Conference is concerned that even before the COVID-19 pandemic the growing pressures on the NHS from the Tory-led government’s unrealistic targets and cuts, growing staff shortages and growing pressure on individual NHS staff members from the cumulative impact of austerity and the pandemic has taken us to breaking point. Despite the continued efforts of our […]
Conference motions
Conference is deeply concerned by the race to the bottom approach that is being taken across the country around pay and conditions for NHS bank work. Although, it is not the solution to the ever-growing staff crisis in the NHS, it is recognised that the flexibility that bank working arrangements provides is beneficial to some […]
Just and Restorative Culture is an employer initiative being rolled out through NHS England, focused around resolving cases at the informal level and reducing stress for those involved. The basic idea around Just Culture is to focus on the wider, systemic issues as opposed to the individuals. It began as a way of approaching patient […]
Conference notes that the NHS employs over 1.3 million staff who are not professionally registered. They are valuable and necessary to the provision of safe patient care. “Nursing, midwifery and care staff, working as part of wider multidisciplinary teams, play a critical role in securing high quality care and excellent outcomes for patients” (Excerpt from […]
This conference believes that Freedom to Speak up policies and guardians in the NHS is a positive step toward improving quality and transparency within the NHS. Recent cases in private care homes and hospitals demonstrate that there is a need for similar roles and processes to be rolled out in the private sector that is […]
Conference notes the current NHS uniforms provided to emergency crews by most NHS Ambulance Trusts are not fit for purpose: • Too hot in summer, • Too cold in the winter • Not designed or suitable for different genders. The majority of uniforms are varying shades of green which blend into the background contrary to […]
Conference notes that across the UK, NHS Hospital and Ambulance staff have been performing under incredible pressures due to the Pandemic and that over-crowded wards prevents emergency departments from moving patients’ forwards. This over-crowding also prevents NHS Ambulance crews from bringing their patients into the hospitals; instead, the crews remain outside with their often critically […]
NHS staff have a significant role to play in helping the NHS to achieve its net zero emissions target by 2040 and we welcome the work that has been taking place which highlights how staff such as AHPs, healthcare science and pharmacy technicians can support environmental sustainability. If anything, COP26 has demonstrated just how ill […]
Conference welcomes the work by Health Education England on developing the role of Allied Health Professions Support Workers. Their AHP support workforce programme has been established to provide national leadership and support on recognising, developing, and expanding the non-registered AHP workforce. Conference also welcomes the work that UNISON has been doing jointly with the professional […]
Conference is aware of the significant financial cuts in our Healthcare services in all four UK nations in at least the past three decades. Conference notes that where new facilities have been built, they have generally maximised the amount of clinical space but have minimised the amount of space allocated for other areas including changing […]
Conference recognises that a lot of work has been done in all 4 countries of the UK to raise awareness of Gender-Based Violence as a public health issue and to keep it on the agenda at a strategic level. Gender-Based Violence is an umbrella term that encompasses a spectrum of abuse experienced mostly by women […]
Everyone knows that the NHS is facing an increasing problem of recruiting and retaining staff. The recommendations on Flexible Working will hopefully do something to alleviate the difficulties in recruiting and retaining people as will hybrid working but these are not the only solutions. The NHS needs to adopt modern working practices and also learn […]
Conference notes with concern: 1 The rapid rise in fuel costs during the Autumn/Winter of 2021. 2 That a number of health roles continue to require the use of a car as public transport, cycling etc, cannot be used. This is a particular issue in rural areas. 3 That the current rates of mileage for […]
This conference notes the even the NHS acknowledges that “there is evidence of disproportionate mortality and morbidity amongst black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people, including our NHS staff, who have contracted COVID-19.” This was backed by the tragic facts that emerged during the pandemic: • Of the first 106 staff that died in 2020, […]
The respected think-tank Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in Autumn 2019 produced a headline “Hospitals face £80bn bill due to toxic PFI Legacy” with a report detailing; 1) Prior to COVID-19, the health service faces a PFI “postcode lottery” as some trusts faced spending up to £1 in every £6 on PFI payments with […]