The NHS continues to be ‘ alarmingly under-funded ’ , says health conference

Health members condemned the chronic under funding of the NHS under successive Tory governments, when they debated the issue on the last day of conference in Brighton today. They agreed that the consequences were dire for both patients and NHS staff, who were unable to deliver the level of care they wanted to. Adopting a motion on The funding crisis and its impact on the workforce, conference noted that successive Westminster governments have “failed miserably” to produce a funding settlement that works for the NHS – either directly for England or via the Barnett formula in the devolved nations. Introducing the motion, George Barron, vice-chair of the health service group executive, accused “hapless” health secretary Jeremy Hunt of failing to see that the NHS was in crisis. Mr Barron said evidence of the crisis could be seen in the numbers of people waiting in hospital corridors because there were no beds; ambulances delayed at hospitals because patients could not be admitted; people unable to get GP appointments; growing waiting times in A&E; and the fact that hospitals were not being properly cleaned because there were not enough domestics. “It is not our members’ fault,” he said. “Every day, our members are working their damn socks off. To see [criticism] in the press day after day must depress many of them. “NHS bodies keep saying they need more money. The Tory government gives them half of the amount. “I think it’s a plan from the Tories to di...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News 2018 Health Conference health care health fund Health Funding Crisis health staff NHS funding NHS funding cuts social care Source Type: news