Occupational Therapy News OTnews February 2019_Joomag | Seite 53

BAOT/UNISON
Being a BAOT member means you also belong to Unison and can access support and advice on workplace issues at any time.
Government publishes NHS Long-Term Plan
In January the government published its Long-Term Plan for the NHS in England over the
next 10 years. The document is over 130 pages long. Lots of the funded proposals in it have
already been announced over the last couple of months and many of the details are yet to be
confirmed.
Key for us is that the plan says all the right things about workforce issues, but the money
to deliver the plan will be dependent on the next spending settlement for Health Education
England.
We have criticised how the government has run the NHS for years. Our main criticisms
have focused on the lack of funding for services and staff, the complete absence of any
kind of workforce strategy, and the damaging impact of the legislative framework introduced
by the much-disliked Heath and Social Care Act 2012 that promotes competition and
privatisation over collaboration.
As the detail of the plan becomes clearer we will be able to judge it on how well it delivers
progress in these areas.
Although the report recognises that workforce planning is ‘disjointed at a national and local
level’, we are deeply disappointed that there is no detailed workforce strategy contained in
the plan.
The government has said that a workforce implementation plan will be published later this
year, but it is clear that the government has missed an opportunity here.
A number of distinct goals and policies have been announced. However, most do not
contain information as to how they will be delivered and the funding commitment for almost
all of them is unclear.
Commenting on the government’s Long-Term Plan for the NHS in England, Unison head
of health Sara Gorton said: ‘Finding the NHS more staff, and holding on to those it already
has, is key to the success of the government’s plan.
‘The plan is honest about the scale of the staffing challenge, but nothing will happen
without more money to attract new recruits and train existing employees. The government
must act now, or its plan will fall at the first hurdle.
‘Repealing the despised Health and Social Care Act would spare the NHS from the costly
and time-wasting need to compete against itself. The market-obsessed system created
by the 2012 legislation has failed to tackle the huge health inequalities that exist across the
country, and added to the pressures being felt in every part of the NHS.’
If you have a problem at work, BAOT/Unison is there to help
Anyone can face problems at work, but if you are a member of BAOT, you do not have
to face them alone. Whether it’s about bullying, duty rotas, flexible working, annual leave
or sickness procedures, a BAOT or Unison representative is on hand to help, wherever
you work.
We are also there to help you make sure your workplace is healthy and safe and to
support you in case of disciplinary action, dismissal or redundancy.
For help and advice at work – or to find out more about Unison services – please
contact your local BAOT/Unison steward or call our helpline: UNISONdirect on tel: 0800
0857 857. Lines are open 6am to midnight Monday to Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturdays
HCPC fee proposals
As many of you will be aware, the Health
and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – the
regulator for occupational therapists – ran a
consultation in December over its proposal to
increase the annual registration fee from £90
to £106 – an increase of 18 per cent.
Unison ran an online survey inviting
members, to participate and contribute their
views on this proposal and this helped to
inform our consultation response.
Unison and BAOT are strongly opposed to
the fee increase and are not convinced by the
justifications given by HCPC. If you would like
a copy of the Unison response please email
[e-mail]
Unions Week
The TUC’s fourth annual ‘HeartUnions’ week
will take place from 11 to 17 February. It is
a week of campaigning activity throughout
England and Wales promoting the benefits of
trades unionism, raising the profile of all of the
trade unions in the UK, the work they do and
the work of their members.
HeartUnions week is all about building a
stronger trade union movement and we want
as many of you as possible to get involved
to celebrate the successes and share the
stories of BAOT members, reps and all other
activists in workplaces across the country.
Check out what events your local Unison
branch is holding and make sure you use the
#heartunions hashtag when you attend any
organised events during Heart Unions week.
Training seminar for BAOT union
stewards 2019 – save the date
This year’s BAOT union stewards’ training
seminar will take place on 6 and 7 November
at Aston Business School, Birmingham. If
you are a BAOT union steward and want
to attend this popular event, contact us to
reserve your place at: baotstewards@unison.
co.uk
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