- Conference
- 2015 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 5 December 2014
- Decision
- Carried
Conference welcomes incentives to improve the health and wellbeing of staff, conference is concerned that initiatives proposed by the four NHS systems are aimed at changing the behaviour of the worker rather than removing or reducing hazards in the workplace that can result in poor health. For example, in the ‘Five Year Forward View’ report, NHS England is committed to establishing new incentives to ensure as an employer that it sets a national example in the support it offers its own 1.3 million staff to stay healthy.
Firstly, the report states that three-quarters of hospitals do not offer healthy food to staff working night shifts. NHS England proposes to tackle this issue by cutting access to unhealthy products on NHS premises, implementing food standards, and providing healthy options for night staff. Conference approves of healthier options being made available to staff in NHS premises. However, the four NHS systems must ensure that staff have flexible shift patterns that enable them to take proper breaks, and that affordable healthy eating options are provided.
Secondly, the report states that although three-quarters of NHS trusts offer staff help to quit smoking, only one-third offer them support in keeping to a healthy weight. However, conference notes that there is a strong link between stress and the use of tobacco and alcohol. Furthermore, working irregular shift patterns, which can make it difficult to take a proper lunch break, and the short length of breaks can lead to obesity and increase the chance of heart disease and diabetes. Therefore, rather than changing the behaviour of the worker, the first step to improving wellbeing must be to look at the management of the workplace, how work is organised and how workers are supported.
Finally, another factor that has an effect on staff health and wellbeing is low pay. People in poor areas do not only die younger, they also spend more of their lives with a disabling illness. Therefore, to ensure health and wellbeing of NHS staff, the government must provide fair and decent pay for NHS workers.
Other issues that affect staff health and wellbeing include unsociable hours, unpaid overtime, staffing levels and skill mix, work-related stress and an aging workforce. Therefore, these issues need to be addressed by the four NHS systems by working and engaging with UNISON.
Conference calls on the Health Service Group Executive to:
1) ensure that where employers are introducing changes to promote healthier lifestyles, the union is involved;
2) reference and call for employers to follow NHS Staff Council Health, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group Guidelines on prevention and management of sickness absence which includes a substantial section on health and wellbeing initiatives;
3) produce guidance on how to negotiate effective health and wellbeing policies with employers;
4) identify and share examples of good practice of staff health and wellbeing initiatives within the four NHS systems;
5) continue to campaign for fair pay for NHS workers in all four nations, and to research the impact low pay has on health workers’ health and wellbeing.