“These stark figures confirm what exhausted health workers already know – the NHS is under overwhelming strain.
“Staffing levels were already low pre-pandemic. Now employees are suffering the consequences. They’re having to deal with excessive workloads as colleagues go sick or self-isolate.
“This underlines the urgency of the vaccine rollout. It’s also essential that staff who fall ill receive ongoing support.”
Notes to editors:
– 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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
