Together against NHS cuts
Unite says “Join the rally” to save our NHS
Reading time: 4 min
Hundreds of NHS workers will be coming to parliament on Wednesday 22 April to protest against NHS cuts to jobs and services and tell MPs to save our NHS.
Unite is encouraging people to join striking health visitors from Wales and Unite members from across the UK to make our voices heard and take a stand for the NHS.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham will be joined by a health visitor and striker from Wales and other speakers at Old Palace Yard, opposite St Stephen’s Gate, at 11.00 on Wednesday 22 April 2026.
Unite say that cuts are the wrong prescription for our NHS, and take many forms NHS cuts are taking many forms including voluntary redundancy, downbanding, working above your banding and lack of backfill for absences.
To fight back, we must organise locally, build coordinated campaigns, and use every tool available, including taking strike action if necessary.
Unite is demands that the government must:
- Stop the mass job cuts immediately – cutting an already overstretched workforce will put patient care at risk and push staff to breaking point.
- Respect and implement the Covid inquiry recommendations including:
– Urgent and emergency care capacity should be increased to make sure hospitals can manage future surges in demand.
– Support for healthcare workers should be strengthened to ensure staff retention and improved resilience.
This means NO dangerous NHS cuts. - Review and revise the headcount reduction directive – workforce planning must reflect current population growth rates, rising services demand and not be based on the flawed assumption that pre-Covid staffing levels were sufficient.
- Respect and protect the vital role of non-clinical staff – it’s time to end the false divide that diminishes their vital contribution to safe and effective care and stand up to protect both clinical and non-clinical roles from cuts.
Unite recently revealed that jobs cuts to NHS England staff hit women and BAME workers hardest, while health visitors at the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board have been taking weeks of industrial action in their campaign to receive the correct salary based on their qualifications.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said, “The bedrock of the NHS is the hard work and dedication of its staff. Cuts to their jobs, pay or conditions, hurts them and undermines our NHS.
“Cuts must be reversed and workers supported to ensure the NHS provides all the services our communities deserve.”
To find out more information about the rally and to sign up to support the campaign go here.
By Keith Hatch
