Let’s make seven day NHS happen but don’t fund it by taking from health staff, says UNISON

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s speech today (Monday) UNISON Head of Health Christina McAnea said:

“The NHS should be able to provide the same quality of care no matter what day of the week a patient is admitted to hospital.

“We welcome Jeremy Hunt’s recognition that a seven-day NHS will cost money, and look forward to talking to him about how the proposals can be introduced. 

“But for the government’s plans to work, ministers must find new money, not take it from the small amount of extra pay that nurses and other NHS staff get from working at night, weekends and bank holidays.

“The public is right to expect that the NHS should be well-run and safely staffed every day of the week, but they won’t want to see that happen at the expense of dedicated health professionals.”