Health and social care service is ‘on its knees’
Report highlights devastating impact of short-term planning and long-term under-investment in health and social care
Crosslet House, which is run by cash-strapped West Dunbartonshire Council.
By Democrat reporter
Healthcare bosses clearly know services can no longer rely on goodwill to stay afloat, and that many of their staff are at breaking point.
Commenting on a report by NHS Providers, UNISON head of health, Sara Gorton, said:
“The report highlights the devastating impact of short-term planning and long-term under-investment in health and social care. It lays bare the damaging effect on patients and staff.
“Health bosses clearly know services can no longer rely on goodwill to stay afloat, and that many of their staff are at breaking point.
“The report also hints that without greater investment more trusts will try to drive down costs by hiving off parts of the service to controversial subsidiary companies. This makes a mockery of NHS Improvement’s pledge that the health service will be the ‘best place to work’.
“When will the government admit that health and social care services are on their knees and take this national emergency seriously?
“Boris Johnson must stop this shameful decline by restoring funding to pre-austerity levels if the NHS as we know it is to survive.”