New evaluation system should help government concentrate on delivering for social care, says UNISON

Welcoming plans for a new evaluation system for the government’s health and care pledges, announced today (Wednesday) by the Health and Social Care Committee, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“This should encourage the government to focus on what can actually be delivered for the beleaguered care sector, and less on the headlines to be gained.

“In recent months there’s often been a gaping chasm between pledges made by ministers and the reality.

“The government pledged that no care worker would lose out financially if they have to self-isolate or shield. Yet many staff are still having to get by on statutory sick pay of less than £96 a week five months into the pandemic.

“The same can be said about safety kit and testing. Thousands of care employees still don’t have the right protective equipment and have yet to be offered a test.

“The committee must ensure that expert contributors to the panel include the representatives of the workforce. They are so often the best judges of what is being delivered in health and social care.”