UNISON recognises the importance of all organisations playing their part in reducing the carbon footprint. Conference in particular notes and applauds UNISON’s “Greening the Workplace” campaign and in particular its work in promoting greener staff travel plans. UNISON notes the ·NHS Carbon Reduction Strategy and its commitment to reduce its emissions by 60 per cent […]
Conference motions
Conference notes that some commentators have this year argued that the public has lost confidence in nurses, even to the point of suggesting that nursing has lost its way. These sentiments, if left unchallenged, are likely to taint policy developments, such as the Next Steps Review and associated activity to develop metrics to better evaluate […]
The Health and Safety Executive defines violence at work as any incident in which an employee / staff member is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work. But it’s also important to note that threats and verbal abuse can lead to physical violence and will contribute to the levels of stress for […]
Training and development is a major issue for Health Care Assistants / support workers. At a time when most NHS organisations are running out of cash, training and development is the first casualty in saving money, along with staffing levels; both are a potential time bomb. For the safety of our patients’ pathway in hospital, […]
Conference notes the Terms of Reference of the Modernising Scientific Careers programme oversight board agreed on 29 May 2008 as follows: 1.To oversee and provide the governance for the development of the UK strategy for modernising scientific careers in health. 2.To ensure that the Modernising Scientific Careers (MSC) programme is evidence-based and developed within the […]
This conference is concerned that many NHS Trusts and employers are not paying the HM Revenue and Customs’ advisory fuel rates for company cars/lease cars. These rates are reviewed every six months but many NHS staff did not receive the increased rate from July last year. We therefore ask that the Health Group issue further […]
This conference is mindful of how many NHS staff are now being transferred to the private and voluntary sector under “contestability” and “decommissioning.” In mental health and learning disability services this is further complicated by the number of staff who may still hold Mental Health Officer (MHO) status which allows them to retire at 55 […]
This conference recognises that Labour has significantly increased funding for the NHS over the period it has been in power. We are extremely concerned, however, that the practice of forcing Trusts to make year on year “efficiency” savings of 3% is having a destabilising and damaging effect on many staff and the services they run. […]
This conference is appalled at a recent suggestion by the Department of Health officials, as reported in the Health Service Journal, that the measure of success for commissioners should be how many NHS services they have managed to “decommission” and award to alternative providers such as the private or voluntary sector. We see this as […]
This Conference notes that the recruitment and retention premia relating to posts specified in table 19 of Annex R of the Agenda for Change (AfC) Terms and Conditions handbook is applicable for the “transitional period” and that section 18 of Annex R provides for future reviews of the guidance. Conference calls on the Service Group […]
This Conference notes with concern that in cases where reasonable adjustments to role for disabled people are not possible, and subsequently those people are moved into a role that does not qualify for special officer status, NHS Pensions remove their special officer status. We believe this is direct discrimination against disabled members because of the […]
This conference recognises the concern that some NHS Foundation Trusts believe that the flexibilities in the NHS Terms and Conditions Handbook mean that they can ignore national agreements and collective bargaining arrangements. Conference also notes that some Trusts may also take these flexibilities as grounds to undermine key principles of partnership working, for example by […]
Conference is concerned that over 4 years after the implementation date for Agenda for Change there are still reports of employers failing to pay the preceptorship increment for new starters – many of whom will be young members – at Band 5 with a professional qualification. It is further concerned at reports that some employers […]
This conference notes with concern the policy being adopted by many ambulance trusts of sending a lone ambulance practitioner as an initial response to most emergency calls rather than a traditional double crewed vehicle. This system, known as “the front loaded model” is being initiated in response to the increasing resource pressures on Ambulance trusts. […]
This Conference notes that the NHS Staff Council agreed to changes to Ill Health Retirement arrangements for staff in the NHS in 2008. This followed a consultation period lasting from 22 October 2007 until 21 January 2008. The Department of Health document “Managing Ill Health Retirement in the NHS – A Guide for Human Resources […]