Published: 01 August 2007
Limiting Privatisation of NHS
Promises, by the new Health Secretary Alan Johnson, that future private sector involvement in the NHS would be curtailed, has been warmly welcomed by the Unite trade union.
Unite, the third largest union in the NHS, has been strongly opposed to the ‘ill-thought out market reforms’ introduced by Mr Johnson’s predecessor, Patricia Hewitt.
Unite’s Head of Health, Kevin Coyne said:
“We are particularly pleased by his commitment that there will be no ‘third wave’ of Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs), which have been criticised for not providing enough data, so that a fair comparison can be made with similar NHS services.
Private companies have been strongly pushing for the further ‘marketisation’ of the NHS. But based on the private sector’s record, so far, whether it is the Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs), or Social Enterprises, it has delivered neither ‘value for money’, nor significant progress in patient care”.
The Health Secretary told the House of Commons Health Select Committee that there would not be an expansion in private sector contracts, after those in the pipeline have been approved.
Unite has been concerned about the PR activities of private companies eager to gain a lucrative slice of NHS contracts.
Kevin Coyne continued:
“We are glad Alan Johnson appears to be resisting the aggressive PR tactics of the private sector which is trying to hi-jack the future of the NHS”.
Last week, Unite said that large gaps in data provided by ISTCs is ‘the big issue’ when it comes to comparing the quality of their services with those of the NHS, when commenting on the Healthcare Commission’s report on ISTCs.
Further information
Unite/CPHVA
DH: Independent sector treatment centres
Healthcare Commission Review
OGC - Third Kelly Market - Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs)
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