NHS Employers involvement with HOSPEEM

NHS Employers has played a leading role in the establishment of the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers' Association (HOSPEEM). HOSPEEM offers the NHS the opportunity to learn from the experience of hospital and healthcare employers in other countries and influence workforce policy developments likely to affect the health sector.

In July 2006 HOSPEEM was officially recognised by the European Commission as a Social Partner. HOSPEEM will take part in the Hospital Sector Social Dialogue Committee with EPSU (The European Federation of Public Service Unions) and the European Commission now has a legal duty to consult HOSPEEM on any draft employment proposals likely to affect the health sector. Godfrey Perera, Head of European and International Employment at NHS Employers, is Secretary General of HOSPEEM and will jointly chair the Social Dialogue committee.

There are several benefits to the NHS of being involved in formalised Social Dialogue in the hospital sector. These benefits include:

• the NHS will gain early sight of European Commission policy developments likely to affect the health sector
• through NHS Employers, the NHS, will have the opportunity to take an active role in negotiations and discussions on issues important to the health sector across Europe
• the NHS will have a platform for the exchange of information, the opportunity to learn from European solutions and experiences and the chance to agree joint positions
• with the existence of formalised Social Dialogue there is the possibility of fewer European Commission directives in the future, through the adoption of Social Partner agreements in the health sector.

The inaugural meeting of the Hospital Sector Social Dialogue Committee was held on the 20th September 2006. HOSPEEM and EPSU agreed a joint work programme which will address issues of common concern to hospital and healthcare employers across Europe. The work programme will concentrate on three key areas, with a working group established for each. The three areas will be:

• recruitment and retention - identifying common positions for cross-border recruitment of hospital personnel
• the ageing workforce in the hospital sector - identifying members state and regional initiatives to promote realistic active ageing policies
• new skill needs in the hospital sector - defining existing categories of hospital professionals and workers. Identifying successful training initiatives and weak points.

NHS Employers is playing a leading role in the Hospital Sector Social Dialogue to ensure that NHS interests are properly taken in to account in the European employment arena.