Unison joins resistance to NHS reforms

Public sector union says the changes in the NHS white paper are illegal

Unison wants to stop the changes laid out in the NHS white paper

Unison, the UK's largest public sector union, is supporting a campaign to 'protect the NHS', organised by the NHS Support Federation.

The campaign's launch statement claims: "Our treasured NHS is under threat. We believe that proposals within the new white paper will break up NHS services. At the heart of the NHS should be patients, but business motives are cutting deeply into the fairness, quality and value that we have come to expect. It is crucial for the public and NHS staff to join in opposing these proposals."

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's white paper aims to put more financial power in the hands of GPs, enabling them directly to commission services. Reform will be supported by an 'information revolution' in the NHS, with NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson expected to make an announcement on the future of IT in the health service soon, followed by the publication of an information strategy in the autumn.

Those backing the NHS Support Federation campaign fear that these changes will entice the private sector to take over.

"Patients will see their local GP services taken over by profit-led companies and lose the personal contact with a GP who knows you and your family," the launch statement says.