NHS workforce need actions to match the promises, says UNISON  

Sara Gorton says People Plan must be backed with investment for early and significant pay rise

Commenting on the publication of the NHS People Plan today (Thursday), UNISON head of health Sara Gorton said:

“Covid-19 has profoundly changed the day-to-day reality of work for all health staff. The NHS has a responsibility to focus on how to support employees over the coming months.

“Huge numbers of people leave jobs they love every year because of bullying, racism, inflexible shifts and other fixable issues. Plans to tackle these problems are overdue and welcomed.

“But the government keeps missing chances to make a lasting contribution to the NHS with an early and significant wage rise.

“The People Plan must be backed with investment for a much-deserved pay increase. Otherwise, health workers will discover the government has no intention of matching words with actions.”

Notes for 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 contact:
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk