NHS staff need better pay, not divisive distractions, says UNISON

Commenting on the government’s launch of a consultation on the introduction of a separate pay spine for nurses in England, UNISON acting head of health Helga Pile said:

“The NHS needs greater funding to be able to offer decent pay for all staff. That’s the way to recruit and retain the workforce that’s needed.

“Pitting different groups of staff against each other for a larger slice of what’s available is the wrong approach. It would divert time and resources from the real problems, damage team morale and tie employers up in years of equal pay claims.

“Nurses – along with all other NHS staff – are rightly furious about being underpaid and poorly recognised for the work they do.

“Instead of creating divisive distractions, ministers should be looking to grade nurses properly, so they’re paid fairly for their skills and training, improve career progression and offer decent overtime rates for all.”

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:
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article NHS staff need better pay, not divisive distractions, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

NHS staff need better pay, not divisive distractions, says UNISON

Commenting on the government’s launch of a consultation on the introduction of a separate pay spine for nurses in England, UNISON acting head of health Helga Pile said:

“The NHS needs greater funding to be able to offer decent pay for all staff. That’s the way to recruit and retain the workforce that’s needed.

“Pitting different groups of staff against each other for a larger slice of what’s available is the wrong approach. It would divert time and resources from the real problems, damage team morale and tie employers up in years of equal pay claims.

“Nurses – along with all other NHS staff – are rightly furious about being underpaid and poorly recognised for the work they do.

“Instead of creating divisive distractions, ministers should be looking to grade nurses properly, so they’re paid fairly for their skills and training, improve career progression and offer decent overtime rates for all.”

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:
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article NHS staff need better pay, not divisive distractions, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Rising visa fees and reduced student numbers could worsen NHS recruitment crisis, says UNISON

Commenting on new Nursing and Midwifery Council data published today (Thursday), UNISON national nursing officer Stuart Tuckwood said: “It‘s encouraging to see a rise in the number of nurses and midwives registered to work in the UK.

“But the NHS workforce crisis hasn’t gone away. The number of students starting nursing courses this year in England has plummeted by 12%.

“Much more must be done to recruit and keep hold of the health and care staff who are so desperately needed.

“Around half of new nurses are from overseas and without them, the NHS would collapse. Ministers must understand there are consequences to demonising migrant workers, who may choose to simply go to more welcoming countries.

“Nurses already here are considering moving elsewhere, driven away by poor pay and rising visa fees. The language from ministers in recent days will most likely deter others from joining the NHS at all.”

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:
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

 

The article Rising visa fees and reduced student numbers could worsen NHS recruitment crisis, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Rising visa fees and reduced student numbers could worsen NHS recruitment crisis, says UNISON

Commenting on new Nursing and Midwifery Council data published today (Thursday), UNISON national nursing officer Stuart Tuckwood said: “It‘s encouraging to see a rise in the number of nurses and midwives registered to work in the UK.

“But the NHS workforce crisis hasn’t gone away. The number of students starting nursing courses this year in England has plummeted by 12%.

“Much more must be done to recruit and keep hold of the health and care staff who are so desperately needed.

“Around half of new nurses are from overseas and without them, the NHS would collapse. Ministers must understand there are consequences to demonising migrant workers, who may choose to simply go to more welcoming countries.

“Nurses already here are considering moving elsewhere, driven away by poor pay and rising visa fees. The language from ministers in recent days will most likely deter others from joining the NHS at all.”

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:
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

 

The article Rising visa fees and reduced student numbers could worsen NHS recruitment crisis, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Overseas nurses gather for ‘empowering’ day

Members of the overseas nurses’ network gathered at UNISON centre last week for their annual seminar. The network aims to connect overseas nurses for mutual support, to offer expertise to UNISON and to provide a safe space for individuals to share their experiences.

This year, the seminar allowed the nurses to engage with and question leaders in nursing organisations about their priorities for overseas nurses.

In other sessions, the event also gave attendees the opportunity to explore the ongoing impacts of the ‘hostile environment’ policies, discuss the work surrounding the Migrant Worker’s Charter and contribute to a future learning and development programme run by the UNISON college.

National officer for nursing, Stuart Tuckwood said of the event: Overseas nurses in the UK are up against so many challenges; it’s so important our union stands together with them.

“Our network is growing very strong and at this event it was really inspiring to see our nurse members challenging healthcare leaders, supporting each-other and planning collective action to overcome the difficulties they are facing.”

Overseas nursing seminar - one of the nurses stands up to speak from behind a table

Members of the network were overwhelmingly positive about the seminar.

Victor Tapah

“Being in the room with the leaders of organisations, those making decisions – being able to ask them about your worries was massively important. You find out that they are worried about you and what is happening and they want to help make changes.

“Another thing that was particularly important today was that UNISON is trying to find ways to help internationally educated nurses develop. We are facing barriers with progression, at the moment, so they are giving us support and helping us enhance our skills and helping us progress.”

John Obiakor

John spoke about the value of being on the network, saying: “One thing that has been significant is knowing that I haven’t been the only one to experience some form of challenge since I arriving, it gives me comfort knowing there are other people with similar experiences.

“And the day wasn’t just sharing those experiences, but sharing them in the right forum, where important people are listening to what we are experiencing on the ground.”

Regina Reyes

“I really found it very empowering today, having the nursing stakeholders and leaders to come together with us in an event that was really beneficial and fruitful for everyone. I have so many take aways to take back to my fellow internationally educated nurses in Wales.

On how important it is for overseas nurses to be in the union, she said: “It’s so important. I came here as an overseas nurse, I have no family around, I don’t know the culture or the laws or policies and having a union with me is such an empowering thing to have. To have a safe space to express my opinion, to have a sense of belonging and to have the support I might or will need in the future is vital.”

Summarising the event, Chair of the network, Gamu Nyasoro, said: “When we started this network, our desire was to bring a platform to our overseas nurses where we provide a safe place for them to share their journeys, good or bad.

“I am so pleased that we have managed more than what we planned. We have not only gained more members but created a network that will grow and build future activists for UNISON.”

“It was such a success and the members that attended felt that not only UNISON, but also the other organisations who came ­– the NMC, NHS England, CNO for Adult Health and Social care, do care about our journeys. And they respect that we have people who are trying to achieve a better transition and integration of our internationally educated staff.”

Overseas Nursing Network

The network is open to all nurses in UNISON who have come to the UK from overseas and holds several online meetings each year and an in-person seminar. Anyone interested in joining should e-mail h.group@unison.co.uk to be connected.

 

The article Overseas nurses gather for ‘empowering’ day first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Overseas nurses gather for ‘empowering’ day

Members of the overseas nurses’ network gathered at UNISON centre last week for their annual seminar. The network aims to connect overseas nurses for mutual support, to offer expertise to UNISON and to provide a safe space for individuals to share their experiences.

This year, the seminar allowed the nurses to engage with and question leaders in nursing organisations about their priorities for overseas nurses.

In other sessions, the event also gave attendees the opportunity to explore the ongoing impacts of the ‘hostile environment’ policies, discuss the work surrounding the Migrant Worker’s Charter and contribute to a future learning and development programme run by the UNISON college.

National officer for nursing, Stuart Tuckwood said of the event: Overseas nurses in the UK are up against so many challenges; it’s so important our union stands together with them.

“Our network is growing very strong and at this event it was really inspiring to see our nurse members challenging healthcare leaders, supporting each-other and planning collective action to overcome the difficulties they are facing.”

Overseas nursing seminar - one of the nurses stands up to speak from behind a table

Members of the network were overwhelmingly positive about the seminar.

Victor Tapah

“Being in the room with the leaders of organisations, those making decisions – being able to ask them about your worries was massively important. You find out that they are worried about you and what is happening and they want to help make changes.

“Another thing that was particularly important today was that UNISON is trying to find ways to help internationally educated nurses develop. We are facing barriers with progression, at the moment, so they are giving us support and helping us enhance our skills and helping us progress.”

John Obiakor

John spoke about the value of being on the network, saying: “One thing that has been significant is knowing that I haven’t been the only one to experience some form of challenge since I arriving, it gives me comfort knowing there are other people with similar experiences.

“And the day wasn’t just sharing those experiences, but sharing them in the right forum, where important people are listening to what we are experiencing on the ground.”

Regina Reyes

“I really found it very empowering today, having the nursing stakeholders and leaders to come together with us in an event that was really beneficial and fruitful for everyone. I have so many take aways to take back to my fellow internationally educated nurses in Wales.

On how important it is for overseas nurses to be in the union, she said: “It’s so important. I came here as an overseas nurse, I have no family around, I don’t know the culture or the laws or policies and having a union with me is such an empowering thing to have. To have a safe space to express my opinion, to have a sense of belonging and to have the support I might or will need in the future is vital.”

Summarising the event, Chair of the network, Gamu Nyasoro, said: “When we started this network, our desire was to bring a platform to our overseas nurses where we provide a safe place for them to share their journeys, good or bad.

“I am so pleased that we have managed more than what we planned. We have not only gained more members but created a network that will grow and build future activists for UNISON.”

“It was such a success and the members that attended felt that not only UNISON, but also the other organisations who came ­– the NMC, NHS England, CNO for Adult Health and Social care, do care about our journeys. And they respect that we have people who are trying to achieve a better transition and integration of our internationally educated staff.”

Overseas Nursing Network

The network is open to all nurses in UNISON who have come to the UK from overseas and holds several online meetings each year and an in-person seminar. Anyone interested in joining should e-mail h.group@unison.co.uk to be connected.

 

The article Overseas nurses gather for ‘empowering’ day first appeared on the UNISON National site.