Motion 37
Addressing the NHS Crisis in Scotland
“That this Congress notes that the NHS in Scotland delivered during the biggest public health emergency in living memory, but the pandemic exposed fundamental staffing, structural and funding weaknesses in our NHS. Funding of the NHS has also been further impacted by cuts to other public services. Confidence in the NHS is down, and staff are navigating multiple crises impacting patient care, service delivery and the well-being of the workforce on a daily basis.
“Political manoeuvring will not fix the NHS. The Scottish Government must deliver real, lasting solutions to Scotland’s health crisis including addressing waiting times, delayed discharges, and dangerously low staffing levels. Involvement of NHS trade unions is critical to any genuine effort to tackle the many challenges NHS Scotland faces. Patients and staff must be at the heart of any plans to improve the health service.
“Congress calls on the General Council to lobby the Scottish Government to ensure:
- any NHS reform must be underpinned by comprehensive workforce planning that puts patient centred care at the centre of service design, focuses on investing in Primary Care and improving public health, recognising the true demand on services and redirecting resources to fit community need;
- prioritising Safe Staffing levels and realistic bed modelling and resource allocation;
- recognising and building upon the critical inter-relationship between social care, social work, and primary care needs, particularly in addressing the issue of delayed discharge;
- ending of corridor care and making reporting of care in non-standard areas mandatory;
- investment in workforce planning and a modern reward and recognition package;
- a fair work commitment for GP and community-based staff delivering NHS services;
- new technology and just transition agreement for the NHS;
- addressing specific challenges impacting those living in rural communities in Scotland and the staff delivering services within them; and
- valuing all of our NHS team and investing more in education and training.”
Mover: UNISON
RSS