This Conference instructs the NEC to make vigorous representation to MEPs to ensure parity of cost of anti retroviral drugs for HIV infection at the lowest possible price across all EU countries.
Furthermore Conference instructs the NEC to campaign for the provision of such drugs at a locally affordable price in third world countries.
This Conference recognises that the proposal to increase National Insurance in the last budget represents a firm commitment by this Government that a NHS funded through taxation and free at the point of need is the most fair and efficient means of delivering healthcare.
This will result in the largest ever-sustained increase in NHS expenditure in its history and will allow the Service to be modernised in line with our policy of progress by partnership.
The present basic pay rates of many NHS professionals is simply too low to attract and retain the key professional staff required to meet its objectives in the NHS Cancer Plan and other relevant National Service Frameworks.
Conference therefore welcomes that current outdated and inequitable method of pay determination in the NHS is under review.
However Conference is also concerned that Staff Representatives be allocated sufficient time and resource by their employers to ensure a seamless transition between the old and the new pay systems and to allow the staff side to play a full and active part in partnership.
Finally, Conference welcomes the Department of Health commitment to training and Continuing Professional Development for all skilled and professional staff.
This Conference therefore instructs the NEC to:
This Conference believes that the Government's proposals for foundation hospitals and for a new system of NHS financial flows as presently set out, amount to the reintroduction of an internal market in strengthened form, with increased competition between hospitals in the NHS and between secondary and primary care. This will increase inequity.
Further Foundation hospitals are likely to be able to opt out of the nationally agreed NHS pay scheme leading to pay inequality. The proposal by the Government that failing Foundation Trusts will not revert back to NHS control but may be transferred to private sector management is unacceptable. Any failing Foundation Hospital should revert to NHS control. Conference declares it is opposed to the proposal for Foundation Hospitals and the Union will campaign against their introduction.
Conference notes the announcement of 29 NHS Trusts which will form the first wave of applicants for NHS Foundation Trust status in April 2004 (subject to Parliament passing the Health and Social Care Bill).
Conference further notes the announcement that all of these Trusts will begin to implement the Agenda for Change proposals from October 2003. Conference believes this to be at odds with the Proposed Agreement on Agenda for Change, which lists only 12 Early Implementer sites, to be followed by a national roll-out of Agenda for Change in October 2004.
Conference believes that the introduction of Agenda for Change in close to 40 sites could restrict the potential for our members to amend or reject the Agenda for Change proposals. Conference is concerned that this massive expansion of Early Implementer sites represents an attempt to force through Agenda for Change before consultation with the unions (including Amicus MSF) has been concluded.
Conference therefore resolves:
To instruct the NEC to ensure that Amicus MSF opposes the Early Implementation of Agenda for Change in these Trusts unless:
Conference further instructs the NEC to seek an immediate commitment from the Secretary of State for Health that Agenda for Change will not be imposed on our members if they vote to reject Agenda for Change in the second ballot.
In the absence of any such commitment being made, Conference instructs the NEC to work with the other NHS unions supporting a further ballot on Agenda for Change in a joint campaign to ensure that full consultation takes place as planned.
With the introduction of Children's Trusts led, funded and commissioned by local authorities, this Conference calls upon the NEC to alert the Department of Health to our growing concerns that the protection of children is being jeopardised by cuts in resources and dangerous staffing levels in social services departments.