Thousands of NHS jobs are being outsourced to private 'arms-length' companies, but workers are fighting the plans.
Plans are afoot around the UK which would “open the door” to NHS privatisation – moving staff employed by the health service to new private ‘arms-length companies’ – but opposition is growing amongst staff.
NHS bosses’ plans to outsource non-clinical services in the NHS will lead to “a Pandora’s Box of dozens of Carillion-type meltdowns”, Unison warned this weekend as staff around the country took action against the plans.
In Huddersfield, staff are reportedly close to striking over hospital chiefs’ plans to outsource key hospital services to a private company.
The hospital bosses in West Yorkshire plan to move almost 400 cleaners, gardeners, porters and maintenance workers out of the NHS to a new private ‘arms-length’ company.
Although the NHS trust says the company will be a “wholly owned subsidiary”, Unison say it leaves the door open for a future sell-off and is in effect ”privatisation” and a “tax dodge”.
Unison said that 95% of its members at the hospital have backed going on strike to keep their contracts unchanged. Dan Wood, a Unison organiser, said:
“These are people who believe absolutely in the NHS, and have devoted their lives to working in service.
“They will not accept being transferred to a private company where their terms and conditions of employment – including their pensions – could be affected.
Meanwhile NHS staff in Gloucestershire were protesting this weekend over bosses’ plans to outsource 750 non-clinical roles to a new private company.
“Any privatisation of staff has a detrimental effect on the NHS. As budgets get squeezed and profit becomes a priority you get general cuts and a worse service” – one protester told a local paper.
And in Harrogate similar plans are afoot, with NHS bosses planning to outsource 350 jobs – whilst Unison members voted 97% against the proposals.
But the battle against NHS privatisation can and is being won: earlier this month a hospital in Bristol scrapped plans to set up an arms-length company for 850 roles, after staff opposed the plans.
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8 Responses to “The fight against NHS privatisation is stepping up – and winning”
irene Sepion
Something has to be done to stop this privatisation. I wish the hospital staff every good wish.I support any action they are prepared to take to avoid this coming disaster to our NHS.
Margaret atkins
We want our NHS it was built for us by our ansestors & it is our NHS so why can the tories (hunt) come along and sell it off behind everyone’s back?
Also the money that he’s getting from the people who are buying it is not the tories money it’s ours the NHS didn’t belong to the tories it belongs to us & we want the money to go back into the NHS & get it back again. The tories are nothing but thieves & everyone knows that
Roy Jenkins
Das—-Margaret atkins
Both well said
You could help in May be not voting for any Tory Cllr in your local area
As every last one of them voted for all the cuts plus the trashing of our N.H.S.
By way of Tory party MANIFESTO paper they all voted for in 2015 then again in 2017
Cutting their party memebr from local County Council seats will weaken the Tory party,
when they have no members on local area County councils, So in May 2018,
vote for a different party but remember voters do vote as the Tory party will claim your none vote in count up as their votes towards the Tory party headcount.
Then a new G.E. that could be called any time in 2018 by Labour party leader Mr Corbyn.
Vote wisely in May 2018 but do remember to vote!
Use your vote do not let Tory Govt use it
to keep an hold on local County Council area for Tory Govt.