Unison Foyle Health Branch

15/06/2026

Beverly Simpson, Independent Member of the Policing & Community Safety Partnership, and Alan Philson, UNISON Staff Steward, visited our Trust Headquarters to offer support to staff and present 100 personal safety alarms, offering practical support to staff during the recent period of civil unrest.

12/06/2026

10/06/2026

We are deeply concerned and appalled at the violence which we are witnessing in our communities.

It is completely unacceptable that our international staff, who provide an invaluable service, should be intimidated or feel too frightened to come to work.

The current unrest is having a profound impact on all of our services, which are already under enormous strain.

All the Trusts are trying to operate as normally as possible but the disruption is making this increasingly difficult.

As Chief Executives, we value every single member of our staff, who are trying to care for vulnerable people, both in our hospitals and in the community every day.

The safety of our patients, service users and our staff is paramount.

It is imperative that everyone who works across our Health and Social Care Service, including Care Homes, Community Pharmacies, Home Care and Primary Care, are able to provide essential care to everyone that needs it, without fear or intimidation.

We would like to sincerely thank all our staff for their continued dedication, in really difficult circumstances.

09/06/2026

UNISON's Foyle Health Branch send our thoughts to the victim of the attack in North Belfast last night and we wish him a full recovery. This attack was the action of one person and it does not represent an entire community.

We are also very aware of the increased racism and hate crime our Black and Migrant members have experienced over recent years and the fear our Black and Migrant communities are living in. This fear has no doubt increased following the attack last night and the escalation in anti-migrant sentiment following this.

We want to reiterate that last night's attack was the actions of one individual. We have a proud Black and Migrant membership, of workers who have been invited here to help with public sector staffing crises in areas such as social care and nursing. We ask our members to look out for one another, make sure your co-workers get home safely and challenge racism when you see it.

UNISON have a long and proud tradition of standing up for equality and human rights and against prejudice, bigotry and discrimination. Look after one another. We are much stronger united in diversity.

We ask for people to let the PSNI be allowed to do their job and conduct their investigation, holding the person accountable through the legal system.

09/06/2026

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

Healthcare student or practice assessor or educator?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched a consultation on proposed changes to its education standards for nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes.

This includes proposals to reduce the minimum number of nursing programme hours from 4,600 to 3,600.

We want to hear what you think about the NMC's proposals and your broader experiences of practice learning.

Take our survey before 12 June

🔗research.unison.org.uk/s3/88db881193b3