knittynoraneedles

Prime Minister should focus on the NHS, not demonise those too sick to work, says UNISON "The Prime Minister has promised and failed to cut NHS waiting lists," UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea on PM Rishi Sunak's proposals on welfare reform. "Worse still, his government has damaged the public services people were once able to rely upon to get better and stay healthy. "Lengthy waits for NHS operations and treatment have left people languishing at home, too sick or injured to work. That's a personal tragedy for them and terrible for the economy too. "Instead of hostile rhetoric on benefits, ministers should be recruiting to fill the huge gaps in the NHS workforce. That would increase capacity and allow more patients to be seen. "Boosting pay to persuade experienced staff to remain in the health service is key too. But it's now more than a fortnight since the government should have announced this year's NHS pay rise. "Threatening to remove benefits and forcing sick and disabled people further into poverty is most definitely not the way to increase the health of our sick nation."