Commenting on the announcement of new measures designed to alleviate the problems of ‘corridor care’ and reduce A&E waiting times, UNISON head of health Helga Pile said today (Saturday):
“Patients deserve and expect the best care possible from the NHS. Instead they’ve had excruciating waits, all too often in agony and unacceptable conditions.
“Efforts to improve the process are vital and long overdue. The extra help will be welcome at the hospitals struggling most, but a systemic and longer-term response is needed.
“That requires a proper plan to boost staffing generally, as well as for the new centres. Solving the social care bottleneck with a national care service is also critical.
“And these problems aren’t just happening inside corridors and waiting rooms. Thousands of people are stuck in ambulances waiting to even get into A&E departments.
“UNISON’s research shows ‘car park care’ has been a significant problem, taking staff and equipment out of action for hours.
“One in three ambulance workers who should be out on the road say they’ve had to give care to patients while waiting on almost every shift. That leaves a lot of people uncomfortable, vulnerable and frightened.
“Proper investment is needed throughout the NHS to get all services in a healthy shape.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON will stage its annual health conference from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Health worker delegates from across the UK will attend. Speakers include the union’s general secretary Andrea Egan on Monday. Baroness Lawrence will be in conversation on Tuesday discussing race issues within the NHS and pressures on migrant healthcare workers.
– 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
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