Commenting on the prime minister’s new measures announced today (Monday) to tackle hospital backlogs, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said:
“Staff are the bedrock of the NHS and key to turning around its fortunes. Ministers know that all the extra appointments and other ways of increasing capacity won’t happen on their own.
“Health workers have been taken for granted for years by governments and little they’ve heard from the prime minister on his plans will encourage them to feel differently.
“It’s not just the state of services and the quality of care that are making staff feel so low. Many are at breaking point as they’ve too few colleagues to get the job done and they keep seeing those they work with quit for pastures new.
“That’s why getting decisions right on pay, and recruiting and retaining skilled, experienced workers must be at the heart of any recovery plan for the NHS.
“Without proper investment in staff, there can be no world-class NHS, no improvements in patient care, reduction in the backlog or increased efficiency of services. Further delays in getting a grip on the social care crisis won’t help.
“Ministers should do the right thing and convene talks now with unions about April’s wage rise and fixing the problems with the NHS pay structure. A credible plan must also be agreed for growing the workforce needed to meet the public’s expectation of quality, timely care.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union and the largest union in the social care sector, 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:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk