| Unison's Health Care Conference Begins in Glasgow The annual Unison Health Care Service Group Conference is taking place from Monday, April 22, to Wednesday, April 24, at the SECC Glasgow. The conference will be addressed on Monday by Dave Prentis, Unison General Secretary, and in the afternoon by invited guest Sir David Nicholson, Chief Executive, NHS Commissioning Board. The theme of the conference, continuing from previous years, is Our NHS, Our Future. The opening debate is “Influencing the NHS”, and campaigning against privatisation and cuts. On Tuesday, the debate centres around Agenda for Change – that is, around pay, terms and conditions. Other debates on Monday afternoon and Wednesday are on Equality and Diversity, Organising and Recruitment and Professional Issues. There are also many focus groups and workshops taking up similar themes. This year's health conference follows closely on the imposition of the measures of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, on April 1. It comes at a time when the people are continuing to oppose the regulations of the Act in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords and they calling for the repeal of the Act. At the same time, very large demonstrations are taking place involving whole communities such as in Lewisham and Mid Staffordshire to oppose the downgrading and closure of vital NHS hospitals. The conference will be a great opportunity for health workers to engage in serious discussion on building the opposition to the attacks on them and to fight for the NHS and their future. One important lesson that needs to be addressed is to build forums of health workers and people in the community to fight to safeguard the future of the NHS. |