Crippling oppression

In a motion to tackle the culture of bullying that is rife within the NHS, ambulance worker and Unite member Debbie Wilkinson told congress of her experience of top-down oppression that is crippling the NHS.

“The NHS is completely target driven, so it has become too easy to forget what it is really about – the patients…you and I.

“And the bullying starts at the very top – from the government in the savage and life threatening cuts to front line services,” Debbie explained.

The pressure of these cuts mean that trust executives in turn bully their staff “as they try to achieve the impossible.”

Debbie went on to describe two instances where NHS bullying has been exposed; when Unite was derecognised as a trade union by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service after it challenged management on proposed cuts of £46m; and in Northampton where 70 pathologists were ‘locked out’ of the hospital for saying they would take industrial action over their imposed terms and conditions.

“These employers don’t feel NHS employees should have the right to strike or take action – but do feel they have the right to impose unworkable conditions on our workers.

“And this leads directly to the downgrading of patient care,” Debbie said.

“The quality of our public services depends on the people who deliver them.

“Having an environment where NHS workers feel valued and respected is crucial.”

The composite was unanimously carried.