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Source: UNISON Health care news
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Total 148 results found since Jan 2013.
Covid death families have yet to claim millions in compensation
Millions of pounds of compensation promised by ministers to relatives of frontline health and social care workers who died during the pandemic may still remain unclaimed, says UNISON today (Friday).
Fewer than 800 families across England have received a £60,000 pay out each from the government’s life assurance scheme*.
Official figures show more than 2,000 deaths involving Covid occurred among health and care staff, including porters, nurses and care home employees**. Although the payments are available solely for people whose deaths were “wholly or mainly” caused by Covid, UNISON says there could still be many ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - March 24, 2023 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release compensation covid Source Type: news
Leaving school staff alone to battle Covid threat is reckless
The government’s decision to withdraw most Covid-specific guidance for education and childcare settings is leaving school staff anxious and confused, says UNISON.
Workers – including teaching assistants, cleaners, catering workers, admin and clerical staff – worry ministers’ hands-off approach is leaving them alone to battle the virus, the union says.
Removing free tests, which have been a crucial protection against rising infection rates in schools, is a reckless move. To do so with no plan in place to protect pupils and staff makes little sense, UNISON adds.
Schools had been expecting detailed guidance on how to...
Source: UNISON Health care news - April 4, 2022 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus schools coronavirus testing Source Type: news
Ending free Covid tests could threaten public services
Vital services in education, utilities, refuse collection and local government could face huge challenges if workers don’t continue to receive free Covid tests, says UNISON.
The union is warning that staff sickness will rise as untested but infected workers unwittingly spreading the virus.
Free lateral flow tests are being scrapped from Friday (1 April), with all workers – other than health and care staff – expected to fork out upwards of £3 for each one.
In workplaces where testing is vital to the delivery of frontline services, UNISON says it’s unfair and risky to make staff pay, especially as infection rates...
Source: UNISON Health care news - March 30, 2022 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus testing cost of living Source Type: news
Ending free tests is a foolish move, says UNISON
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s statement today (Monday) on the ending of Covid rules in England, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The government has taken leave of its senses. Ditching every last Covid safety rule while thousands are still catching the virus every day is irresponsible.
“Ending free tests for the public is a foolish move. Most people will simply stop testing because they can’t afford to check their Covid status. Reforming the UK’s busted sick pay system is now a must.
“Anyone old or with a health condition making them vulnerable has been ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - February 21, 2022 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus testing isolation Source Type: news
Government must row back from reckless ditching of Covid rules, say education unions
Chaos will reign in schools and millions of hours of learning will be lost unless the government rows back from the reckless decision to scrap all remaining Covid safety rules in England, three education unions are warning today (Monday).
UNISON, Unite and GMB, which represent school support staff, are urging the Prime Minister to think again and keep in place free testing and the requirement to self-isolate, as an absolute minimum.
The three unions say the government’s failure to provide clear, detailed guidance risks a super spreader free-for-all in schools and other workplaces.
Throughout the pandemic, the governmen...
Source: UNISON Health care news - February 21, 2022 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus schools Source Type: news
Government guidance for schools increases Covid risk and threatens learning, warns UNISON
Using support staff to cover for teachers isolating with Covid is the wrong approach to dealing with the school staffing crisis and ensuring pupils’ education continues, says UNISON today (Monday).
This week, the Department for Education (DfE) issued guidance encouraging schools to use support staff “more flexibly” as children return after the Christmas break.
UNISON recognises that the rapid spread of Omicron is causing high numbers of staff absences in schools and that learning must continue for pupils. However, the union says using low-waged employees as teachers on the cheap amounts to exploitation and is inappr...
Source: UNISON Health care news - January 10, 2022 Category: UK Health Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: News Press release coronavirus schools Jon Richards teaching assistants Source Type: news
Extra Covid measures should have been introduced weeks ago
Responding to the education secretary’s announcement today (Sunday) introducing further Covid safety measures for schools and colleges in England, UNISON assistant general secretary Jon Richards said:
“An increase in the use of face coverings and better ventilation are welcome but should have been in place before Christmas to have slowed the infection in schools.
“Providing 7,000 filters is a helpful step. But with over 20,000 schools – many with dozens of classrooms – this will barely scratch the surface.
“These new measures also don’t address the need for extra funding to meet additional costs to schools ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - January 2, 2022 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus schools Source Type: news
Health staff ‘wrung dry’ by pandemic pressures, says UNISON survey
More than two thirds (69%) of health staff say they’ve experienced burnout during the pandemic, and three in five (62%) feel overwhelmed after long, intense shifts, according to a UNISON survey published today (Thursday).
As the UK confronts a surge in Omicron cases, UNISON fears many NHS staff who’ve already worked through several waves of the virus could quit, leaving the NHS in a perilous state.
The survey findings – based on responses from more than 10,000 health employees in Wales, England and Northern Ireland – show half (51%) are covering more shifts because of staff shortages. This situation is likely ...
Source: UNISON Health care news - December 23, 2021 Category: UK Health Authors: Sophie Goodchild Tags: News Press release mental health NHS Source Type: news
Extra safety measures are the right approach but still more can be done, says UNISON
Responding to the announcement today (Wednesday) that the government’s ‘Plan B’ Covid measures are to be introduced in the coming days, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“It’s the right thing to introduce extra measures. Everyone should be doing what they can to stop the spread of Covid, particularly with the uncertainty around the Omicron variant.
“The NHS is already feeling the strain so helping to reduce infections is vital to ease the impact on overworked health staff and treatment backlogs.
“Many people may be tired of restrictions, but they must remember huge numbers of key workers – kee...
Source: UNISON Health care news - December 8, 2021 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus face masks Source Type: news
Education unions call for additional safety measures in schools
Five education unions have written to the Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, asking him to urgently reconsider the reintroduction of additional safety measures in schools, given the rising rates of Covid infection and absence among school students.
The five unions – GMB, NASUWT, NEU, UNISON and UNITE – will also be writing to all local authorities and directors of public health asking them to consider measures in their local areas.
The unions have pointed to measures now being readopted in several local authority areas in response to rising cases, including social distancing measures, reintroduction of bu...
Source: UNISON Health care news - October 9, 2021 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus schools Source Type: news
Blog: Taking our demands to the Labour Party
I’m just back from Brighton, where I went to bring UNISON’s demands on public services and social care into the Labour Party at its annual conference.
As I’ve said in many of my recent speeches, we are at a major crossroads. The head of our delegation, Linda Hobson, moved our motion on public services that was unanimously supported. She said: “We are calling time on business as usual’’, and that’s because we need a new deal for public services and public service workers.
We also heard from vice president Andrea Egan on decent housing and secure homes, while Liz Cameron seconded a motion on mental health, Tra...
Source: UNISON Health care news - September 30, 2021 Category: UK Health Authors: Christina McAnea Tags: General secretary's blog News Source Type: news
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...
Source: UNISON Health care news - September 20, 2021 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release adult social care nhs pay public services Source Type: news
Don ’t wait until it’s too late to bring back mask wearing and social distancing
Commenting on the government’s winter coronavirus plan outlined by health secretary Sajid Javid today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“Making mask wearing optional back in the summer was a mistake. The government was too hasty to scrap this and other sensible safety precautions like social distancing.
“Health workers are having to cope with the backlog and rising Covid hospital admissions. Their struggle is made worse by having too few staff, all worn out from their previous pandemic efforts. They’re hugely dedicated individuals, but they’re not superhuma...
Source: UNISON Health care news - September 14, 2021 Category: UK Health Authors: Fatima Ayad Tags: Press release Christina McAnea face masks health and social care Source Type: news
Many nurses and midwives feel unprepared and unsupported in first roles
More than two thirds (70%) of students or newly qualified nurses and midwives believe they have missed out on important learning experiences during Covid, says a UNISON report today (Wednesday).
The findings also show more than half (56%) of final year students worry they’re not as prepared for qualification as they should be, according to a snapshot survey of those in the UK who completed their studies in the pandemic.
Many student nurses and midwives had their studies disrupted as a result of deployment to hospital wards and the addition of other responsibilities during the pandemic.
UNISON says the government a...
Source: UNISON Health care news - August 24, 2021 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release coronavirus health workers nursing and midwifery students Source Type: news
Water regulation needs to be properly resourced, says UNISON
UNISON is calling on the government to introduce regulation that will help it deliver on its promise to “build back greener” following the coronavirus pandemic.
Responding to last week’s government announcement on water policy reforms to deliver an ambitious environmental agenda, the union said that Westminster must ensure suitably funded, resourced and independent regulation is in place to deliver on those challenges.
The government announcement followed a recent judgement and record fine of Southern Water for regularly and deliberately pouring untreated sewage into protected waters on the south coast of Eng...
Source: UNISON Health care news - July 27, 2021 Category: UK Health Authors: Amanda Kendal Tags: Article News WET Source Type: news
