Members of the union have demanded that the health service “should not be used as political leverage,” when it comes to politicians and the Department of Health only caring when it suits. After claiming that there was no more money left to award nurses and health workers in the North, Secretary of State, Julian Smith insisted that £51 million was the “best we can afford.”

When Unison negotiators asked the Department of Health, “if you find the money will you pay it?” The department replied, “It is not possible to address this in the absence of a minister.. either local or Direct Rule. The matter of authority to do so is the issue.” 

Patricia McKeown of Unison said, “our worst fears have been realised, they are using the health service, health workers and patients alike as bargaining chips to force the return of Stormont.

“The refusal to act now in the public interest in the face of the crisis in the health service is not only irresponsible, it appears to us to be the misuse of political leverage by the UK Government and the administration of the North. 

“We are calling on all political parties to now make a clear demand either individually or collectively, in advance of further talks on restoring devolution, for instructions to be issued to the Department of Health to restore pay parity and resolve the current dispute.”