National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care Response

Health and care report “poses more questions than answers” over workforce value amid cost-of-living crisis

Responding to the publication today (Friday 11 March) of the Scottish Government’s National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care, Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, warned:

“The cost-of-living is a huge concern for our members, particularly those on the lowest grades in the NHS and carers facing the real prospect of double-digit inflation on £10.50 an hour. Make no mistake, this crisis could quickly turn into a catastrophe for these key workers.

“GMB has consistently warned Ministers that if we want to tackle the understaffing and service pressures in health and social care, then we need a £15 an hour minimum for care and an NHS pay policy that restores the value lost through years of real-terms cuts.

“Against the backdrop of soaring inflation and energy prices, and services still in the grip of COVID-19, the report poses more questions than answers for the future of health and social care, the value of the workers who will deliver it, and the credibility of the government’s fair work aspirations.”

ENDS

Contact: GMB Scotland Communications on 07976 447077.