UNISON demands urgent action to address NHS staffing crisis

7 December 2021.

Responding to official figures released today (Tuesday) that vacancies for nurses and midwives have increased by almost 20 per cent in three months, Willie Duffy, UNISON Scotland’s head of health said: “Lack of planning for a global pandemic left the UK and the NHS exposed like never before.

“NHS workers are overworked, stressed and facing burnout as they continue to deal with increasing demands on their services.

“The Scottish Government needs to take urgent action to address the shortages in our NHS and invest in both NHS services and the staff who deliver them. This means the resources to cope with the backlog, and a commitment to a fair pay deal for all NHS workers next year. Without better wages, experienced staff will be lost and new recruits much harder to attract.”

UNISON is Scotland’s largest union in the NHS.