Commenting on the NHS Confederation’s call for extra social care funding to help the NHS, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“Investing in social care is vital, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of the NHS. Both services must be properly funded.
“Social care has been losing staff at terrifying rates because the government has failed to improve poverty pay rates. The desperate shortage of workers and huge funding shortfall is placing the entire system at risk of collapse. The focus cannot be profit over care.
“For too long, the government has ignored pay and staffing. But ministers must get involved or the consequences for those in need of support are unthinkable.”
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.
UNISON media contacts
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
The article UNISON comments on NHS Confederation’s call for better funding for social care first appeared on the UNISON National site.
Responding to the Health and Social Care Committee’s workforce report published today (Monday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The staffing crisis in the NHS and social care grows worse by the day as employees leave for fairer wages on the high street and elsewhere.
“The government’s had years to improve the workforce situation but has done little. Only last week ministers could have acted to stop the exodus of porters, healthcare assistants and other NHS staff with an above-inflation wage rise. But chose not to.
“Instead, the government refuses to invest in the staff so critical to the NHS. Th?at means longer waiting lists and ambulance delays, with even more patients forced to fork out for private tests and treatment.
“?Rishi Sunak says tackling the NHS backlog is the UK’s biggest public services emergency. But this won’t happen without proper investment in the NHS and social care workforce. ?That must begin with a decent pay rise for all staff.”
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.
The article Government must take responsibility for the NHS and social care workforce crisis, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
Responding to a new report by Skills for Care on the size and structure of the social care workforce, UNISON social care lead Gavin Edwards said today (Wednesday):
“The scale of vacancies is alarming, and not just for those who rely on care and their families. The sorry state of social care is having a disastrous effect on the NHS, causing massive treatment waits, letting down patients and putting unbearable pressure on health staff.
“The care sector is acutely underfunded. Wages are way too low leaving staff unable to cope with the rising cost of living.
“Supermarkets are paying better rates without the stress, so it’s no surprise that people are jumping ship.
“Nothing short of a complete overhaul of the care sector will do. The government must act or vulnerable people won’t get the care they need and deserve, and the NHS will be on its knees.”
The article Underfunded adult social care will continue to lose staff unless ministers act, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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