Commenting on Wes Streeting’s speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today (Tuesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“The health secretary was unequivocal about his commitment to the desperately needed national care service millions of people deserve.
“Today he got the ball rolling with the fair pay agreement that’ll begin to lift social care staff from their poverty wages, after being undervalued and ignored for far too long.
“UNISON’s been campaigning tirelessly for years to get a better deal for social care workers. Labour has been listening and is doing something about it with these positive steps.
“Wes Streeting also understands the NHS and social care are more than just a way to patch people up. They’re about providing people with a decent quality of life.
“A healthier nation is part of a much bigger picture and that means ensuring everyone has a fair chance to access public services, education and support.
“But a bold, modern health and care system requires proper funding for the nuts and bolts, as well as the staff who deliver these essential services.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON delegates proposed motions earlier today at the Labour conference in Liverpool during a session on health and care. They covered the vital role of migrant workers and the need to stop the spread of wholly owned subsidiary companies within the NHS.
– 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:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07508 080349 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
The article Funding and support for staff essential to build modern NHS, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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