UNISON Reps at NHS Direct will meet (Tuesday) at UNISON headquarters, London to decide the next steps in their campaign to defend the popular 24 Hour health line NHS Direct, after forcing the Coalition to back track on axing the service.
Michael Walker UNISON National Officer states: "UNISON members at NHS Direct are very clear that we will not rest until we have secured every one of the 3,400,nursing, dental, health advisor and information jobs,We will be reviewing the campaign todate and sharing the experience of local UNISON NHS Direct reps from Exeter to Newcastle"
"What is clear is that as soon as the announcement of the potential closure of NHS Direct was leaked, UNISON immediately launched a campaign (within ten minutes of the leak appearing in the Guardian),
"We ensured that NHS Direct became an issue in the Exeter Council by-elections, by mobilising members to leaflet in key wards"
"The online save NHS Direct petition was established within hours of the closure threat being announced and was heavily promoted by John Prescott on his tweets. Andy Burnham (Shadow Health Minister) also played a vital role in challenging Andrew Lansley to come clean on his plans for NHS Direct"
"While UNISON carried out the usual campaign leafleting, photo ops and rallies, much of the campaign was fought out on the Internet and highlights yet again the power of this medium".
Sandra Maxwell UNISON NHS Direct Representative at Liverpool states
"The staff are overjoyed at the result, we thank the general public and trade unionists in particular for their overwhelming support"
