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Key worker protesters, including a cleaner, a doctor and a carer, as well as Scottish Youth Climate Strikers, hold a banner saying "Recovery for People and Planet" outside St Andrew's House, the headquarters of the Scottish government, in Edinburgh, during a protest organised by Friends of the Earth, on June 22
NHS workers in Scotland are at “breaking point” due to acute staff shortages, overwork and low pay, a survey by the Unite trade union revealed today.
Of almost 2,200 staff who responded to the survey, 83 per cent had encountered frequent staff shortages, while 79 per cent had regularly or occasionally worked beyond their contracted hours.
The union said its findings should act as a “wake-up call” for the government and health authorities as Scotland’s health workers try to cope with the enormous pressures and challenges of the pandemic.
With 121,000 vacancies and 44.8% of staff feeling unwell from work stress, the NHS 10-year plan will not succeed unless the government takes immediate action to retain existing staff, writes ANNETTE MANSELL-GREEN
