European Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector

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European SocialDialogue inthe Hospital Sector
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Towards a Sectoral Social Dialogue in the
Hospital Sector

• EU-developments in health as drivers for social
  partner cooperation
• From subsidiarity-principle
• To
• Patient mobility
• Workers mobility
• Cross-border provision of services
• Demographic and economic challenges
• a European Health strategy

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Social Dialogue Committee in the Hospital Sector

• Hospital sectoral social partners
• 6 years of informal dialogue
• EPSU HOSPEEM launched sectoral
• committee on 20 September 2006
• Work programme 2006-2007
• Recruitment and Retention
• Ageing of the workforce
• New skill needs
• Strengthening social dialogue in EU-12

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Shared Expectations

• Improve mutual understanding and build trust
• Exchange information, knowledge and experiences
• Capacity building and strengthening industrial
  relations
• Joint actions to address challenges
• Influence legislative processes and political
  debate

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Shared Values

• European Social Model
• High-quality hospital services
• Importance of the social and human dimension (in
  relation to staff - in relation to
  patients/relatives)
• Partnership approach
• Dialogue and Interaction
• Towards Concrete Results

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Results (1)

• Joint Declaration on Health Services
• Signed 7 December 2007
• In reaction to EC-plans for Health services
  directive
• Underlines public responsibilities on basis of
  subsidiarity and autonomy
• Reconfirms role of social partners in debate
• Calls for forward-looking and long-term
  investments
• Encourages cooperation and not choice-based
  competition between hospitals

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Results (2)

• Code of Conduct and Follow-up on Ethical Cross
  border recruitment and retention
• Signed 7 April 2008 (World Health Day)
• To be followed-up and implemented by
  HOSPEEM and EPSU Members within 3 years
• Includes principles and commitments to promote
  ethical cross-border recruitment and
  retention
• Based on solidarity and equal rights
• Committed to workforce planning and cooperation
• Committed to transparency and fair contracting
  (both sides)
• Addresses the role of external agencies

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Results (3)

• Joint Project Strengthening Social Dialogue in
  new EU Member States With support of NHS,
  UNISON, Ver.di, VKA, Joint Dutch Social Partners
  and the Czech and Slovak social partners
• Three parts
• Research into Social Dialogue in the different
  EU Member States (conducted by GHK)
• Pilot Project with national and local social
  partners in Czech Republic and Slovakia
• Final Conference in Prague on 14-15 April 2008

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Progress (1)

• Workshop New Skill Needs in cooperation with
• CEDEFOP
• Will take place 22-23 May in Thessaloniki
• Presentation of Case Studies as collected through
  template and working group
• Three themes influence of ICT and new
  technologies, management of health care, training
  and education.
• Solution oriented skills mismatch, skills gap,
  skills shortage skill mix

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Progress (2)

• Prevention of Needle-Stick Injuries
• Background EP debate and Resolution
• 2006-2007 1st stage Consultation social partners
• Replies express divergent views but
  willingness to jointly explore
• Technical Seminar 7 February 2008
  Presentation of case-studies Insight in
  complexities of problem
• 2007-2008 2nd stage Consultation

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Progress (3)

• Third-Party Violence
• Cross-sectoral Framework agreement, signed
  26 April 2007
• Multi-sectoral discussions
• Social Partners Commerce, LRG, Private Security
  and Hospitals sent joint letter of intent
• Technical Seminar/Conference 14 March 2008
• Collected case-studies, joint presentation of
  Irish Case-study at seminar

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Progress (4)

• The ageing workforce
• First working group meeting discussion on
  demographic challenges and challenges in
  employment and HRM
• Collection of Best practices and examples
  through template
• Decided to launch a EC-project workforce to
  develop specific instruments for the management
  of an ageing workforce
• Discuss content of project at next working group
  meeting 30 May 2008

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Future?

• New Work Programme 2008-2010
• SD Committee agreed to build on experiences
  in first 2 years of Social Dialogue and
  continue current work
• Text of the Work Programme is discussed in the
  Steering group, and will be presented to
  Members of Social Dialogue Committee
• Main agenda point of next Plenary Committee
  meeting