The Government says it notes Unite the Union’s recent press release concerning the Gibraltar Health Authority’s (GHA) Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). 

A statement from the Government follows below:

The Government and the GHA fully recognise and value the essential role that Allied Health Professionals play in delivering healthcare. Their contributions are a critical component to the integrated healthcare model, alongside those of the medical and nursing professions. 

With respect to the matters raised by Unite, the GHA remains open to considering the merits of the AHPs’ claims. However, it has assessed that the core issues underpinning the claim stem from the broader implementation of the GHA’s Agenda for Change framework; a model aligned with that of the UK’s National Health Service. As such, the implications of any changes extend beyond AHPs and could affect hundreds of GHA staff across multiple disciplines. 

Given the wider impact, the GHA considers it inappropriate to engage in negotiations limited to AHPs on issues that could materially affect other staff groups without affording them equivalent opportunities for consultation and representation. In this context, the GHA and HM Government of Gibraltar’s Industrial Relations have requested that the union’s claim be reframed within the broader scope of an Agenda for Change review. This approach ensures that all affected staff, which encompass AHPs as well as others, can contribute meaningfully to the discussion. 

While the Government and GHA understand that Unite is a member-led organisation and appreciate that AHPs feel strongly about their position, both institutions believe that the most constructive path forward is through the established and inclusive forum that tackles Agenda for Change holistically across all relevant staffing groups. This will allow for a balanced, fair, and sustainable resolution that considers the interests of the entire GHA workforce."