Access to Training and Development

The Ancillary Sector membership has a long history of under investment by managers in the NHS; providing learning and training opportunities to ancillary staff has never been a priority. It is often viewed as unnecessary by some employers or treated in a slipshod and half-hearted fashion by others who under value ancillary staff and their […]

NHS Pensions Review

This conference supports UNISON’s involvement in the NHS Pensions Review which is subject to the Unison wide policy on pensions review and against the background of wider discussions between the TUC and Government on public sector pensions. Like other sectors, the National Ancillary & Maintenance Sector has concerns around pensions issues relating to pension age, […]

Agenda for Change

This Health Conference notes that as expected the indications from the Early Implementers is that the proposals on unsociable hours, in particular, but not only, for low paid workers, will create huge difficulties for the health service. Conference therefore urges the national negotiators as a major priority to renegotiate on the basis of obtaining two […]

Regulation of Healthcare Assistants

We call on the Government as a matter of urgency to publish its consultation on an effective system of regulation for Healthcare Assistants, which recognises the essential contribution they make to patient care. This important issue is not being prioritised sufficiently by ministers. The lack of such proposals does nothing to ensure patient or client […]

Nurse Staffing Levels

Conference recognises that Health Service Trusts are experiencing difficulty in recruiting and retaining Registered Nurses and Auxiliary Staff and increasingly depend on Bank and Agency Nursing staff to provide cover. Furthermore Conference recognises that there is not an agreed National standard for nurse staffing levels with the exception of areas which require specialist practice. Conference […]

Agenda for Change

This Conference expresses its grave concern regarding the lack of information emanating from the Early Implementer Pilot Sites and UNISON’s consequent inability to monitor our areas of major concern, including:- ·Unsocial hours payments · ·Progression through “gateways” · ·Protection arrangements · ·Disadvantaged groups, e.g. those whose working hours will be increased · Conference therefore seeks […]

Health Professions Council

Conference notes with increasing concern the problems associated with the HPC processing applications for placement or renewal on its register. The high incidence of delays, apparent non-receipt or misplacement of applications and then inability to cope with resulting inquiries from occupational therapists as their registration/renewal date approached last November is of particular concern. Conference notes […]

Electronic Speed Traps – Effect on Emergency Vehicles

Conference notes with concern the effect on the ambulance service and other emergency services of the increasing use by local authorities of electronic speed traps. Such is the effect of these machines that ambulance services now employ scarce resources simply to deal with the administration of the paperwork generated when ambulances that are answering emergency […]

Ambulance Technicians

Most health professions have training and education programmes that lead to a single qualification and professional title. However, in the ambulance service the basic training for an emergency care practitioner qualifies you for the post of Ambulance Technician. To become a registered practitioner in emergency care and to use the title of Paramedic, authorized Technicians […]

Training

This conference calls upon the SGE to use all avenues open to it to ensure that NHS trusts harmonise funding for training in the workplace between all professions and occupations in the NHS. This is essential if the NHS is to ensure suitably qualified staff will be available in the future in all occupational groups. […]

Foundation Hosptials and Women

This conference deplores the creation of Foundation Hospitals, and is particularly saddened this initiative has been introduced by a Labour Government. Almost 80% of NHS staff are women, mainly employed in low paid jobs. Foundation hospitals will be able to offer their own pay and conditions to their staff, creating a two-tier workforce in the […]

Agenda for Change – NHS Staff Council – a flawed system

Conference notes with concern that hundreds of thousands of members of UNISON would be hugely under represented on the proposed Agenda for Change NHS Staff Council. We note that: 1.The new Agenda for Change NHS Staff Council is currently in shadow form; 2.On this body UNISON members have just 7 out of a total 34 […]

Amendment to Rule D.4 – Self-Organised Groups

GLASGAY!

Glasgay! is the UK’s largest multi-arts festival for multi-sexual people and their friends. Every November the festival presents the best gay art from around the world with events spanning comedy, music, film, theatre, visual art, performance art, literature, club nights, education events, community arts projects and even a traditional Scottish Ceilidh dance. The last year […]

Rights of Caucuses

The members of the Lesbian and Gay Caucus are concerned at views heard around this venue, during the 2003 Disabled Members’ Conference, questioning the appropriateness of the rights of caucuses. In particular the view that caucuses should have no practical function within conference. As Disabled Lesbian and Gay Members we feel offended by these views. […]