The NHS ‘reform’ bill should be scrapped, Unite says in submission
to ‘listening exercise’
26 May 2011
The ‘seriously flawed’ NHS ‘reform’ bill with its privatisation
agenda should be scrapped, Unite, the largest union in the country,
said today (Thursday 26 May 2011).
Unite, which has 100,000 members in the health service, outlined
11 key points in its submission to the government’s ‘listening
exercise’ as to why the Health and Social Care bill should be
withdrawn.
Unite is opposed to the bill as it heralds ‘commercial
involvement on a scale’ not seen before, risking the concept of a
universal, free health care service, which has been the
central ethos of the NHS since its formation in 1948.
Unite is calling for a Royal Commission to be set-up to
investigate the long-term demands on the NHS.
In its submission Unite said it believes that ”the heart of the
government’s proposals will transform and privatise the NHS so that
services are geared towards fulfilling financial and business
contractual relationships and outcomes, rather than meeting health
needs.
”It ultimately puts at risk the concept of a universal, free
health care service.”
Overall, Unite believes that the government’s plans will
- Decrease the quality and range of health services available to
people;
- Contribute to increasing health inequality;
- Increase healthcare costs; and
- Reduce accountability.
Unite’s democratically decided policy is for a NHS that is publicly
owned, publicly funded and publicly accountable, providing
comprehensive and universal health services, free to all at the
point of need, not the point of use, before and after
treatment.
The main 11 points of Unite’s submission are:
- The bill should be withdrawn.
- The duties of the secretary of state for health should remain
as set out in the NHS Act 2006.
- The implementation of the “any willing provider” principle and
the market mechanisms contained in the bill will bring commercial
involvement.
- The concept of ‘designated services’ within this competitive
business model of delivering health services is deeply flawed, and
will not prevent the widespread loss of valuable healthcare
services to local communities.
- Opposition to the lifting or abolition of the current cap on
the amount of private income foundation trusts can generate – the
cap should remain.
- The public duties in the Equality Act and the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act should be applied to all organisations
that deliver services on behalf of the NHS.
- EU competition law should not apply to the NHS as healthcare is
a collective public good.
- Monitor should not have a role in fostering or enforcing
competition across the NHS; the focus and emphasis has to be on
encouraging integration and co-operation.
- There are insufficient safeguards to ensure democratic scrutiny
of health services at a local level; the proposed health and
well-being boards are weak and are narrow in scope. The GP
consortia do not have minimum standards on the breadth of
professional representation included on their boards.
- All staff working to deliver health care services on behalf of
the NHS, whether directly employed or not, should receive Agenda
for Change terms and conditions and be covered by that national,
collective agreement.
- An analysis of the issues raised by increased life expectancy
and continued inequalities, the management of chronic conditions,
the use and funding of new drugs and technology should be subject
to a royal commission that can take an evidence-based view – and
not the ‘quick fix’ destructive policies in the bill.
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
The full
Unite submission on the health listening exercise
For further information please contact Unite communications
officer Shaun Noble on 07768 693940
