Responding to the Care Quality Commission’s annual state of care report published today (Tuesday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:
“There’s not enough funding for social care, and out of hours support and NHS 111 are a mess.
“This cocktail of calamities is pushing people into A&E who shouldn’t be there, with patients and staff the losers. The NHS budget is already overstretched and can’t cope with this extra burden.
“What’s needed is vastly improved funding for both the NHS and social care now.”
Notes to editors:
– 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 both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
