Nearly half a million UNISON members work in health care in the NHS and for organisations providing NHS services across the UK.
We promote and defend the rights of all workers in the health service.
Coronavirus: our advice for health workers
Why join UNISON?
UNISON campaigns to protect the NHS as a publicly funded, free service. We’re the biggest union in the NHS and we negotiate and campaign to get you better pay, terms and conditions.

Representing you
We’re the UK’s largest health union. We represent the whole NHS and health care team. Our members include: nurses, student nurses, midwives, health visitors, healthcare assistants, paramedics, cleaners, porters, catering staff, medical secretaries, clerical and admin staff and scientific and technical staff.

The big issues
This section is about the key issues affecting people employed by the NHS and organisations providing NHS services. Each key issue explains the facts behind the issue, what UNISON is doing and how you can get involved. You will also find news articles, useful resources and events.
Resources
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The temporary register – guidance for overseas nurses. January 2021.
6 January 2021
noneThis information is for nurses from overseas who are considering joining the temporary NMC register in response to COVID-19.
Available as a download pdf only. -
It’s not part of the job – poster
4 December 2020
noneA4 poster highlighting NHS staff experiencing physical violence and aggression in the workplace.
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Healthcare students – poster
3 December 2020
noneA4 poster advertising the benefits of student membership of UNISON.
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Healthcare students newsletter – Wales – Autumn 2020
17 July 2020
noneA newsletter for student nurses in Wales, mainly first year, but of some interest to second and third year students also.
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Healthcare students newsletter – Scotland – Autumn 2020
17 July 2020
noneA newsletter for student nurses in Scotland, mainly first year, but of some interest to second and third year students also.
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Healthcare students newsletter – N.Ireland – Autumn 2020
17 July 2020
noneA newsletter for student nurses in N.Ireland, mainly first year, but of some interest to second and third year students also.
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Healthcare students newsletter – England – Autumn 2020
17 July 2020
noneA newsletter for student nurses in England, mainly first year, but of some interest to second and third year students also.
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Tax Claim form
19 May 2020
none -
Professional indemnity cover for health staff – UPDATED 2020
20 April 2020
noneUNISON indemnity insurance A5 leaflet outlining the comprehensive package of cover UNISON offers its healthcare members
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Be Safe UNISON guidance on raising the issue of staffing levels and better standards of care in the NHS
9 March 2020
noneUNISON guidance on raising the issue of staffing levels and better standards of care in the NHS. PDF for download only.
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Menstruation dignity for patients in mental health care A guide for UNISON health branches.
27 February 2020
noneA guide for UNISON branches that calls for menstruation dignity for inpatients in a mental health setting. Available as PDF download only.
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UNISON – the union for assistant practitioners – leaflet
29 January 2020
noneA recruitment leaflet aimed at assistant practitioners in health.
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Healthcare students newsletter – Autumn 2019
22 August 2019
noneA newsletter for student nurses, mainly first year, but of some interest to second and third year students also.
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UNISON – the union for the whole nursing family. Leaflet
5 August 2019
noneAn A5 leaflet to use when recruiting members of the nursing family – registered nurse, nursing associate, assistant practitioner, healthcare assistant or any other part of the nursing family
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UNISON – the union for registered nurses. Leaflet
5 August 2019
noneAn A5 leaflet to use when recruiting registered nurses.
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International nurses day photo board
8 May 2019
none -
NHS England pay scales (toblerone) Bands 8B-9
20 March 2019
noneNHS England pay scales 2018-2021. Bands 8B-9. A desktop toblerone outlining NHS pay rates for bands 8B-9 between 2018 and 2021
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NHS England pay scales (toblerone) Bands 5-8A
20 March 2019
noneNHS England pay scales 2018-2021. Bands 5-8A. Desktop toblerone outlining NHS pay rates for bands 5-8A between 2018 and 2021.
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NHS England pay scales (toblerone Bands 1-4)
20 March 2019
noneNHS England pay scales 2018-2021. Bands 1-4. Desktop toblerone outlining NHS pay rates for bands 1-4 between 2018 and 2021.
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Just another day – leaflet
20 March 2019
noneLeaflet outlining the main results of UNISON’s health service staffing levels survey for 2018
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Just Another Day 24 Hours in the NHS – compromised care, staff shortages and serious stress – staffing levels survey
20 March 2019
noneReport outlining the finding of UNISON’s health care staffing levels survey from 2018. PDF only.
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Apprenticeships in health – The experience of UNISON members.
25 February 2019
noneA short guide exploring the experiences of UNISON apprentice members working in various roles across the Health sector. Branches should use this tool to support open discussions with existing staff, about apprenticeship routes into roles. Available pdf download only.
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Getting it right – are you being charged for your DBS check?
25 February 2019
none -
Paying off? Student hardship survey leaflet
21 January 2019
none -
UNISON – the union for paramedics. Leaflet
11 October 2018
noneAn A5 leaflet outlining why UNISON is the union for paramedics. Can be used to recruit paramedics.
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UNISON – the union for all ambulance staff. Leaflet
11 October 2018
noneAn A5 leaflet outlining why UNISON is the union for all ambulance staff. Can be used for recruitment and at recruitment events.
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Tax relief FAQs – Word version
30 August 2018
none -
Join the union that gets it right. Health student recruitment leaflet
21 August 2018
noneAn A5 leaflet outlining the benefits for students of joining UNISON. Good for student recruitment events and freshers fairs.
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Organising-non-EU-overseas-nurses
16 August 2018
noneHow working with overseas nurses at Cambridge University Hospital has helped recruitment and organising
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How was it for you? – Poster
6 August 2018
noneAn A4 poster advertising the 2018 UNISON staffing levels survey – for all staff, not just nursing
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Essential cover for health and social care students – direct debit application form
20 July 2018
noneEssential cover for health and social care students. Direct Debit only.
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UNISON The union for healthcare students Recruitment leaflet
13 July 2018
noneA leaflet for use at healthcare student recruitment events, or to recruit health students into UNISON
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10 reasons to support the proposed NHS pay deal joint union leaflet – Spanish version
19 April 2018
noneJoint unions leaflet outlining 10 reasons to accept the proposed NHS pay deal. Spanish version.
PDF only -
10 reasons to support the proposed NHS pay deal joint union leaflet – Polish version
19 April 2018
noneJoint unions leaflet outlining 10 reasons to accept the proposed NHS pay deal. Polish version.
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UNISON – have your say on pay leaflet – Spanish version
19 April 2018
noneA5 leaflet in Spanish informing members about the consultation on health pay and telling them how they can take part
PDF only -
UNISON – have your say on pay leaflet – Polish version
19 April 2018
noneA5 leaflet in Polish informing members about the consultation on health pay and telling them how they can take part
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Have your say on pay Poster advertising local meetings
16 April 2018
noneAn A4 poster that can be used to advertise local meetings on NHS pay. There is space to put meeting details.
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Have your say on pay here today A3 poster
16 April 2018
noneA3 poster to use if holding events where members can take part in the online pay ballot
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Have Your Say on Pay We missed you postcard
16 April 2018
noneA postcard for reps to use when doing walkabouts in workplaces to discuss the NHS pay offer. These are specifically designed to be left for colleagues you haven’t been able to speak to – not just put in staff rooms etc
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10 reasons to support the proposed NHS pay deal – joint union leaflet
13 April 2018
none -
UNISON – improving NHS pay. Poster
22 March 2018
noneA UNISON Poster on pay offer for NHS staff in England.
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Joint trade union leaflet on pay
21 March 2018
noneA joint trade union leaflet outlining the proposed three year pay deal for the NHS in England
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UNISON, leading the campaign to improve your NHS pay – leaflet
21 March 2018
noneA UNISON leaflet with details of the proposed pay offer for NHS staff in England
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UNISON – the union for nursing associates – leaflet
21 February 2018
noneA recruitment leaflet for nursing associates. This should be used alongside the Essential Cover recruitment form
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No back door privatisation A5 leaflet
15 January 2018
noneA leaflet to use to campaign against trusts who plan to create private companies to provide estates and facilities services
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NHS is Crisis. 3 February 2018 National demonstration – lealet.
15 January 2018
noneAn A5 one sided flyer advertising the national demonstration and local and regional events on 3 February. This is a pdf only and can be downloaded and distributed or put on noticeboards or emailed out.
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CODP student recruitment postcard 2017
22 August 2017
noneA postcard for branches to use when recruiting ODP students into UNISON/CODP
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UNISON guide to literature searching for healthcare students
31 July 2017
noneA guide to literature searching aimed at healthcare students to help them develop study and literature searching skills.
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Ask me about my job – Operational services staff. Sticker
23 May 2017
noneAsk me about my job stickers for One Team week 2017. Stickers for operational services staff
Please order number of sheets (15 per sheet) not stickers.
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Ask me about my job – Porter. Sticker.
23 May 2017
noneAsk me about my job stickers for One Team week 2017. Stickers for Porter.
Please order number of sheets (15 per sheet) not stickers.
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sk me about my job – Administrator. Sticker
23 May 2017
noneAsk me about my job stickers for One Team week 2017. Stickers for Administrator
Please order number of sheets (15 per sheet) not stickers.
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Ask me about my job – Domestic. Sticker
23 May 2017
noneAsk me about my job stickers for One Team week 2017. Stickers for Domestic
Please order number of sheets (15 per sheet) not stickers.
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Ask me about my job – Medical Secretary. Sticker
23 May 2017
noneAsk me about my job stickers for One Team week 2017. Stickers for Medical Secretary
Please order number of sheets (15 per sheet) not stickers.
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Ask me about my job – Receptionist. Sticker
23 May 2017
noneAsk me about my job stickers for One Team week 2017. Stickers for receptionist staff
Please order number of sheets (15 per sheet) not stickers.
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UNISON Consultation Response to Mental Health Guidance
3 May 2017
none -
UNISON Consultation Response to District Nursing Guidance
3 May 2017
none -
Ratios not Rationing full report
28 April 2017
none -
Ratios Not Rationing summary
24 April 2017
none -
Mental Health Matters UNISON and Mind working together to support the mental health of emergency workers – booklet
5 April 2017
noneA guide for workers in the emergency services to help them deal with a mental health problems or support colleagues. It could also be useful to UNISON reps outside police and ambulance services.
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We’re celebrating NHS support staff – leaflet
27 March 2017
noneUNISON health branches up and down the country are going to be celebrating NHS support staff by holding One Team For Patient Care events in June. Get involved!
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Seven day services guidance for STAT reps
10 March 2017
noneUNISON has produced guidance for our science, therapies and technical (STAT) reps faced with extension of operating hours as part of government moves towards greater 24/7 working in the NHS. The guidance stresses the need for careful testing of the evidence base for extending hours, and warns that extending services requires additional funding and close involvement of staff and their union reps before any decisions are made.
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Join UNISON on the march for the NHS
15 February 2017
noneAn A5 leaflet advertising the NHS demo on 4 March 2017.
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UNISON Consultation Response to NHSI Acute Guidance
6 February 2017
none -
UNISON Consultation Response to NHSI LDS Guidance
6 February 2017
none -
Don’t pull the ladder up behind you. NHS bursary leaflet
18 January 2017
noneAn A5 leaflet aimed at the spring 2017 intake of health students urging them to get involved in the campaign over future funding for health students.
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Be a pioneer with UNISON Taking on the new nursing associate role
24 November 2016
noneA leaflet aimed at members in those branches where there are pilot nursing associate scheme who are going to be a nursing associate trainee. Please don’t order these if you are not in a pilot scheme.
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Important changes to rules on lapsed NMC registration
26 October 2016
none -
STPs – UNISON briefing
24 October 2016
noneThis is UNISON’s briefing on the NHS sustainability and transformation plans that was sent to all MPs in England.
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In the Red: Student Nurse Debt
21 October 2016
noneA UNISON report and survey on Student nurse hardship
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Agenda for fairness and quality: A negotiators’ guide to apprenticeships in the NHS
18 October 2016
noneUNISON has published a detailed new negotiators’ guide to apprenticeships in the NHS. It provides practical advice on getting apprenticeships on the agenda for partnership working, negotiating on pay and conditions, ensuring quality provision, and how to recruit and organise apprentice
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Care on the Cheap
7 October 2016
noneFull report of a UNISON survey of clinical support workers
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Care on the cheap. UNISON survey of clinical support workers Summary report
7 October 2016
noneThe summary of the survey of UNISON members working in health who are clinical support workers.
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Don’t miss out! Leaflet for students in ambulance sector
31 August 2016
noneA5 leaflet aimed at recruiting student members in the ambulance sector. Should be used alongside the Essential Cover for students recruitment form.
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UNISON response to Department of Health consultation midwifery rules and fitness to practice
5 July 2016
noneUNISON response to Department of Health consultation; The Nursing and Midwifery Council – amendments to modernise midwifery regulation and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of fitness to practise processes.
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UNISON response to reforming healthcare education funding consultation
5 July 2016
noneUNISON is calling on the government to think again, to pause the current consultation process and commit to working with us and others for a more effective education funding system for healthcare students. Consultation response includes appendices from London Economics: 1) The Impact of the 2015 Comprehensive Spending Review on Higher Education Fees and Funding Arrangements in Subjects Allied to Medicine 2) Economic analysis of Higher Education fees and funding in the health professions
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Safe Staffing Levels 2016
24 April 2016
none -
Time to talk about pay – responding to the NHS pay award 2016-17
18 March 2016
noneGuidance for branches consulting members on 2016-17 pay award. Full resources have been emailed to branch secretaries and stewards
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UNISON Student Nursing Summit Programme
18 January 2016
noneUNISON Student Nursing Summit Programme
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Advice for UNISON members working in the NHS during the period of industrial action and action short of strike action by Junior Doctors
12 January 2016
noneAdvice for UNISON members working in the NHS during the period of industrial action and action short of strike action by Junior Doctors
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PSU Bulletin – May 2015
26 November 2015
none -
UNISON evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body 2016-17
25 November 2015
noneThis is UNISON’s evidence given to the NHS Pay Review Body for 2016-17.
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Staff Side Evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body 2016-17
25 November 2015
noneThe NHS trade unions’ submission to the Pay Review Body for the 2016/17 pay round.
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Recruitment and retention of ambulance staff PRB November 2015
24 November 2015
noneUNISON, Unite and GMB publish their evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body on paramedic retention
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NMC revalidation – guidance for UNISON members
17 November 2015
noneEverything nurses and midwives need to know about NMC revalidation. Updated April 2016
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Undervalued, overwhelmed – UNISON NHS staff report
30 September 2015
noneSurvey of 10,589 members working in the NHS reveals a workforce struggling financially and in the face of chronic understaffing and mounting pressure
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Jeremy Hunt – Transfer of Services from NHSE to Capita (2)
10 July 2015
noneUNISON national secretary Christina McAnea’s letter to the Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt asking him not to allow the award of a huge contract to Capita
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Everything you wanted to know about NMC revalidation
9 July 2015
noneA poster branches can use to advertise meetings about NMC revalidation for nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants
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Hot weather conditions guidance for healthcare workers
3 July 2015
noneThis guidance is intended to help UNISON members working within healthcare during the heatwave
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HC-055-15 revalidation FAQs
1 July 2015
noneFrequently asked questions regarding NMC revalidation
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Revalidation presentation (PowerPoint)
1 July 2015
noneA presentation on NMC revalidation for branches to deliver to members Updated March 2016
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HC-055-15 revalidation branch checklist
1 July 2015
noneA checklist for branches regarding NMC revalidation
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Introducing the Care Certificate: a UNISON guide
21 April 2015
noneNew branch guide on the Care Certificate. Contains information about the certificate, and bargaining, organising and recruitment advice
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Red Alert – Unsafe Staffing Levels Rising
14 April 2015
noneUNISON’s safe staffing level report.
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Partnership Pledge Action Plan
13 March 2015
noneHealth Education England Talent for Care: partnership pledge action plan March 2015
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UNISON health annual report 2015
4 March 2015
noneAnnual report of the UNISON health care service group
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Use of surveillance in health and care settings: Guidance for UNISON representatives
2 March 2015
noneThis guidance covers what to do if cameras are installed by providers, or worried relatives, to monitor care
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Signed joint statement in support of the Law Commission Bill
29 January 2015
noneA joint statement calling on political leaders to commit to bringing forward a bill reforming health care professional regulation
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Nursing sector e-newsletter: January 2015
19 January 2015
noneKeep up to date with the latest information on nursing at UNISON
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Nursing sector e-newsletter – December 2014
16 December 2014
noneKeep up to date with the latest information on nursing at UNISON.
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Nursing sector e-newsletter – November 2014
18 November 2014
noneKeep up to date with the latest information on nursing at UNISON.