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ntensive and Critical Care Nursing (2007) 23, 313—315

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he RCN Critical Care Forum has seen a timef change this year as the Professional Develop-ent Framework continues to cause great debate

mongst the chairs of all the forums. We con-inue to try and influence the decisions being madebout our future but there remain some worryingiscussion around forums becoming virtual bodieshich sit on the ‘new and improved’ RCN websiteithin one of the seven practice sectors (Adult,idwifery, Learning Disabilities, Leadership Qualityducational and Research, Child and Young Peo-le, Mental Health and Public Health). Many ofhe forum chairs were greatly concerned aboutho would continue the work that forums do atresent in ensuring the professional voice of nursings heard, as our priorities are often very separaterom those of the RCN union activist. We were allery relieved when, following debate at the RCNouncil meeting in July, these plans were shelvednd a new proposal is to be tabled.

I was personally very pleased to see an arti-le in the Nursing Standard in the summer wheretephen Wright, a professor at the Faculty of Healthnd Social Care, St. Martin’s College, Carlisle com-ented that ‘nursing unions are highly active onay and conditions for nurses, but these issuesave become so dominant that nurses seem toalk publicly about nothing else’ (Nursing Standard,une 27:21;42, p. 26). There are so many othermportant issues for nurses at present, not leastpecialist nurses being made redundant and theroblems we face trying to keep hospital acquirednfections (HAI) in check. Professor Wright points

ut that although we have much to contributen the debate around the ‘enormous ethical andractical health dilemmas of euthanasia, abor-ion, climate change and poverty, nurses’ voices

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re strangely absent from the media commen-ary’.

The functions of forums are set out in their con-titution as follows:

(a) To provide a focus for members to participatein professional activities.

b) To provide an expert resource to Council andthe membership.

(c) To develop policy and practice related to . . .

nursing, recognising the diversity across theUnited Kingdom.

d) To provide the opportunity for RCN membersengaged in . . . nursing to meet together, to net-work, and to increase their knowledge and skillsand so enhance their practice.

e) To encourage all nurses engaged in . . . nursingto join the RCN.

I believe that purposes (b) and (c) are espe-ially important to the ‘‘health’’ of the RCN andre unique to forums. Thankfully, the RCN councilecognised that these purposes will not be achievedy the Practice Sectors (which by definition are tooeneric to be able to achieve them) or by ‘‘virtualr local networks’’.

We aim to continue to support all our membershrough 2008 and highlight the impact and contri-ution of critical care nurses everywhere to bothractice development and service delivery through-ut the health service. I am pleased to say ourontribution is certainly being recognised by thoseith influence as we continue to represent theCN and critical care in many national projects

ncluding the Intensive care Society’s standardsommittee, UK Transplant, NCEPOD (National Con-dential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death),orkforce reference group, to name but a few.

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It was with great regret and after long debatethat we had to cancel our 2007 annual conference,for the first time in our history. This resulted froma mixture of reduced sponsorship from companysponsors and a delay in the production of our fly-ers which led to poor delegate numbers. Whilst thecommittee were keen to continue with fewer del-egates as we had such an interesting programmeplanned, we were unfortunately overruled by RCNEvents who would have preferred us to postponeuntil later in the year. Since the BACCN conferencewas held in September and the ICS winter meetingis coming up, the committee were not keen to goahead in November. I would like to offer my sincer-est apologies to all those of you who had bookedto come and particularly those speakers who wereunable to enlighten us with their fascinating pre-sentations.

I believe throughout 2008 we can make the voiceof critical care nurses even louder. How can we dothat?—–by involving as many people as possible inour forum activities. Make this the year you getinvolved—–how can you not when there are a hostof issues still to be resolved!

Rachel Binks

Chair, RCN Critical Care Forum

rachel.binks@anhst.nhs.uk

Nurses are change makers. . .

This year the forum supported four membersof the committee to attend and participate incongress. Taking place in Harrogate for many of us itwas a welcome return to the hilly town. Each yearcongress offers both professional members of theRCN and union representatives the chance to cometogether to influence policy and debate the issuesaffecting our profession.

Year 2007 was no exception with the welcomingof a new President and General Secretary. MauraBuchanon President elect opened congress talkingof nurses as change makers, she said: ‘Nurses arechange makers because, from the day we start oureducation to the day we hang up our uniforms, weare in the business of putting patients first, and wedo that by taking our traditional caring values —what I call the heart of nursing — and applying themin the modern world as highly skilled, highly trainedcaring professionals’.

Dr. Peter Carter followed on Monday with his

first address to Congress as General Secretary, init he said he wanted to use his nursing insight andexperience to deliver for members and the College.‘‘Nurses had had enough’’ he said, ‘‘and the rules

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f the game had changed. We have reached ourimit—–this far and no further. So, from today, were drawing a line in the sand’’. ‘‘While I am Gen-ral Secretary one sacked nurse is one too many.ne student denied a job is one too many. Oneamaging service cut is one too many. And oneatient who suffers as a result is one too many,’’ hedded.

Next year Congress is due to be held Inournemouth from the 27th April to 2nd May.

f you are interested in coming along there areany ways to get involved, contact your local RCNranch to enquire about funding, or simply comelong for the day. Around the debating sessions,orums, networks and the Nursing Standard holdringe events on professional issues, and a there islways a large and diverse exhibition.

ominic.walsh@royalfree.nhs.uk

ecoming active in the RCN Critical Care Forum

I have always been a forum member, but follow-ng an article in their newsletter, Critical Care Mail,decided to become a link member. Somehow goingo that link member’s day in November 2006 openedy eyes. It really motivated me. The difference isetween reading and learning about changes andevelopments in critical care practice, and beingart of it. Having that opportunity to really changehings and influence decisions about the way thathings are done.

Some of this was not new to me. I started my crit-cal care practice back in 1984. I went on to do myNB 100 in Intensive Care Nursing at Leeds Generalnfirmary. I returned to London in 1987 working bothn the NHS and Independent Sector ICU’s. I left myost as sister on Cardiothoracic ITU at St. George’sospital in 1990 to take a post at the RCN wherestayed until 2002. It was during my time at theCN as a regional officer that I became involved inegional and national nursing policy issues.

I returned to clinical practice in 2002, workingor my local BUPA Hospital. My role at BUPA Tun-ridge Wells is that of Specialist Nurse Critical Care.e have a two-bedded HDU; however I have respon-

ibility for all critical care issues in the hospitalncluding teaching.

My role on the committee of the RCN Criticalare Forum has been invaluable, enabling me toain access to a wide range of knowledge and exper-ise from forum members, together with the chance

o influence change that will support my own prac-ice and service to patients.

I would strongly recommend you to becomeore active, and be a link member. Make sure your

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riends and colleagues belong to the forum, do notiss out!

rigitte Covell

OVELLB@BUPA.com

t is not all hard work on the Forum

Do you want to get more involved in the Criticalare Nursing Forum, interested in shaping theuture of critical care? Being a link member givesou the opportunity to actively influence thetrategic direction of critical care and repre-ent the forum on DOH consultations. By gettingnvolved you get a clearer understanding of

ow critical care can influence the health caregenda for the future. You can even have someun along the way. If interested then email:ane.eastland@nhct.nhs.uk.

Available online at www.

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Face lift for website

The RCN web site has be re-designed and mademore user friendly. It was re-launched at theautumn at the AGM. This means that you are onlythree clicks away from what you are looking foron the site. It also means that our own web pagewill be up to date, so keep checking it for newsand information. Wright S. (2007) ‘Letters’, NursingStandard, June 27:21;42, p. 26.

Dates for your diary, 2008

5th February RCN CCF Steering Committee meeting22nd May RCN CCF Steering Committee meeting

13th—14th June Forum conference—–RCN Headquarters11th September RCN CCF Steering Committee meeting4th November Link Member’s Day—–RCN Headquarters

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