Commenting on the second day of strike action by junior doctors over threatened cuts to the pay they get for working at weekends and at nights, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis said: “Jeremy Hunt has singlehandedly managed to publically alienate vital medical professionals who now feel they have no choice but to take strike action to defend their profession.
“Everyone wants to see a better NHS, but it won’t be delivered by attacking the pay and working conditions of junior doctors.
“The government attacks on junior medics will come as no surprise to student nurses, who are already on the receiving end of one of George Osborne’s most foolish cuts – the removal of the student nursing bursary.
“There is a national shortage of nurses. Landing future generations with debts of over £50,000 as a way of balancing the budget is misguided at best, and is likely to mean that only those from affluent backgrounds will ever be able to afford to join the profession
“That’s why many student nurses will join junior doctors on their picket lines at lunchtime today. They will stand side by side with them against a government that is cutting them both adrift. In doing so ministers are not just damaging our NHS but also putting patients at risk.”
Notes to editors:
- All UNISON press release can be found at https://www.unison.org.uk/news/media-centre/
Media contacts:
Alan Weaver T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07939 143310 E: a.weaver@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk