UNISON Health Committee tackles Health Secretary
by John Gallacher
The Scottish Health Committee took the opportunity of their
Policy Seminar recently to visit the Scottish Parliament and
took part in an hour long session with Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet
Secretary for Health & Wellbeing.
There was also a full presentation and discussion on the
current NHS Pay Proposals with Mike Jackson, Senior National
Officer.
Tom Waterson, Chair of the SHC, said, "We took the opportunity
to engage directly with the Cabinet Secretary in the home
of the Scottish Government, and raised with her a number of
issues of major concern to UNISON members across NHS Scotland".
Nicola Sturgeon reaffirmed her commitment to working in partnership
with UNISON and other health unions, and stressed the Government's
opposition to the incursion of the private sector into NHS
Scotland and their opposition to PFI/PPP as a funding mechanism.
Delegates raised a number of key themes with her including:
investment in 'grow your own' talent in the NHS workforce;
GP employed staff access to Agenda for Change; sickness management;
nursing in the community; the coverage of the Emergency Workers'
Act; and support for employee directors.
Ms Sturgeon also indicated that the Scottish Government were
not minded to support the UK proposal to create a new Constitution
for the NHS but would consult with other stakeholders, including
UNISON, on any proposals from the Department of Health.
In particular there was a major discussion on issues in
the Scottish Ambulance Service, including 'single manning'
in remote and rural areas and payment for unsocial hours.
headlines . top
|
Scotland's
public service union
|