UNISON Cymru welcomes pledge to increase NHS Wales funding via ‘mansion tax’

UNISON Cymru/Wales has welcomed Welsh Labour’s promise to invest funds raised by the proposed ‘mansion tax’ into staffing for NHS Wales.

Welsh Labour has pledged that 1,000 healthcare professionals would be trained as a result the increased funding for Wales raised via the ‘mansion tax’, tobacco levy and tackling tax avoidance.

Dawn Bowden, UNISON Cymru/Wales head of health, said:

“An investment of this sort would be good news for health services across Wales.

“UNISON has consistently highlighted the increasing demands on NHS staff and services across Wales to the Welsh Government, and today’s announcement goes to show that we are being listened to.

“Staffing levels have been a growing concern for our members, particularly as we are well aware of the funding challenges for public services.

“The commitment to invest in training healthcare professionals in Wales demonstrates that Welsh Labour will continue to place patients at the centre of service development.

“We are well aware that this pledge is dependent on Labour’s success at the general election, but we are clearly hoping that we will be able to work with the Welsh Government to this promise into practice.”