The Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom (RCN UK) Travel Health Forum

Travel Medicine in the United Kingdom is a nurse-led speciality, with services provided mainly in Primary Care, but also in Occupational Health (NHS and Industry) Armed Services, schools, universities, independent clinics and charitable organisations. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is a professional body for nurses, within which are 75 Forums supporting the spectrum of specialist areas of practice. The Travel Health Forum (THF) Steering Committee consists of seven elected nurse members with a shared objective to support nurses in the field, disseminate knowledge, promote education and best standards of practice and influence related National Policies. Forum membership is currently 5309. The poster describes some of the methods employed, including the biannual Newsletter, informative website and established annual conference. The THF participated in the organisation and scientific programme for the 2006 Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine (NECTM) in Edinburgh and similarly with the proposed 2008 NECTM2 in Helsinki. The committee acts as a professional source of expert opinion to the RCN and advises on policy and accreditation matters when approached. The forum collaborates with the British Travel Health Association and other RCN Forums where areas of practice cross. The Guidance for Practice Document produced in 2005 was the first of its kind available to describe minimum standards of practice for nurses working in the field. Competencies encompassing the skills and expertise required to manage and advise travellers, to promote best practice in patient centred care and to contribute to the health outcomes in UK travellers were developed and published in May 2007. The Faculty of Travel Medicine (FTM) established in 2006 at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG) was the first Medical College to recognise the speciality and admit nurses.