Stafford Hospital is a classic example of the government’s ‘flawed’
NHS privatisation policy
18th March 2009
Stafford Hospital is a classic case of the government’s ‘flawed’
privatisation agenda for the NHS, Unite, the largest union in the
country, said today (Wednesday, 18 March).
The hospital, run by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust,
where more than 400 people are said to have died over a three year
period – an above average figure - is ‘an example of what happens
when the target obsessed privatisation culture takes
hold’.
David Fleming, Unite national officer for health, said: "This is
a classic example of the fragmented and insidious approach to
dismantling the NHS and providing alternatives that are never going
to be as good.
"The Staffordshire case is the perfect example about what
happens when you put profit before the patient. A foundation trust,
by its very DNA, has a commercial bias which besmirches the 1948
ideals that set-up the NHS.
"Foundation trusts are one of the first steps along the road of
creating competitive markets and opening up of the possibility of
an increasing amount of public services being handed to the private
sector under the banner of service reform.
"The Staffordshire case demonstrates the bankruptcy of this
flawed ideology.
"Current government NHS reforms are designed to involve the private
sector on a scale and scope never before seen; the accumulative
impact of which threatens to undermine the fundamental values of
the NHS."
ENDS
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
Foundation Trust status means that although the trust is still
technically within the NHS the ownership of services and assets
passes from the secretary of state to the relevant independent
corporation. The independent corporation is are able to make
capital investments, sell certain assets, retain and sit on
surpluses, borrow money commercially and, as companies, can risk
insolvency.
Unlike the rest of the NHS a trust is not required to break
even. A trust also has more freedom to enter into direct
agreements with private sector partners. They are also able to
generate income by treating private patients – though they are not
supposed to prioritise those patients above NHS patients.
Because they can act as independent organisations they do not have
to consult with other organisations - such as primary care trusts
(PCTs) - in the local health economy.
For further information, please ring:
David Fleming, national officer, health 07798 531013, Karen
Reay, national officer, health, 07798 531 004, Shaun Noble,
communications officer (health sector), 020 7420 8951 or 07768 693
940
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