Social care reform can’t be put off, says UNISON 

Responding to comments from the chancellor today (Thursday) that the government has yet to devise a solution to the social care crisis, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“Rishi Sunak’s admission that there’s no plan for social care reform is a damning indictment of the government’s repeated failure to come up with a solution for a sector in crisis.

“Care home residents, their families and care workers who’ve been through the trauma of the last year will feel angry and disappointed at the complete absence of a plan.

“Ministers need to get a grip of this issue now. The elderly and the vulnerable, and the staff who’ve put their health on the line to care for them, deserve nothing less.”

Wendy Nichols, UNISON Yorkshire & Humberside Regional Convenor said:

“The social Care sector has been in crisis for many years .

“I worked in a residential home for the elderly many years ago and things haven’t improved really from then.

“I always felt there was never enough support for our older community both in residential or providing care in the community .

“For staff trying to look after very vulnerable people in 20 mins, some receiving no pay when they have to travel between clients not the way to treat anyone especially as these workers are predominantly women on very low pay.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contact:
Garfield Myrie M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk