Quality Care, Dignity & Accountability

• 10% Pay Campaign
• Campaign Pack Intro
• Notice of Unsafe Conditions for Practice
• UKCC supporting letter and advice
• Press release that launched campaign

Quality Care, Dignity and Accountability

The Scottish Nursing Sector Committee of UNISON, which represents over 30,000 nurses, have for some time been concerned about inadequate staffing levels, short term contracts, and the abuse of bank/agency nurses.

Recognising the professional accountability of nursing staff through their Code of Conduct to the UKCC, UNISON launched a Notice of Unsafe/Unacceptable Conditions for Practice as part of their Quality Care, Dignity and Accountability campaign.

This information pack contains:-

UNISON believe that nurses have, for too long, accepted inadequate staffing levels which have a direct impact on the care delivered to patients.

Therefore, we ask you to join with us in de]ivering Quality Care, Dignity and Accountability to our patients and clients as we head towards the millennium. If you need any further information on this campaign, please do not hesitate to contact your local UNISON shop steward, branch official or myself at the above address

Yours sincerely

Jim Devine
Secretary, Nursing Sector Committee

NURSING IN THE NINETIES
"LESS STAFF - MORE WORK" - SAY UNISON

The public service union UNISON is today releasing the most comprehensive survey of nurse staffmg levels and woricloads relating to Scottish hospitals. The survey, comparing the years 1990 - 1996 (the last available data) showing a dramatic shortfall in the number of nurses employed while, over the same period, a significant increase in workload.

"Using Sconish Home and Health Department statistics and comparing the years 1990 - 1996, UNISON have compiled what we believe is the most comprehensive survey ever carried out of hospital based nurse staffmg levels and workload", said Jim Devine, Senior Regional Officer of UNISON.

"These figures paint the stark reality of nursing in the nineties here in Scotland", he continued. "If vou exclude the three Island Health Boards, the average reduction in the number of hospital based nursing staff is around l5%.

"Grampian Health Board tops this health board cuts league by having reduced their nursing staff by nearlv 25%o while, at the same time increasing workload by 12%.

"\\'orkload throughout Scotland has increased by an average of 18% per Health Board with Borders top of this league. While reducing their nurse staffing levels by 16.5%, workload was up by nearly 27% for Borders' nurses.

"During this period, sickness levels have increased, more nurses are reporting stress related illnesses and our UNISON. lawyers are dealing with an ever increasing number of claims relating to back injuries. This survey is a damning indictment of how the last Government treated nurses tri Scotland and it will not longer be enough just to say that we "have to improve efficiency" when the reality is cuts in nursing staff and increased workload."

UNISON is circulating the survey to nurse members throughout Scotland and tomorrow will launch a new initiative to deal with inadequate staffmg levels in Scottish hospitals.