Think tank’s attack on sick NHS staff

Unions have hit back at a reactionary think tank’s attack on NHS workers.

Reform, which claims to be independent but was set up by Conservative MPs and researchers, said that NHS staff were wasting taxpayers’ money by taking an average 12 days a year off sick.

Karen Jennings of public services union UNISON said: “It would be obvious to most people that, if you spend a large part of your day with sick people, you are more likely to get ill yourself.”