Invest in the health workforce and public services to learn pandemic lessons

Proper investment in the NHS workforce and run-down public services, as well as the creation of a national care service, are key to the UK’s pandemic recovery, says UNISON today (Monday). In her keynote speech to UNISON’s virtual heath conference this afternoon, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea renewed her call for an immediate public inquiry to hold those accountable for the mistakes, poor decisions and profiteering made during the past 18 months. Christina McAnea said: “The government’s shockingly bad planning, lack of foresight and slow reaction to the unfolding tragedy, is quite frankly unforgiveable. “Boris Johnson skipped five Cobra meetings on coronavirus. What would happen if any health worker skipped five shifts, or important meetings to plan patient care, or to prepare for a major event? “A public inquiry is urgently needed. It must be properly independent, must start now, and must investigate the impact on black, disabled and women workers, and the high death rates for staff in low-paid jobs. “It must focus on the lack of preparedness, and how a decade of damaging austerity hindered the ability of public services to respond to the crisis. “Workers in vital services were already running on empty. There must be answers because if lessons aren’t learned from these mistakes, they risk being repeated. “Health staff who work for private contractors, or the voluntary sector, should have the same pay rates and benefits as NHS staff. The servi...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release adult social care nhs pay public services Source Type: news