Health

UNISON is the UK’s largest health union. More than 60,000 UNISON members work in the NHS in Scotland: nurses, student nurses, midwives, health visitors, healthcare assistants, paramedics, occupational therapists, cleaners, porters, catering staff, medical secretaries, clerical and admin staff and scientific and technical staff.

UNISON cares passionately about the future of the NHS as a publicly funded service that is free at the point of delivery. The NHS is a public service we can all be proud of, and UNISON wants to keep it that way.

See also important information for workers registered with regulatory bodies.

Speaking up for Scotland’s health workers

UNISON organisers and activists work together to make sure our members’ concerns are heard – whether it’s about pay, health and safety, discrimination or the future of our NHS.

  • Offering advice at work;
  • Representing our members in the workplace
  • Lobbying parliaments and government on issues our members care about;
  • Negotiating terms and conditions for NHS Scotland staff;
  • Raising professional and local concerns that affect all health workers.
  • Standing up for the NHS and broader health services

Health News

Moving to monthly pay will cause hundreds of low-paid NHS staff to fall into debt and hardship, says UNISON

Around 600 NHS staff could be forced to take out loans to make ends meet if their employer switches from ... Read More

NHS staff vote to accept two-year pay offer, says UNISON

NHS staff have voted to accept the Scottish government’s two-year pay offer, says UNISON today (Thursday). Members of Scotland’s biggest ... Read More

Enable Scotland workers announce strike dates

Care staff working at Enable Scotland are to go on strike in a dispute over pay, their union UNISON has ... Read More

Lack of rest breaks for ambulance staff putting patient safety at risk

Paramedics and other ambulance staff are being asked if they are willing to take strike action in a dispute over ... Read More

UNISON recommends NHS staff vote to accept pay offer

Thousands of NHS staff are being urged to vote to accept the Scottish government’s two-year pay offer in a ballot ... Read More

NHS Scotland staff to be balloted on pay offer, says UNISON

NHS staff in Scotland are to be consulted on an above-inflation two-year pay offer, says UNISON today (Tuesday). The union ... Read More

Huge rise in private ambulance costs across NHS Scotland is the ‘tip of the iceberg’, says UNISON

Cash-strapped Scottish health boards are paying increasing amounts of their overstretched budgets to private ambulance firms, new figures published by ... Read More

e-brief – Insourcing of Adult Residential and Home Care

This briefing provides recent examples of where, how and why adult social care services have been returned in-house ('insourced') to ... Read More

Anger grows as NHS staff are left high and dry on pay

Scottish health secretary Neil Gray must start NHS pay talks before April, says the country's biggest health union, UNISON today ... Read More

Briefing 150 – NCS Bill Update: National Care Service abandoned

The Government has finally abandoned its plans to create a National Care Service (NCS). This was confirmed to Parliament on ... Read More

Latest briefings and submissions

e-brief – Insourcing of Adult Residential and Home Care

thumbnail of e-briefing insourcing July 2025
This briefing provides recent examples of where, how and why adult social care services have been returned in-house ('insourced') to ...

Briefing 150 – NCS Bill Update: National Care Service abandoned

thumbnail of Policy Briefing 150 Abandonment NCS Feb 2025
The Government has finally abandoned its plans to create a National Care Service (NCS). This was confirmed to Parliament on ...

National Care Service Bill (Stage 2) Draft Amendments: Call for Views

thumbnail of FINAL UNISON NCS Bill Draft Amendments_Sept 2024
On 24 June the Scottish Government belatedly published its draft amendments to the National Care Service (Scotland) bill. This is ...

Briefing 143 National Care Service Bill: Reform of Integrated Joint Boards

thumbnail of Policy Briefing 143 IJB Reforms NCS July 2024
This briefing gives an overview of the IJB reforms set out in the government’s Stage 2 amendments to the NCS ...

Delivering net zero for Scotland’s buildings: Heat in Buildings Bill

thumbnail of Heat in Buildings Bill Consultation March 24
This is UNISON Scotland's response to the Scottish Government consultation on its proposed Heat in Buildings Bill. We are members ...

Democracy Matters: Local governance Phase 2 consultation

thumbnail of FINAL Local Governance response Feb 2024
This is UNISON's response to the Scottish Government and COSLA  ‘Democracy Matters: Local governance Phase 2 consultation’. The consultation is ...

More on briefings page