Proposed improvements to the way the NHS records and deals with violent attacks on staff should ensure greater accountability where trusts are failing to address this worrying trend, says UNISON today (Wednesday).
This, along with news that NHS trusts will be expected to improve their systems for ensuring staff receive the correct rates for the jobs they do, was announced at the union’s health conference in Liverpool by secretary of state for health Wes Streeting.
Money is being made available to develop a new digital job-evaluation system to aid trusts in this task, adds the union.
Guidance is also being developed that should ensure experience gained by overseas health workers before they come to the UK determines the grade and wage they receive here, says UNISON.
When the deal was done to end the Agenda for Change strikes across the NHS in 2022/23, it included commitments to address a number of other work-related issues, aside from the agreed wage rise. These are among the issues tackled by today’s announcements, says UNISON.
UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “Grading, the treatment of overseas staff and tackling the increasing number of attacks on NHS workers are all issues that should have been dealt with years ago.
“But these were neglected by Conservative governments. It’s helpful the government is picking up what the previous administration failed to do.
“Experienced migrant health workers shouldn’t have to start at the bottom of the pay scale when they arrive in the UK. Guidance to ensure trusts recognise the valuable experience of overseas staff will help persuade them to stay working for the NHS.
“Commitments and funding to ensure employers properly assess jobs and staff are on the correct grade should improve industrial relations across the health service.
“But this won’t happen overnight. Until it does, health workers may have to keep resorting to strike action at their trusts to win the wages and salary grade their jobs deserve.
“No one wants to walk out on patients. But left with no other choice to win fair pay for the care they give, it’s often the only option for staff. That’s the difficult decision phlebotomists in Gloucester and healthcare assistants in Nottingham have had to make this week.
“Introducing a standard format for the way violent incidents are recorded should make it easier to spot those trusts failing to protect staff and challenge the worrying rise in violent attacks, verbal assaults and threats staff.
“This must be something trusts are required to do. So the devil will be in the detail. The hope will be that these measures aren’t lost in the chaos and cuts associated with the abolition of NHS England, and the merging of staff and functions with the Department of Health and Social Care.
“But the most urgent issue facing ministers is sorting out NHS pay. A decent wage rise, which is in pay packets as soon as possible, is essential. Otherwise the service could end up losing experienced staff before any of these changes come into force.”
Notes to editors:
– Health secretary Wes Streeting spoke at UNISON’s annual health conference this morning at the ACC Liverpool, Kings Dock Street L3 4FP. Health workers from across the UK have been attending debates on a variety of motions including NHS pay, a greener NHS, bank staff, support for migrant workers, mental health, sexual safety, problems with NHS salary scales, and safe staffing.
– 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: press@unison.co.uk
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
The article Work now underway that should improve support for NHS staff, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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