Union leader claims NHS is being deliberately run down

THE leader of the UK’s largest trade union has accused the Government of “deliberately running down the NHS”.

Christina McAnea, general secretary of Unison, said she fears the path is being laid for an “organisation” to be appointed to take over the running of the health service.

Her comments come as the union is balloting its 300,000 members working in the NHS on strike action, which it recommends.

The Royal College of Nursing has already voted in favour of industrial action.

Ms McAnea told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday that the Government needs to guarantee investment in the NHS in its Autumn Statement.

She said: “Difficult things will happen if they do not make the right choices and one of those is the NHS is almost ready to collapse.

“Excuse me for sounding like a conspiracy theorist but I have heard so many people say it now, is this partly a deliberate attempt by the Government to run down the NHS in order to bring in some kind of organisation to run it?

“I hope that’s not what they are doing, what they aren’t doing is making the right choices of investing in our public services.”

Ms McAnea called on the Government to engage with Unison on pay talks and to reconvene the NHS pay review body which previously granted a £1,400 flat rate pay rise to NHS staff.

She said: “That can’t be right that we are expecting these workers to do their jobs and take an effective pay cut, it’s no wonder so many are leaving the sector, they are going to take jobs elsewhere.”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told the programme that he recognises the “picture” of the NHS on the brink of collapse but the service needs to do its “part” in solving the country’s economic problems, adding “it’s also true that there is a lot of money going to the NHS”.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the pay review bodies should work with the unions to determine “fair but affordable pay rises” for nurses.