Commenting on the announcement from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) that it is to review the level of its next fee increase, UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said today (Tuesday):
“Health staff will be pleased the HCPC has been listening and has sensibly decided to scale back the huge increase it had originally proposed.
“The 18% fee hike announced back in February would have taken a large chunk out of the wages of many people in the health professions. They could have ill-afforded the increase, but if they’re not on the HCPC register they can’t do their jobs.
“Thankfully given the strength of opposition – much of it co-ordinated by UNISON – the HCPC has had a major re-think. Staff will be hoping that if the fees do have to rise, that the next increase is a more moderate one.”
Notes to editors:
– A UNISON survey found 99% of health staff opposed the fee hike of 18%, which was proposed back in February.
– UNISON wrote to all MPs with a full briefing on its concerns and, as a result, 47 cross-party MPs and peers signed a letter sent by UNISON to the HCPC criticising the increase.
– UNISON also helped submit an early day motion calling on the HCPC to reconsider.
– The HCPC regulates 15 health and care professions across the UK including occupational therapists, dieticians, paramedics, radiographers, operating department practitioners and physiotherapists. It also regulates social workers in England.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk