Commenting on the news that waiting times at A&E departments have reached their worst levels for 10 years and hospitals in five areas have declared major incidents, UNISON general secretary, Dave Prentis said:
“The NHS is now on the brink of disaster.
“It is outrageous that vulnerable patients are not being seen within the recommended timescale. Waiting longer in A&Es causes a huge amount of pain and distress to patients and their families.
“We warned months ago that the NHS was hugely stretched – those working in A&Es have spent much of the past four years living under the constant threat of services being cut, closed or reorganised.
“Staff morale is at all time low and despite this they are working every hour caring for patients during the most challenging winter in years.
“The Government must do everything it can to sort out all the underlying issues in the NHS – this includes the major dispute with trade unions over pay.
“We are only weeks away from NHS staff walking out for 12 and 24 hours and this dispute will not go awayunless the Government engages in meaningful talks.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
UNISON members working in the NHS in England will walkout for 12 hours between 9am – 9pm on Thursday 29 January.
They will then work to rule between Friday 30 January and Tuesday 24February which means they will be working their contracted hours and will take their breaks and not do unpaid overtime.
This will be followed a 24-hour strike on Wednesday 25 February.
