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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Tax Claim form April 2021
16 April 2021
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Overseas nurses recruitment leaflet
31 March 2021
noneA leaflet to recruit overseas nurses into UNISON.
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Step by step guide to the new NHS pay progression process
8 March 2021
noneStep by step guide to the new NHS pay progression process – including tips on how to get the best out of the process. Available as a PDF download.
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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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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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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 -
Poster for BAOT/UNISON training seminar
21 January 2019
noneA poster advertising the 2019 BAOT/UNISON stewards’ training seminar
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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
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UNISON – improving NHS pay. Poster
22 March 2018
noneA UNISON Poster on pay offer for NHS staff in England.
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UNISON Consultation Response to District Nursing Guidance
3 May 2017
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Ratios not Rationing full report
28 April 2017
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Ratios Not Rationing summary
24 April 2017
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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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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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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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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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PSU Bulletin – May 2015
26 November 2015
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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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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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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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Partnership Pledge Action Plan
13 March 2015
noneHealth Education England Talent for Care: partnership pledge action plan March 2015
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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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Ebola: what staff need to know
10 November 2014
noneGuidance to help branches in local discussions with employers. We must stress that the risk in the UK is low however, all NHS orgaisations, irrespective of their role, should have contingency plans in place.
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UNISON members with the 999 call for the NHS banner
18 August 2014
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5 June 2014
noneUNISON members at St Thomas Hospital in London join in NHS Protest Day
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NHS pay key issue header
31 March 2014
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Science, Therapy and Technical Matters: Spring 2014
26 March 2014
noneAn A4 newsletter for health members in the science, technical and therapy occupational group
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UNISON Submission to the NHS Pay Review Body 2014-15
24 September 2013
noneUNISON evidence submission to the NHS Pay Review Body 2014-15 for public website
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Joint Staff Side Submission to the Working Longer Review
17 September 2013
noneThis submission to the Working Longer Review was submitted jointly by the NHS trade unions.
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UNISON Submission to the Working Longer Review 2013
17 September 2013
noneUNISON’s submission to the Working Longer Review, Sept 2013.
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Agenda for change incremental pay progression arrangements – a UNISON guide
24 July 2013
noneThis is a branch negotiators on the new incremental pay progression arrangements for staff on agenda for change terms and conditions. The intended audience is reps.
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Ambulance trade unions working together
22 July 2013
noneAmbulance staff Annex E payments, a joint leaflet from UNISON, Unite and GMB.
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Tell us what you think about changes to unsocial hours payments
22 July 2013
noneAmbulance consultative ballot UNISOn A4 poster.
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Changes to unsocial hours payments
22 July 2013
noneAmbulance pay leaflet
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NHS staff council proposed annex E changes
22 July 2013
noneThis report provides information on proposals to change Annex E of Agenda for Change
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NHS staff council FAQs on annex E proposals
22 July 2013
noneThis report provides detailed information on how proposed changes to Annex E will effect ambulance staff
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Megan Eccles who will be celebrating her 12th birthday on the same day as UNISONs 20th birthday on 1st July
26 June 2013
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Personalisation toolkit
6 June 2013
nonePersonalisation in social care and the expansion of
the social care workforce provide both challenges and
opportunities for UNISON. This toolkit aims to help branches deal with personalisation in social care. -
Duty of care handbook
6 June 2013
noneThe Duty of Care handbook is intended to help UNISON members working in health and social care settings to maintain the duty of care, particularly when there is pressure on services.
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Guidance for STAT stewards facing restructuring
6 June 2013
noneAdvice for Science, Therapy and Technical staff facing restructuring
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UNISON Vision for the NHS
6 June 2013
noneFor publication on website
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NHS Pay Review Body UNISON Evidence on Market Based Pay
6 June 2013
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Our NHS Our Future flyer updated Feb 2012
4 June 2013
noneThese changes will impact on NHS staff like you.
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Needle-safety at work, poster/leaflet
4 June 2013
noneA4, full colour leaflet, which doubles up as a poster on one side, highlighting the injuries caused by needles and other sharp objects to those working in health The leaflet briefly touches on what are needlestick injuries, what are safer needles and what UNISON is calling for, and how you can help Available only as a pdf download
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Ward nurses at Manor Hospital, Walsall
25 January 2013
noneMarcus Rose