Category: NHS staffing

Government must act decisively to save the NHS

Commenting on new figures published today (Thursday) that show NHS vacancies across England have reached a record high and waits for patients arriving at hospital by ambulance are increasing, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“The government must stop burying its head in the sand and act decisively to save the NHS.

“Ministers claim they’ve done all they can on wages, but exhausted and demoralised health employees keep walking away from the NHS for jobs on more money and with much less stress.

“That places intolerable pressure on the colleagues left behind, who’re stretched ever more thinly and wracked with guilt over declining standards of care.

“No wonder NHS workers are prepared to take action over pay and staffing. None of them want to lose a day’s pay, nor inconvenience anyone.

“But faced with a government that appears indifferent to the fate of the NHS and its patients, damaging strikes look just weeks away.”

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:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Government must act decisively to save the NHS first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Solving NHS and care crisis must involve proper workforce plan, says UNISON

Commenting on Therese Coffey’s new plan to improve access to health and social care over the coming winter months, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Wednesday):

“NHS and social care both face the biggest workforce crisis in their combined history. Offloading to volunteers is not the solution.

“There’s not even a whiff here that the government might have a serious plan to respond to the dire problems in hospitals and care homes.

“That begins and ends with a proper workforce plan to stem the growing exodus of staff leaving for much less stressful, better paying jobs.

“Only with decent wages will both sectors be able to hang on to experienced employees and attract the new colleagues so crucial to get waits and delays down. In every part of the NHS and care, severe staff shortages mean people are going without treatment and support for too long.

“Rather than cut taxes and boost banker bonuses, the government must show it’s genuine about solving the cost-of-living crisis. Ministers should stop holding down the pay of care workers, paramedics, hospital porters, nurses and other key workers so crucial to improving the experiences of patients and those in need of care.”

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 Solving NHS and care crisis must involve proper workforce plan, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Boosting funding and pay are the best ways to fix NHS staffing

Commenting on new figures showing a record number of vacancies in the NHS in England, and government changes to health targets, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said today (Thursday):

“Staffing shortages are getting worse by the day. That means constant struggles to fill rotas and move people to where they’re most needed.

“The government needs a long-term answer to workforce pressures. Ignoring targets that show the public how safe and effective their NHS services are won’t fix the underlying funding gap. Nor will removing the people needed to manage the never-ending juggling act.

“Any solution to the workforce crisis has to begin with an urgent commitment to increasing NHS pay and protecting staff against rising household costs That’s the way to ensure they stay working where they’re most needed.”

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 Boosting funding and pay are the best ways to fix NHS staffing first appeared on the UNISON National site.