Date: Thur 2 June 2005

NHS24 report points to need for urgent action

UNISON, the union for healthcare staff, today welcomed the interim report of the NHS review team into NHS24, and urged all concerned to co-operate to reduce the pressure on staff.

Bridget Hunter, UNISON's Lead Officer for Nursing said "The report vindicates the points that UNISON has been making regarding staffing levels - both in NHS24 and in the health service generally. We are now looking forward to the final report in September , which we are confident will cement NHS24 in as an integral part of the NHS.

"We need now to break the spiral of increasing staff workload and pressure, leading to problems and negative press comment, leading in turn to staff leaving NHS24. We need to bring in solutions which adopt family friendly employment strategies so we can continue to attract new recruits and to retain those we already have. The present staff are the heart of NHS24, they are working hard to keep things running, and can potentially save the future service.

"We are also pleased that the report recognises the impact on NHS24 of the changes to the hours worked by GPs, and we want the review group to come up with clear recommendations to address this problem.

"UNISON recognises that the new chief executive has already started working in partnership with the staff organisations delivering the necessary changes."

UNISON also said that NHS24 was not originally intended to substitute for the withdrawal of GP out-of-hours cover, and the final report needs to address this change in role and remit, and ensure that the public are aware of what they should expect.

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Bridget Hunter (Lead Officer for Nursing) 0845 355 0845(w) 07770 308063(m) Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 0845 355 0845(w) 0771 558 3729(m)

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