UNISON and Healthcare

UNISON is the UK's largest healthcare trade union - over 400,000 people who work in the NHS and for private contractors providing NHS services are UNISON members.

Our health members are nurses, student nurses, midwives, health visitors, healthcare assistants, paramedics, cleaners, porters, catering staff, medical secretaries, clerical and admin staff and scientific and technical staff.

And that's not all of us!

UNISON is a powerful voice for working people in the United Kingdom. We have over 1.3 million members working in public services, the community and voluntary sector and for private companies.

Looking after people at work

We represent our members in many ways, offering help and advice at work, raising your professional/local concerns or by highlighting issues that will affect all health workers at a national level. We work together to make sure our members' concerns are heard - whether it’s about pay, health and safety, discrimination or the future of our NHS.

Looking after the NHS

But there is more to UNISON than looking after people at work. We care passionately about the future of the NHS as a publicly funded service that is free at the point of delivery. This makes campaigning to stop the increasing involvement of the private sector in the provision of health care services a priority for us.

As part of UNISON’s campaign ‘A Million Voices for Change,’ UNISON campaigns against the damaging effects of government reforms designed to extend privatisation of NHS services.

(02/12/09) The recent statement from the Secretary of State, Andy Burnham, MP clarifying the government’s policy that the NHS is the preferred provider of services has been warmly welcomed by NHS staff and trade unions. This policy change is important in curbing the drive towards the marketisation and privatisation of healthcare in England. Further information and UNISON campaigning materials are now available.

(18/11/09) UNISON has responded to a government Health Select Committee inquiry into commissioning highlighting concerns around the implementation of the World Class Commissioning programme.

New toolkit will make sure "staff are aware of their rights on and following transfer"

Following the survey of UNISON Health members conducted during July / August, 1,756 responses were received. These responses have now been analysed and written up into the attached report that provides a comprehensive picture of the views and experiences of the staff who deliver our health service.

(24/08/09) This briefing looks at the role of your local authority Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSCs) and Local Involvement Networks (LINks) and how they can help you to challenge NHS privatisation.