Government guarantees might help reassure NHS and care workforces, says UNISON

Commenting on the report published today (Friday) by the Health Select Committee into the impact of Brexit upon health and social care in the UK, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“The Brexit vote has plunged the NHS and social care into deeply uncertain times. The government’s reluctance to grant EU nationals working in our public services the right to remain has cast a huge shadow over their lives, and made them feel taken for granted and unloved.

“Anti-EU rhetoric from politicians set on a hard Brexit is also understandably deterring many nurses and care workers who might otherwise have come to the UK from across Europe to work in our hospitals and care homes.

“Both the NHS and care services already have too few home-grown staff to meet growing demand. Unless the government does more to raise NHS pay, reassure EU workers already here, and encourage potential recruits from across the EU, the staffing crisis in health and social care is set to get a great deal worse.”

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Joe Lewis T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07970 863 411 E: j.lewis5@unison.co.uk