NHS GREEN TRAVEL PLAN

This Conference Supports the development of the NHS Green Travel plan, which encourages the use of public transport, walking and cycling to work. Accordingly Conference agrees to 1)Support the NHS Environmental travel plans 2)Calls for a ring fencing of a percentage of car parking for the use of showers, changing facilities and safe bicycle storage […]

CAMPAIGN AGAINST PROFIT MOTIVES IN THE NHS

This conference condemns attempts by some Trusts to introduce individual pay packages and profit sharing schemes in the NHS noting that the profit motive should have no place in our NHS. Accordingly conference urges Branches to oppose such moves in their areas through campaigns etc. Conference also urges Branches to affiliate to the Socialist Health […]

ZERO TOLERANCE IN CRITICAL CARE AREAS

This Conference asks the Service Group Executive to mount national action to drive forward the Zero Tolerance campaign of no verbal abuse, aggression or unacceptable behaviour towards healthcare staff. Conference is particularly concerned at the growing problem of aggression from visitors to frontline staff such as bedside nurses working in clinical areas in High Dependency, […]

ENDING THE TWO-TIER WORKFORCE IN LEARNING DISABILITY SERVICES

Conference notes that a significant number of UNISON health members in learning disability services have been transferred out of the NHS. These members undertake similar roles to before their transfer, often working with the same service users. Staff transferred in this way normally had TUPE protection of their existing terms and conditions, but have generally […]

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANTS REGISTRATION AND TRAINING

Conference notes UNISON’s campaign for Healthcare Assistants to be regulated, and the outcome of our consultation identified their wish to be regulated by the Health Professions Council. However, Conference also notes with strong concern that training for HCAs has been cut back in many areas as a result of the financial crisis, caused by the […]

FIRST AIDERS WITHIN THE WORKFORCE

This Conference believes that a safe working environment is a right for everyone. There is a requirement under “Health & Safety at Work Act 1974” and “The Health & Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981” for employers to provide equipment and facilities which are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for administering first-aid to employees (Regulation 3(1)). […]

NURSE TRAINING & WORKFORCE PLANNING

The last five years have witnessed a significant and welcome expansion in the commissioning of student nurse training places at UK universities to sustain the NHS nursing workforce. We are now beginning to see, however, a reduction in the availability of monies available to purchase training courses this year and the potential for reductions in […]

NURSING & MIDWIFERY COUNCIL REGISTRATION

Conference believes that the huge increase in the Nurses and Midwifery Council registration is unacceptable. The NMC can not justify nor demonstrate such a huge increase, nor do we as registrants have confidence that we are receiving value for money. All too often when the NMC are contacted by registered nurses who raise concerns regarding […]

END THE USE OF PRIVATE CONTRACTORS WITHIN OUR NHS

Conference welcomes the implementation of Agenda for Change (AfC) for Soft Facilities Management (FM) staff employed by private contractors and sees this as the minimum rate for all staff working in the NHS irrespective of employer. However we recognise that this agreement does not cover members employed in Hard FM and asks that negotiation continue […]

THE NHS AND WOMEN

The NHS is in crisis. Much of the government’s injection of additional investment has ended up in the pockets of private companies. The end result of government policies has been job losses, cuts, closures and privatisation. Women form the majority of the workforce in the NHS, and are also disproportionately represented in lower grade jobs […]

PATHOLOGY REVIEW

Conference notes the recommendations contained in the Report of the Review of NHS Pathology Services in England chaired by Lord Carter of Coles and published in August 2006 including: ·The establishment of managed pathology networks; ·Instigating formal service level agreements within trusts between laboratories and clinical departments; ·Empowering commissioners of pathology services to have greater […]

KEEP THE NHS WORKING

This conference welcomes the establishment of the TUC and non-TUC Health Trade Unions ‘NHS Together’ campaign which in conjunction with the UNISON ‘Say YES to 5 Healthier Options’ campaign provides a campaigning strategy to keep the NHS working in the public sector. This conference supports and applauds the leadership role provided by UNISON’s Healthcare Service […]

NATIONAL AMBULANCE PARTNERSHIP FORUM

Conference welcomes the creation of the National Ambulance Partnership Forum and notes that it has been set up to: 1.Provide a means to communicate and share a common understanding of the transformational national agenda facing ambulance services in light of: §‘Taking Healthcare to the Patient’ – service delivery, workforce developments, education & training; §The changing […]

PRIVATISATION IN THE PRESCRIPTION PRICING DIVISION (PPD)

The Government’s so-called reforms of the NHS are gathering pace and are preparing the way for more privatisation. On 28 July UNISON reps in the Prescription Pricing Division (PPD) of the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) were informed that the PPD is looking at options to privatise the services. This is in addition to the […]

KEEP THE NHS WORKING – BUILDING THE CAMPAIGN

Conference notes that far from being the best ever year the last 12 months have been one of the worst for the NHS and its workforce. We have seen Trust after Trust facing a financial crisis whilst at the same time more public money than ever is pouring into the private health sector. It is […]