DOWNBANDING AND PAY PROTECTION

Conference notes that as Trusts throughout the country come under more financial pressure they have turned to downbanding as a way of saving money at our members’ expense. These downbandings happen as Trusts undertake service reviews, cost improvements or reorganisations and abuse the Job Evaluation Scheme as set out in Agenda for Change. The Agenda […]

Redeployment in the NHS

Conferences recognises that dismissal or early retirement due to capability as a result of disability, is something that affects members across all service sectors, but it is noted that many members are able to remain in employment due to the obligation on employers to redeploy staff into suitable roles. However, most employers within the NHS […]

PFI

Conference notes that across the four countries there continues to be a profit driven agenda in terms of including PFI and outsourcing within the NHS. Whilst services in England are in immediate danger of privatisation we must not forget the services which have already been privatised and the staff that have transferred to the private […]

Protecting mental health amongst LGBT health care workers

Conference notes that discrimination is bad for your health – both physical and mental. Research published by Manchester Business School in 2014 found significantly higher levels of poor mental health amongst lesbian, gay and bisexual workers than non-LGB workers. The highest levels were amongst lesbian and bisexual workers. Studies of the experiences of transgender workers […]

Campaigning against the privatisation of operational services

Conference recognises the NHS is facing threats more serious than ever before. Services and jobs are threatened, with some employers using the economy as an excuse to privatise services and attack staff pay, terms and conditions. Conference acknowledges that members working in operational services – administration, clerical, ancillary and maintenance jobs – are at a […]

Nursing and Midwifery Council Revalidation

Conference notes the pilot schemes for revalidation of registered nurses being run by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) within each of the four countries. Conference believes that the main aim of revalidation should be to protect the public from failures in nursing practice. It should not be a money making exercise by the professional […]

Rejecting the Tory vision of our NHS

Conference notes the major problems that the current Tory-led coalition government has caused for our NHS. Conference believes that funding has fallen well short of the level needed to sustain the type of NHS we all want to see, both directly in England and indirectly – through cuts to the Barnett formula – in the […]

Tackling discrimination against LGBT health workers

Conference notes that there has been considerable progress in the recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity as relevant workplace issues and that much is being done to tackle discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers in the health services across the UK. However, there is still an unacceptable level of discrimination […]

The NHS funding crisis and acute bed shortage

Conference notes that since the election of the Con/Dem government there has been continuous and sustained underfunding of the NHS. Furthermore, conference notes that there is increased pressure on the NHS from the ever increasing numbers that are accessing the service. As a result of increased attendance at emergency departments and as a result of […]

Health and Wellbeing

Conference welcomes incentives to improve the health and wellbeing of staff, conference is concerned that initiatives proposed by the four NHS systems are aimed at changing the behaviour of the worker rather than removing or reducing hazards in the workplace that can result in poor health. For example, in the ‘Five Year Forward View’ report, […]

Health Education England

Conference condemns the restructuring of Health Education England (HEE) announced in 2014, just over one after its establishment and linked to a £17million (20%) reduction in running costs. Conference opposes the 20% reduction in running costs which through its implementation means less jobs, a reduction of bandings for some posts and is unnecessary as £17 […]

Agile Working Should Not Damage Our Health

Conference notes that many health employers are encouraging and at times pressing members in community and many support services roles to work in agile, remote or home based ways, making greater use of IT and reducing both the number of times staff need to visit their base and the size and number of bases themselves. […]

Future Pay Claims/Evidence to Pay Review Bodies

Conference welcomes the decision of the 2014 Trades Union Congress to support the claim for a rise in the national minimum wage to £10 per hour. We believe that £10 an hour is a necessity for the millions of working people who have suffered years of wage restraint and inflation outstripping pay rises. Conference calls […]

Living wage in the NHS

Conference notes, at the time of writing, the failure of the Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt to meet and negotiate with NHS trade unions in England on their pay demands as set out in the Staff side letter of 25th June 2014. Conference applauds the efforts of all sections of the health group in delivering […]

Parity for NHS Mental Health Services

Conference notes that although mental health is a significant part of the NHS, at least 20% of all activity, it is very under resourced. As a result staff working in mental health services are experiencing significant workplace stress as they struggle to provide high quality services to the detriment of staff health and wellbeing leading […]