Commenting on an NHS Providers report that shows delays to the government’s new hospitals programme are harming patients, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said:
“Government cuts have left NHS premises in a dire state, while badly ageing equipment can’t be replaced. The repair backlog keeps growing too.
“This sorry state of affairs has put patients and staff at risk, closed wards, delayed treatment, and worsened the crisis across the health service.
“Promises of a new hospitals programme were always more political spin than substance. Ministers are failing to plan and finance critical upgrades to buildings across the NHS, leaving trusts with huge bills and hospitals in no fit state to deliver modern healthcare.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
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