Date: 29 September 04

Don't tinker with administration, give alternatives - UNISON challenges MSPs

Scotland's largest healthcare union, UNISON, today challenged MSP's to stop tinkering with the administration of the NHS and provide alternatives instead.

"Today's debate in the Scottish Parliament on the NHS will hopefully provide a platform for an informed debate on the future direction of the NHS here in Scotland", said Jim Devine, UNISON's Scottish Organiser for Health.

"What the NHS does not need is another reorganisation, either by reducing the number of health boards or directly electing whole health boards. In my time as a union activist there have been 14 major reorganisations of the Scottish health service, the last taking place in April of this year when Trusts were abolished. This restructuring is still percolating throughout the NHS in Scotland.

"The administration of the NHS needs a period of stability.

"UNISON welcomes a mature debate on the future of the NHS in which MSPs don't just sloganise about structures, or indulge in gesture politics by promoting votes of "no confidence" in the Health Minister, but actually confront the problems that the NHS faces and provide practical solutions."

ENDS

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