Decriminalise prostitution, nurses urge (Guardian)
The Royal College of Nursing has called on the government to decriminalise prostitution to protect the health of vulnerable women and men who feel unable to access NHS and social services. After an impassioned debate yesterday, the RCN’s annual congress in Harrogate voted by a majority of more than four to one for a change in the criminal law.
Union officials said they would begin urgent consultations with police, local authorities and voluntary bodies about how best to halt prosecutions for soliciting, advertising or running a brothel.
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About 95% of street prostitutes had a history of drug abuse, delegates heard. Many entered the profession under 18 because they were vulnerable. They were reluctant to access healthcare through the normal routes because they were regarded as people operating outside the law.
Nurses demand a clean uniform on every shift to beat superbugs (Times of London)
Dirty uniforms are putting patients̢۪ lives at risk, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said yesterday. Calling for every nurse to be provided with a clean uniform for every shift, the RCN said that better laundry facilities, clean changing rooms and a range of other improvements were needed to bring hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA under control.
The nurses’ position on clean prostitutes was not immediately clear.
