Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee

Committee Inquiry into the use and regulation of sunbeds in Wales – Written evidence from the Royal College of Nursing

Royal College of Nursing
Ty Maeth
King George V Drive East
Cardiff  
CF14 4XZ

Tina Donnelly TD,MSc (ECON), BSc (Hons),
RGN, RM, RNT, RCNT, Dip N, PGCE

Director, RCN Wales

21 August 2009.

Steve George
Clerc y Pwyllgor
Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru
Bae Caerdydd, Caerdydd CF99 1NA

Re: Committee Inquiry into the use and Regulation of Sunbeds in Wales

Dear Sir

The Royal College of Nursing in Wales welcomes the Inquiry of the Committee into the use and regulation of sunbeds in Wales. The RCN debated the use of sun beds at RCN Congress in 2002 which resulted a clear majority of delegates calling for the statutory regulation of sun bed outlets.

It is clear that sun beds represent a health risk particularly to adolescents who are common users of these facilities. The lack of regulation of these facilities is a concern. An individual can set up a sun bed outlet without any training or knowledge of the health effects. As the primary motive of these outlets is to generate profit, the concern for health risks can be given low priority. Evidence of this has been seen recently in Wales when adolescents under the age of 16 have gained access to sun bed outlets with negative health consequences. In other parts of the UK there is evidence that schoolchildren have been encouraged to use these facilities with incentives such as special '2 for 1 offers'  for children in school uniform.

While there is a Sunbed Association that represents operators which has a code of conduct and independent inspectors monitoring members, none of this is compulsory. As children are more susceptible than others to harm from ultraviolet rays, it is essential that safeguards are put in place to minimise the risk to this particular group and also to offer protection to the public at large. The use of coin operated sun beds encourages overuse, particularly by younger people. The lack of supervision at such premises represents a very high risk and these operations should be abolished.

I hope you find our comments helpful and if you or the Committee would find it helpful to receive further evidence whether generally or on a specific clinical aspect of this topic please do not hesitate to contact me at my office.

Kind regards

Yours sincerely

Tina Donnelly
Director, RCN Wales