UNISON the largest Trade Union for health and social care workers in Northern Ireland will be holding a demonstration today at Bryson Care Offices in Derry to protest against the company’s plans to reduce the terms and conditions of employment of their domiciliary/homecare workforce. The demonstration will commence at 1pm at Bryson Care’s Offices, Gortfoyle House, Spencer Road, Derry.
Last Thursday 27 April UNISON held a protest at the Southern Trust Headquarters in Craigavon to save the Daisy Hill Hospital A&E.
UNISON Head of Bargaining and Representation in the Health sector, Anne Speed reacted to the crisis saying;
Chronic understaffing across the NHS is putting patient lives at risk, according to UNISON’s UK-wide annual survey of nurses published today (Monday) at the start of its health conference in Liverpool.
The 2017 survey found that the situation has not improved over the last 12 months. Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents still say wards are so understaffed that nurses cannot ensure safe, dignified and compassionate care.
Please find below the latest update for our members in Private Care / Nursing Homes, topics included:
· Minimum wage
· E-learning
· Four Seasons’ update
· Black and Migrant Worker members
· CPD courses coming up
UNISON Omagh/Fermanagh Branch presented £710 to charity AWARE to support people living with depression from Funds raised at their annual Pink Party.
UNISON is calling for a Departmental review of the overall policy delivering Youth Services across Northern Ireland and is insisting that this be commenced without delay.
Susan Neill, UNISON Area Organiser working with youth workers in the Belfast area said:
‘Tomorrow Friday 7th April at 6pm we will be joining a youth workers protest at the Rosario Youth Centre, Ormeau Road, Belfast.
There is an absurd notion that home care workers can provide care to some of the most vulnerable in a 15 minute slot. This includes washing them, making them a nutritious meal and giving them their medication. Some care workers are scheduled to care for someone every 15 minutes without travel time being factored in. We need to push for Trusts to take care back in house and sign up to UNISON's ethical care charter.
UNISON can reveal that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) has recently been advised by the Department for Communities (DfC) to plan for a 5% reduction in funding for Supporting People Programmes for the 2017/18 financial year. UNISON understands that the NIHE will defer the cuts initially and then reduce funding by 6.5%.
Supporting People provides support to assist people to live independently in the community in a residential setting. This includes help and support to people with disabilities, older people and young vulnerable people to name a few.
