Conference notes with grave concern the wave of cuts in NHS services over the last year, as a result of shortfalls in funding from Primary Care Trusts. The government claims that it has put millions of pounds into additional funding for the NHS, yet we have seen ward closures, job losses and reductions in essential […]
Conference motions
This Conference recognises the advances made in Health & Safety with regards to manual handling and the advent of ‘non-handling trusts.’ However for many of our members the damage has already been done. It is far too common for health staff to suffer spinal and other muscular/skeletal disorders resulting in disability in later life and […]
Conference notes that the Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions Handbook: ·had to be concluded by a pre-agreed deadline ·was not widely available to UNISON’s lay membership before the Agenda for Change ballot ·leaves around a hundred terms open to local negotiation rather than the nineteen or so originally envisaged ·is often unclearly-expressed or ambiguous […]
CONFERENCE notes the provision in the Agenda for Change agreement for the areas where High Cost Area Supplements are paid to be extended beyond their current geographical limits. Conference notes that there has been a rapid rise in the cost of living, and especially housing, in several areas, meaning that the take-home pay of workers […]
Conference notes 1.The National Blood Service (NBS) collects, tests, processes, stores and issues 2.1 million blood donations yearly; 2.Potential donors are asked if they are member of a community at higher risk of contracting HIV/Aids – communities that include men who sleep with men, people who have had sex in Africa and intravenous drug users. […]
We welcomed the national student nurse survey, which was conducted by UNISON and the Nursing Times this year. However it is clear from previous health conference motions that other students including Occupational Therapists, Operating Department Practitioners and Paramedic diploma and degree students face similar financial hardship. We therefore call on the SGE and relevant Sectors […]
Conference notes the introduction of the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) which will apply to all NHS staff as part of the Agenda for Change process. Conference also notes that the KSF has equality and human rights as a core dimension. As a consequence all employees will be required to demonstrate a commitment to equality […]
This conference acknowledges the difficulties facing the more specialist staff in the NHS in various areas such as preparing job descriptions, knowledge and skills framework outlines and accessing information on career development and training and education opportunities. Within trusts and individual branches such staff are often at a disadvantage compared to colleagues in more generic […]
We welcomed the launch of the code of conduct for Healthcare Assistants, which was called for at the 2005 HCA conference. The National Nursing Sector recognises the significance that regulation plays in acknowledging the vital contribution, which HCA make to patient care and the health care team. However the subject of regulation for HCA dates […]
The Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) announced the creation of the Capacity Improvement Programme (CIP) in December 2003. Management stated that the aim for CIP was to increase the PPA’s prescription processing capacity deal with the rising intake without the need to open more processing divisions. At this time it was stated that rollout would be […]
UNISON’s Nursing Sector has been heavily involved and influential in the recent Chief Nursing Officer (England) Review of Mental Health Nursing. Unison responded at length to the review consultation, making many observations and recommendation that are taken up in the published report. The Nursing Sector provided three representatives to the Reference Panel which assisted in […]
This Conference notes the forthcoming reorganisation of Ambulance Trusts in England in line with the proposed reconfigured Strategic Health Authority boundaries, in addition to the many other recommendations contained in the report “Taking Healthcare to The Patient”. Conference endorses the UNISON response document to the report and in particular that UNISON is broadly in favour […]
With the implementation of the NHS Knowledge & Skills Framework, Conference expects a rapid expansion of learning activities among NHS staff, keen to take advantage of the learning and development opportunities offered by the KSF. Conference notes UNISON’s continuing success in its work to create a culture of lifelong learning in health branches, carried out […]
Conference notes that unprincipled legal firms are trying to sell their services to a wider market by encouraging members of the public to sue NHS organisations if they are not content with the levels of care received. The NHS has mechanisms for identifying and rectifying errors in treatment and practice. Health professionals are regulated and […]
Conference notes with concern that the Professional and Technical workforce in the NHS faces a potential shortfall of staff over the next five years. This is especially the case in Cardiology, Biomedical Science, Operating Department Practice, Healthcare Engineers, Pharmacy and the Medical Technical area and is evidenced by ongoing and increasing recruitment problems. Conference recognises […]