Health and Social Services
Welcome to the Health and Social services section of EPSU’s work. ESPU represents 3.5 million health and social services workers across Europe, and is engaged in a wide range of issues on their behalf. The categories of workers range from Doctor to Nurse to Porter to Physiotherapist to Social Worker. Within EPSU’s structures, the Standing Committee articulates the aims of health and social services workers for Health and Social Services (HSS). This body consists of a titular and substitute member from each of the 34 European countries in which EPSU has health affiliates.
The work of the committee can be summarised under the following priorities:
News
Key documents and circulars
Social Dialogue
Social Services
Working Time
Meeting documents
Minutes
list of the standing committee members
Hospital euro-deal on ethical recruitment set for end February
Code of Conduct Ethical Recruitment
(18 February, 2008, Brussels) The Social Partners in the hospital sector in the EU have announced their intention to sign an agreement on ethical recruitment. The deal outlines a “code of conduct” that national, regional and local hospital employers and workers will implement over a three-year period. Yearly ‘progress reports’ from each of the 27 EU member states form a key part of the accord. Speaking for the European Federation of Public (...)
(18 February, 2008, Brussels) The Social Partners in the hospital sector in the EU have announced their intention to sign an agreement on ethical recruitment. The deal outlines a “code of conduct” that national, regional and local hospital employers and workers will implement over a three-year period. Yearly ‘progress reports’ from each of the 27 EU member states form a key part of the accord. Speaking for the European Federation of Public (...)
Postponement of EU Health directive “major victory for advocates of universal health coverage”
Out of touch Commission makes major miscalculation
on healthcare proposals
PRESS RELEASE, 19 December, 2007, Brussels
The decision by the European Commission to postpone the publication of the draft directive on Cross-Border Healthcare, until spring 2008, represents a major victory for advocates of universal healthcare coverage throughout the EU.
Commenting on this embarrassing climb-down by the Commission, EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel stated that; “the draft (...)
on healthcare proposals
PRESS RELEASE, 19 December, 2007, Brussels
The decision by the European Commission to postpone the publication of the draft directive on Cross-Border Healthcare, until spring 2008, represents a major victory for advocates of universal healthcare coverage throughout the EU.
Commenting on this embarrassing climb-down by the Commission, EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel stated that; “the draft (...)
Meeting Working Group “Recruitment and Retention"
Hospital Sector - Social Dialogue
Meeting Working Group “Recruitment and Retention”
In our e-mail as sent on 7 August 2007 we informed you about the suggested dates for the next Social Dialogue working group meeting on Recruitment and Retention. We now have received the confirmation from the European Commission that this working group meeting will take place on 30 October 2007. We, herewith, like to invite you to participate in this meeting.
You will receive more information (...)
Meeting Working Group “Recruitment and Retention”
In our e-mail as sent on 7 August 2007 we informed you about the suggested dates for the next Social Dialogue working group meeting on Recruitment and Retention. We now have received the confirmation from the European Commission that this working group meeting will take place on 30 October 2007. We, herewith, like to invite you to participate in this meeting.
You will receive more information (...)
EPSU speech Green Party Conference ’Goodbye to Universal services’
Goodbye universal services? The Undermining of Health and Social Services in the European Union
19th-20th September 2007
details and program:
http://www.greensefa. org/cms/default/dok/191/191286.goodbye_universal_services@en.htm
The role of Public Institutions as Service Providers
Brian Synnott European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) Communications and Campaign Officer
EPSU speech Green Party Conference ’Goodbye to Universal (...)
19th-20th September 2007
details and program:
http://www.greensefa. org/cms/default/dok/191/191286.goodbye_universal_services@en.htm
The role of Public Institutions as Service Providers
Brian Synnott European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) Communications and Campaign Officer
EPSU speech Green Party Conference ’Goodbye to Universal (...)
Goodbye Universal Services?
Goodbye universal services?
The Undermining of Health and Social Services in the European Union
19th-20th September 2007
Wednesday 19th September 15:00-18:30 Thursday 09:30-12:30
European Parliament Brussels, Room ASP 1G2
Greens see with great worries how health and social services and their way of organising are being influenced and undermined by European internal market legislation, without any instrument to counteract this. We see the need to have a fundamental recognition of the (...)
The Undermining of Health and Social Services in the European Union
19th-20th September 2007
Wednesday 19th September 15:00-18:30 Thursday 09:30-12:30
European Parliament Brussels, Room ASP 1G2
Greens see with great worries how health and social services and their way of organising are being influenced and undermined by European internal market legislation, without any instrument to counteract this. We see the need to have a fundamental recognition of the (...)
Follow-Up on the cross-sectoral agreement on violence at work
The European Commission invited representatives from a number of EU sectoral social dialogue committees to a meeting on 28 June 2007 to discuss the cross-sectoral agreement on violence at work, adopted earlier this year.
read the full text (in English and French)
minutes 28 June 2007
read the full text (in English and French)
minutes 28 June 2007
EPSU Social Services seminar, 10-12 June, Athens - FOLLOW-UP
3rd EPSU Social Services Conference
Working Conditions - Quality - Accessibility
ATHINAIS CONFERENCE CENTER, Athens - Greece
10th, 11th and 12th of June 2007
meeting documents FOLLOW-UP, click here
On 7 June 2005 the EPSU Executive Committee stated that EPSU should establish and reaffirm its competence in the social services area. As a follow-up to the Seminars in 2005 and 2006, it has been agreed by the EPSU Social Services Working Group and the EPSU Health and Social Services (...)
Working Conditions - Quality - Accessibility
ATHINAIS CONFERENCE CENTER, Athens - Greece
10th, 11th and 12th of June 2007
meeting documents FOLLOW-UP, click here
On 7 June 2005 the EPSU Executive Committee stated that EPSU should establish and reaffirm its competence in the social services area. As a follow-up to the Seminars in 2005 and 2006, it has been agreed by the EPSU Social Services Working Group and the EPSU Health and Social Services (...)
Course “Working and living conditions in prison services in Europe: collective bargaining issues”
The Education Department of the European Trade Union Institute for Research, Education and Health and Safety (ETUI-REHS Education) will organise a joint course with EPSU Working and living conditions in prison services in Europe: collective bargaining issues which will be held from 10 to 12 December 2006 in Prague, Czech Republic. More info
EPSU reaction to European Court of Justice WATTS case
European Court of Justice health ruling for UK National Health Service (NHS) makes need for European Framework on health and other public services a necessity
Press Communication
(16 May, Brussels) The European Court of Justice today ruled that National Health Care Systems couldn’t refuse to reimburse patients for medical care received abroad if it is a question of an undue medical delay. The significance of this ruling is that the ECJ stated that the health authorities right to refuse reimbursement could not be granted even if the authority was within nationally identified waiting periods, if there was a case for undue delay on the basis of clinical need.European Committee launched in the hospital sector "Social Partners committed to full role in defining EU health policy"
2nd Seminar EPSU and Social Services
2nd Seminar EPSU and Social Services
14-16 January 2006
Helsinki Fair Centre, Finland
Meeting documents
Social Services trade union officials are invited to the 2nd EPSU Seminar on Social Services. The seminar starts at 19.00 on Saturday 14 January 2006 and ends at 17.30 on Monday 16 January 2006 in Helsinki, Finland.
As part of the discussions at the ETUCO/EPSU Social Services seminar in Budapest in March 2005, participants agreed that it would be a good idea to have an annual social (...)
14-16 January 2006
Helsinki Fair Centre, Finland
Meeting documents
Social Services trade union officials are invited to the 2nd EPSU Seminar on Social Services. The seminar starts at 19.00 on Saturday 14 January 2006 and ends at 17.30 on Monday 16 January 2006 in Helsinki, Finland.
As part of the discussions at the ETUCO/EPSU Social Services seminar in Budapest in March 2005, participants agreed that it would be a good idea to have an annual social (...)
EPSU / HOSPEEM Social Dialogue Conference
"Formalising the European Sectoral Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector"
16 - 17 March 2006, ITUH, Room AUD, Brussels
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