Commenting on shadow health secretary Wes Streeting’s plans to revitalise the NHS, announced at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“Patients have suffered from Conservative mismanagement of the NHS for 13 long years. Services are in a perilous state and health workers are exhausted.
“Record staff shortages are fuelling ever-growing waiting lists. Labour plans to boost the workforce and provide extra equipment would kickstart the recovery process.
“Investment is also crucial if patient confidence in the NHS is to be rebuilt. Labour’s commitment to create the much-needed national care service would help free up capacity in hospitals to the relief of millions awaiting treatment.
“It would also ease the plight of worried families trying to navigate the broken social care system. The introduction of a new fair pay agreement would transform care roles into more attractive jobs and reduce vacancies.
“An election can’t come soon enough.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
