The National Health Service
The health service has undergone fundamental change in service provision. The direction of change seeks to shift from an integrated system, with the NHS providing virtually all of the care, to a much more mixed one, in which the private sector plays an increasingly major part.
However, the reforms are having a detrimental effect on patients, staff and services. Hospitals face being shut down; wards are being closed; some trusts face crippling financial debts; jobs are being lost and services are being outsourced to private health providers. The reforms have taken many diverse forms and include: independent sector treatment centres; patient choice; payment by results; PFI and foundation hospital trusts.
Documents:UNISON Factsheet on hospital acquired infections - April 2007
UNISON Factsheet on hospital acquired infections - April 2007 [PDF]
Machines, markets and morals
Report Analysis the new politics of a democratic NHS.
Report Analysis the new politics of a democratic NHS [PDF]
For more information:
In the Interests of Patients?
Keep the NHS Working Campaign
CONTACT DETAILS
The UNISON contact for the Positively Public campaign is Margie Jaffe.
Positively Public
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email:
positivelypublic@unison.co.uk
Recent documents
ISA - staff side principles
The following principles have been drawn up in partnership by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), GMB, Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Royal College of Nursing (RCN), National Union of Teachers (NUT), Society of Radiographers, UNISON and Unite.
They relate to the introduction of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
All of the organisations support the principle of safe and effective public protection, and our
principles seek to reflect this, but also identify areas of concern surrounding
the approach and implementation of the ISA scheme.
Acrobat PDF version
Public Spending
Fact Sheet shows why it is now more important than ever to invest in public services and the staff who deliver them.
Public Spending factsheet
The rise of the 'public services industry'
New UNISON report highlighting the economic reality of the marketisation of public services, which increases the government's financial exposure and the risk of personal catastrophe for vulnerable service users
Acrobat PDF version
Equal pay, privatisation and procurement
This timely publication from the
Institute of Employment Rights explores the links between privatisation, the gender pay gap and the legal hurdles women face trying to manoeuvre between the complexities of equal pay and transfer laws.
Acrobat PDF version
School meals, markets and quality
This report traces the rise and fall of the school meals service: from its inception as part of the Welfare State, through its relegation to an optional, cost-driven, service, to the current drives to transform it back to its original purpose.
Acrobat PDF version