The country's biggest union is calling on the government to give more money to the NHS, amid fresh protests across the UK against plans to cut services.
The country's biggest union is calling on the government to give more money to the NHS, amid fresh protests across the UK against plans to cut services.
Unison says the chancellor should use next week's pre-Budget report to help NHS trusts tackle financial deficits.
Unison says the chancellor should use next week's pre-Budget report to help NHS trusts tackle financial deficits.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) head Beverley Malone said she hoped changes to the service would be made for clinical, not just financial, reasons.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) head Beverley Malone said she hoped changes to the service would be made for clinical, not just financial, reasons.
Protests are taking place against cuts in various UK locations.
Protests are taking place against cuts in various UK locations.
These include demonstrations in Chertsey, Surrey, and Hatfield and Stevenage in Hertfordshire.
These include demonstrations in Chertsey, Surrey, and Hatfield and Stevenage in Hertfordshire.
'Damaging' cuts
'Damaging' cuts
RCN general secretary Ms Malone told the BBC said she hoped the government would "take to heart" the NHS's clinical needs.
RCN general secretary Ms Malone told the BBC said she hoped the government would "take to heart" the NHS's clinical needs.
"The RCN's hope is that they will really take that to heart and make sure that there are clinical reasons that are driving these changes and not financial reasons.
"The RCN's hope is that they will really take that to heart and make sure that there are clinical reasons that are driving these changes and not financial reasons.
"It shouldn't be on the back of patients that these changes are made," she said.
"It shouldn't be on the back of patients that these changes are made," she said.
Speaking at a rally on Saturday in Chertsey, Unison head of health Karen Jennings was due to say: "Next week Gordon Brown is giving his pre-Budget report - he could use the opportunity to signal additional funds to assist NHS trusts with deficits and put a stop to knee-jerk cuts that are damaging long-term delivery of better healthcare."
Speaking at a rally on Saturday in Chertsey, Unison head of health Karen Jennings was due to say: "Next week Gordon Brown is giving his pre-Budget report - he could use the opportunity to signal additional funds to assist NHS trusts with deficits and put a stop to knee-jerk cuts that are damaging long-term delivery of better healthcare."
Health Minister Lord Warner told BBC News 24 that some NHS trusts were over-spending "recidivists".
Health Minister Lord Warner told BBC News 24 that some NHS trusts were over-spending "recidivists".
"The NHS is providing good quality services to thousands of people, and it's the minority of trusts that have got some deficits that have got to tackle that problem, because some of them are recidivists, they've been over-spending for quite a few years, " he said.
"The NHS is providing good quality services to thousands of people, and it's the minority of trusts that have got some deficits that have got to tackle that problem, because some of them are recidivists, they've been over-spending for quite a few years, " he said.
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