Published: 05 June 2009
United in Campaign against NHS Privatisation
Unite is launching a campaign against the latest ‘patchwork privatisation’ of the NHS entitled Transforming Community Services (TCS).
TCS requires every primary care trust (PCT) in England to draw up plans by October 2009 to establish ‘provider’ organisations separate from their current commissioner roles.
Writing in the June edition of Community Practitioner, Unite’s Lead Officer for Nursing, Barrie Brown said that:
‘The TCS mantra promotes the myth that any provider will be better than a PCT provider, whether they are social enterprises, or third sector and private sector options.
The TCS agenda does not recognise what NHS staff have achieved or the future risks of having a plethora of different primary care provider organisations.
NHS productivity has improved when measured by the growth in quality and volume of the treatment and care. Quality and volume have exceeded the increase in funding’.
Barrie Brown said that figures published by the Office for National Statistics last month (May) demonstrate that productivity has grown by up to 1.6% a year.
Barrie Brown continued:
‘Why should PCTs in England look outside the NHS to provide services that are delivered so effectively by themselves and their staff? I think we should be told.’
Further information
DH: Transforming community services: enabling new patterns of provision
Resource pack for commissioners of community services
CPHVA website
Unite – Transforming Community Services / Health B4 Profit Campaign
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