Nurses, midwives, community specialist public health nurses and healthcare assistants
UNISON is the UK's largest public service union with more than 1.3 million members. We represent the whole nursing family, including nurses, midwives, health visitors and healthcare assistants. We have a large network of branch representatives and national and regional officers, who are committed to providing you with help and support when dealing with problems 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.
We actively campaign on issues like pensions, health and safety, salaries for student nurses, regulation for healthcare assistants and an end to discrimination and harassment.
I'm Gail Adams and I've been UNISON's Head of Nursing for five years.
I started my nurse training in 1984 at St Georges in South London where I worked in a variety of areas including orthopaedics and surgical cancer care.
At the same time I became involved in the union after I had been helped with a problem in the workplace and found I really enjoyed helping members and taking cases as their union representative. As UNISON's Head of Nursing I enjoy the chance to take forward the concerns of our profession and help give nurses and other health staff a voice.
UNISON is here to support you as you support your patients.
So, please explore these pages and find out how we can help you.
Latest news and press releases
NMC report - UNISON response
Today the CHRE has published a damming report on the NMC stating it has failings at every level and in every part of it. More info here.(24/08/12) UNISON Response to NMC Fee IncreaseMore than 98% of respondents to a UNISON survey have said they oppose plans to increase the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration by almost 60%.
The survey, commissioned by UNISON in order to inform the union’s response to the NMC’s consultation on fee increases, echoes the arguments made previously by the union that the increase is disproportionate, and places the responsibility for the NMC’s financial woes unfairly on the registrants.
(13/03/12) UNISON is deeply disappointed that the amendment for the regulation for healthcare assistants was withdrawn in the House of Lords today.
(09/03/2012) Read this if you're having trouble completeing the nurse-to-patient ratio online survey and find out how to get another copy of the survey. (01/03/12) A new report sets out key recommendations for hospitals and care homes to tackle the issue of undignified care. Have a look at the 10 recommendations and tell us what you think. (29/02/12) UNISON is launching an historic inquiry into staffing levels across the country by asking nurses to record staffing data on 6 March. Find out what you need to do to be prepared and get involved. (22/02/12) How much time and money do you spend registering and renewing registration with your regulator? The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) wants to know. (19/01/12) Have questions about NHS Student Bursaries? Check out UNISON's new factsheet. This year's celebratory awards were held at UNISON's offices. This marks an historical moment, as it is the first time since the creation of the Mary Seacole Awards. (21/07/11) Writing a statement can be a daunting experience, so UNISON has produced a guidance on how to write a witness statement.
