UNISON, Scotland’s largest health trade union, has called on Scottish Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, to meet them to discuss reports that there are serious difficulties in the NHS in Scotland. They say the pressure staff are under is taking it’s toll and that staff are struggling to continue to provide safe and quality services.
Issues reported to the Scottish Health Secretary include: staff breaks; staff turnover; skills mix of health teams and that staff are very tired and drained at the end of their working day.
In a letter sent today (attached) Willie Duffy, UNISON Scotland head of health, wrote to the Scottish Health Secretary to express: “deep concern about the pressure being put upon staff on a daily basis preventing them from delivering the very best and safe level of care patients should receive in hospital.”
“The current and constant demands on staff are taking their toll and staff are struggling to continue to provide safe and quality services. We are finding that staff are unable to take their meal breaks on a regular basis. They are working way beyond their contracted hours and working overtime shifts to keep services afloat.”
Willy Duffy also said: “The NHS family have given everything over the past few years to ensure the best level of patient care possible. But this is unsustainable in the longer term and something has to give to allow staff to be able to function without the pressures that they are currently under.
We have written to Scottish Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, to ask he meet us to discuss a way forward. Action must be taken to support staff as many are burnt out and this cannot continue. We have reports from across Scotland of staff worried about how much longer they can keep providing the very best levels of care.”
Notes
UNISON is the largest trade union in health and the largest trade union in Scotland
The letter sent today to Scottish Health Secretary, Humza Yousaf, from Willie Duffy, Head of Health at UNISON Scotland: https://unison-scotland.org/wp-content/uploads/UNISON-Correspondence-Cabinet-Secretary-29-Sept-2021-1.docx
UNISON media contacts
Willie Duffy, head of health: 07904 342 129
Danny Phillips, communications officer: 07944 664 110