NURSES are deserting the Government ''in droves'', health union Unison
claimed today as it published findings of a nationwide survey.
The union said the poll showed a ''catastrophic collapse'' in nurses'
support for the Tories since the 1992 General Election and reflected
''overwhelming'' rejection of the NHS changes.
Publication of the survey, conducted for Unison by Gallup, follows
bitter criticism of Government policies by British Medical Association
doctors at their annual conference this week.
Unison's general secretary Alan Jinkinson said: ''These figures,
coming as they do on top of the anger expressed this week by doctors,
demonstrate clearly an overwhelming rejection of the Government's
ruinous policies towards the NHS among health professionals.
''Nurses can see, day in, day out, destruction of the NHS.
''Demoralised and disillusioned nurses are turning against the
Government in droves,'' he said.
''Their message is clear: they want to see policies that will restore
the public's faith in a high-quality, effective service that will once
again meet people's needs -- and they are prepared to vote to get it.''
Unison claimed the survey was one of the most comprehensive samples of
nursing opinion undertaken.
More than 1500 Unison nurses, midwives, and health visitors across all
grades and disciplines, and throughout the country, were polled between
May 14 and June 30.
The survey found that only 5% of all those questioned said they would
vote Tory if there was a General Election tomorrow, compared with 22%
who said they voted for the Government at the last election. Around 78%
said they would vote Labour, compared with 63% at the last election.
Only 1% believed the Tories had the best overall policies for the NHS,
compared with 64% who thought Labour did.
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