beyond European borders. With that global scope in mind, the European social partners wish that the code becomes a source of inspiration inside and outside Europe’s borders and remind that, in addition to European and national legislation and collective agreements, the already existing ILO-conventions in this field should be taken into account, when looking for an appropriate framework to support ethical recruitment and retention practices.

The Secretary General of EPSU, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, added that, “Healthcare services are an essential part of the European Social model, therefore all relevant actors must be committed to their fair and effective functioning. The contribution of health care workers to good quality healthcare is essential. Social Partners therefore need to address the various challenges different countries are experiencing in terms of health workers shortages and the reasons why healthcare workers decide to migrate. Strategies which promote adequate workforce supply in all countries should be supported. EPSU and HOSPEEM want to encourage, and as far as possible contribute to, the development and implementation of policies at local, national and European level with the purpose to enhance work force retention”.

The Secretary General of HOSPEEM, Godfrey Perera stated that, “The promotion of ethical recruitment practices all over Europe clearly calls for a multifaceted strategy, including not only social partners but also governments, regulatory and professional bodies and other relevant stakeholders at local, regional national and European level. However, with the present agreement European social partners also want to firmly commit to their own responsibilities. For instance, when using the services of external agencies only those with demonstrated ethical recruitment practices should be used for cross-border recruitment. In case exploitative practices occur, these agencies should be removed from agreed lists”.

The code of conduct is based upon 12 key principles and commitments:

  1. High quality health care, accessible for all people in the EU
  2. Registration and data collection
  3. Workforce planning
  4. Equal access to training and career development
  5. Open and transparent information about hospital vacancies across the EU
  6. Fair and transparent contracting
  7. Registration, permits and recognition of qualifications
  8. Proper Induction, Housing and standards of living
  9. Equal rights and non-discrimination
  10. Promoting ethical recruitment practices
  11. Freedom of association
  12. Implementation, Monitoring and Follow-up

Background

The launch of the European Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector in September 2006 was a crucial step in the development of industrial relations in Europe, as it gave the recognized social partners EPSU and HOSPEEM the possibility to take joint actions in the field of human resources, employment and social policies by using the social dialogue instruments. It also gave employers and workers both jointly and individually the possibility to give direct formal input on EU polices affecting the hospital sector and its workers. As employers’ and workers’ representatives we (the social partners) also want to take up our responsibilities as European social partners according to the provisions of article 138 of the European Treaty. Policy initiatives on the field of cross-border health care have many social aspects and will affect management and labour. FULL TEXT: HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – EN

The document will be soon available in 13 languages  :
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – FR
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – DE
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – BG
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – CZ
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – ES
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – FIN
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – HU
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – NL
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – PL
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – ROM
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – RU
HOSPEEM-EPSU Code of conduct – SV

Example for the use and implementation of the EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct on Ethical Cross-border Recruitment and Retention from The Netherlands:

This table has been elaborated by NVZ (employers), ABVAKABO FNV, NU 91, CNV Publieke Zaak and FBZ (employees) to promote the implementation in The Netherlands : Table Dutch State of Play – EN , Table Dutch State of Play – NL

This presentation by Dutch social partners in the hospital sector describes the transposition of EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct on Ethical Cross-border Recruitment and Retention (2008) in The Netherlands: Slides by Elise Merlijn, ABVAKABO FNV, Rolf de Wilde, NU’91 and Tjitte Alkema, NVZ, 1 July 2011 – EN

Report on use and implementation of the EPSU-HOSPEEM Code of Conduct on Ethical Cross-border Recruitment and Retention (2008)

The document was adopted in the meeting of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector working group 3/2012 on 5 September 2012 by EPSU and HOSPEEM. Final Report Use and Implementation – EN

Other related documents – WHO Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel:

The World Health Organisation Code of Practice was unanimously adopted by the 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010: WHO Code of Practice (2010) and User’s Guide (2011)

Documents on the implementation of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel :

 

 

MENU