Commenting on a survey published today (Friday) by NHS Providers, which warns NHS trusts across England are planning to cut jobs and patient services, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said:
“Forcing the NHS to make drastic cuts after a decade and a half of underfunding is absolutely the wrong thing to do.
“Ministers shouldn’t be insisting trusts balance their books while ignoring the damaging consequences for patient care and a demoralised workforce. The NHS needs more staff, not fewer workers, if delays and waits for patients are to end.
“Making trusts axe jobs and services will mean patients will have to wait longer to be seen and make staffing levels less safe.
“The NHS is still thousands of staff short. And everyone it employs has a valuable role in turning the fortunes of the service around.
“But unrealistic demands for efficiency savings are leaving trusts with no option but to let much-needed workers in finance, estates and planning, as well as nurses, healthcare assistants, porters and other staff go.
“This is having a ripple effect across the whole workforce, who are left wondering how on earth they’ll manage if their colleagues are no longer there.
“This is added pressure the NHS could well do without. The government should ease off and give trusts the breathing space to deliver the improvements the public and ministers want to see.
“As well as listening to the concerns staff and trust leaders are raising, the government should also hurry up and give NHS employees the decent wage rise that’s now well overdue. Further delays are harming morale and aren’t helping one bit.
“It’s time ministers showed just how much they value the NHS workforce and pulled out all the stops on pay.”
Notes to editors:
-In the NHS Providers survey, nearly half of trusts in England (47%) surveyed have warned they are scaling back services. More than a quarter 26% say they will need to close some services. Over nine in ten (91%) are thinking about cutting temporary staffing costs and 85% are contemplating a recruitment freeze. Over a third (37%) plan to cut clinical posts.
– 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:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07789 518992 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
