THE TUC has proposed a new commission to help fix Britain’s “broken public realm” to government.

Difficulties ranging from getting GP appointments to crumbling school infrastructure, the Public Services Workforce Commission would bring together unions, employers and independent experts to tackle each sector’s key challenges.

Top of its agenda on how to drive improvements and deliver services would be to deal with the recruitment and retention crises blighting many parts of the public sector.

This would potentially save the Treasury billions in expensive agency staff every year.

Nearly three in four voters think public services are deteriorating, a new Opinium polling for the TUC shows today. 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak told the Morning Star that voters wanted to see a “clear sense of direction” from the government on how to reverse the deterioration of public services under the Tories.

“We are keen to play our part in that,” he said.

“We’ve made this proposal to the government that there should be a Public Services Workforce Commission … I think that’s the right sort of approach the government needs to take.

“I hope now we’ve got a government where Cabinet members actually use public services and send their kids to state school, that we might see some improvements.”

He urged ministers to harness public-sector’s staff expertise in order make the most of the opportunities presented by net zero, automation and AI to renew and modernise our public services.  

Speaking ahead of the start of this year’s TUC Congress in Brighton on Sunday, Mr Nowak said: “We know that fixing 14 years of Tory mismanagement and neglect won’t be an overnight job.  

“But unions are ready to roll up their sleeves to help rebuild our broken public realm.  

“Forming a Public Services Workforce Commission that harnesses expertise from across the public sector could make a big difference. 

“This commission would need to include voices from the front line.

“If we want to renew and modernise our public services, we must listen to the staff who deliver them day in and day out.“ 

The poll found that 76 per cent of adults say the NHS has got worse over the last five years.

Nearly two-thirds said so of local council services, social care and policing and criminal justice. 

About half said schools and public transport also worsened.