Health workers demo at Kingston over failure to hold ballot
into social enterprise plans
25 November 2009
Unite health workers are demonstrating on Monday, 30 November at
the failure of Kingston Primary Care Trust (PCT) to hold a ballot
into hiving off NHS services into a social enterprise.
The demonstration will take place outside the PCT’s headquarters
at Hollyfield Road, Surbiton when the PCT’s board meets at
2.00pm.
Unite, the largest union in the country, is fighting plans to
go-ahead with the social enterprise, as it contravenes Health
Secretary Andy Burnham’s recent policy announcement that the NHS is
‘the preferred provider’ for services.
Unite, along with the other staff side unions, had asked
managers at the Surrey trust, which covers 150,000 people, to hold
a ballot of staff, as to whether they are in favour of transferring
to a social enterprise – but this was rejected by the
management.
The social enterprise, which is a commercial organisation, will
be able to win – and lose – contracts to provide services to the
NHS for a limited period of time.
Unite Regional Officer, Peter Storey said: ‘Given the refusal of
the management to consult staff on all the options, Unite is
holding this protest, along with the other unions, to highlight the
adverse affects that a social enterprise will have on the provision
of NHS services for the 150,000 people covered by the PCT.’
‘We want the PCT to hold a ballot of its staff to see whether
they wish to join the social enterprise which is a body one-step
removed from the NHS proper. That is the democratic thing to
do.’
‘Services in Kingston are not failing, so why are we dismantling
the NHS? The Kingston public now needs to get involved to save the
NHS they value.’
If the social enterprise loses its contracts to, for example, a
North American private healthcare company in five years time, jobs
could be lost and services to the Kingston public could become
fragmented. The ethos of a NHS providing a unified, joined-up
service for patients could disappear.
Peter Storey said: ‘Social enterprises are a leap in the dark in
terms of provision of services; the employment conditions and
pensions of NHS staff that could be severely eroded, or even lost;
and the viability of the financial model proposed, if VAT is
charged on its services not directly related to health care, such
as marketing and legal fees, and treatments that may not be
regarded as essential, such as cosmetic surgery.’
-ends-
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
- Unite has welcomed the government’s statement, made in October,
that the NHS is ‘the preferred provider’ of choice when it comes to
delivering services, rather than private sector organisations.
- In his letter to the chief executives of the strategic health
authorities and primary care trusts, NHS Chief Executive,
David Nicholson said: ‘The NHS as the preferred provider is about
getting the best care for patients and looking after the NHS staff
who care for them. Our aim is to ensure that NHS staff are treated
fairly and engaged in decisions.’
- The Patchwork Privatisation of Our Health Service – a special
report can be downloaded from www.unitetheunion.com/health
and then clicking on Health B4 Profit campaign.
For further information, please ring: Peter Storey 07958 511 573;
Karen Reay, National Officer, Health 07798 531 004; David Fleming,
National Officer, Health 07798 531013; Shaun Noble, Communications
Officer (Health Sector) 020 7420 8951 or 07768 693
940
Unite Health Sector web page: www.unitetheunion.com/health
Unite/CPHVA press releases can be seen on the CPHVA website:
www.unitetheunion.com/cphva
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