It is with great sadness that we were informed that Tom Keighley, who worked very closely with EFN, namely on the EU enlargement TAIEX missions over the past 20 years, passed away.
Tom has given EFN and EFN members so much, driven us all in a direction we believed was not possible, but Tom pushed and pushed. In 1968-1970 he wrote the European Directive on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications, holding the pen of the European Commission, which is still today under discussion. This related to the values and principles of Tom and the developments of nursing as a profession in the EU and Europe.
Tom was key in the EU enlargement process. Over the years, Tom was with EFN and other experts in a few enlargement processes and TAIEX missions, and also here it was difficult to make and see progress. But we learned from Tom that we need to push governments to upgrade the nursing education towards EU standards. Tom expertise was huge! Since 2000 we worked very close together in different EU Member States, where the position and education of general care nurses was problematic and as such not complying with the PQD Directive. And see now today! 20 years after, we have a strong nursing profession in most European countries. Tom has been instrumental to get this right, to push for innovation and change, although politicians pushed us back, many times. Today, the enlargement of the EU is continuing, and we will build on what Tom inspired us all to do. And we learned from Tom that we need a strong EU, an Acquis Communautaire that gets implemented into all national legislation.
On behalf of all EFN members, it is rightly to say that this is a huge loss for all of us who knew him and especially for the nursing community. We will remember Tom as the great and very active man he was, who contributed so much to advance the nursing profession at EU level.
Our sincere condolences go to Tom’s wife, Amanda, his kids, family, friends and colleagues for the RCN. Thanks, Tom, for all what you have done for the EU nurses.