As temperatures reached unprecedented levels across the UK, UNISON East Midlands were busy keeping our NHS heroes cool.
On Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 July, UNISON East Midlands despatched ice cream vans to some of the biggest hospitals in the region to give our hardworking NHS workers some respite from the heatwave gripping the country.
Over 3000 ice creams have been served at the following hospitals:
Derbyshire: Royal Derby & Queen’s Burton
Lincolnshire: Lincoln County & Grantham
Leicestershire: Leicester General & Glenfield
Northamptonshire: Northampton General
Nottinghamshire: Queen’s Medical Centre & Millbrook
As well as handing out ice cold treats to NHS staff working in the extreme heat, UNISON activists and workplace reps were busy talking to colleagues around issues on NHS pay and conditions.
There is an expectation that thousands of public sector workers are about to find out what pay rise they’ll be offered – with speculation that the offers will be around 5%.
UNISON East Midlands regional secretary Chris Jenkinson said: “With inflation expected to go even higher this week, reports of a 5% wage rise won’t go down well with struggling NHS staff. The public understands an above-inflation pay increase is needed or fed-up health workers won’t hang around.
“If the staffing exodus continues, waits for ambulances, operations and other treatments won’t reduce. The government says it’s committed to the NHS, but a pay increase falling far short of prices won’t take the heat out of the staffing crisis. Ministers must avoid stumbling into an unnecessary dispute by giving a fair pay rise that protects patients and the NHS too.”
