Tamara Goosens

Brussels, 31 May 2010

Dear Colleagues, dear Friends,

Tamara Goosens has passed away peacefully on Sunday 30 May 2010, at the age of 36.

Whilst we were aware of Tamara’s situation since mid-April, it is still very hard to take in that Tamara will no longer be with us. Until the very last moments of her life Tamara showed courage and lucidity.

We express our deep sympathies with Sachiko Goosens, Tamara’s mother. We will remember Tamara as she is on the photo, a smiling person, always ready to laugh.

Tamara has been working for EPSU since 2006. She was the EPSU officer responsible for the Health and Social Services sector. During this period the Social Dialogue for the Hospital Sector was formalised. It has laid the foundations for the adoption of joint declarations with HOSPEEM and paved the way for the negotiations on the framework agreement on the prevention and protection of injuries and infections from medical sharps. Tamara had a very good capacity to penetrate complex issues and make these understandable for our members. She has provided us with extremely clear analyses of the proposed directive on cross-border patients rights, on social services and on many other issues. She prepared the EPSU mandate for the negotiations on ‘retention and recruitment’ of staff in the hospital sector, which have just started.

EPSU pays tribute to Tamara. It is through her dedication and determination that EPSU has been able to progress in the health and social services sector.

On behalf of EPSU staff and affiliates

Carola Fischbach-Pyttel
General Secretary





- message of condolence from Anne-Marie Perret, EPSU President