Unite warns against privatisation of the National Blood Service:
'No to Blood Money'
4 March 2011
Staff representatives from the National Blood Service (NBS) have
written to chief executive, Linda Hamlyn, and to NBS board members
warning that the privatisation of the NBS could have serious
effects on the fragile relationship between the service and its
donors.
Around three million UK citizens give their blood every year.
Unite says it is the ultimate "big society" service but the essence
of the service would be fundamentally altered if a profit-motive
was introduced to any part of the service.
Unite is demanding a full written report from the NBS board
setting out what discussions have taken place with potential
bidders, what decisions have been made and what time scales there
might be regarding possible privatisation.
The union also wants MPs currently scrutinising the Health and
Social Care bill to look seriously at ways to preserve the NBS so
that profit-making companies are not handed parts of the service to
operate, arguing that the only motive for the service ought to be
the collection and distribution of blood for the common good.
On 16 February, the Health Service Journal learned that the
Department of Health's commercial directorate held talks with
private providers about running parts of the NHS Blood and
Transplant service. Capita and DHL are understood to be interested
in taking over parts of the service (see notes to editors).
Unite, Britain's biggest union which represents staff working
for the NBS, resolutely opposes any privatisation of the service
arguing that it goes against the very ethos of giving blood.
Unite's regional officer, Owen Granfield said: "On behalf of the
staff working for the blood service who are very proud and
dedicated, we have written to the chief executive of the NBS
demanding to know just how far discussions with the private sector
have progressed. Unite is not prepared to allow the private sector
to profit from a voluntary service which was in existence even
before the NHS was founded.
"People who give blood for free because they believe it is in
the common good will be shocked to learn the Department of Health
is considering allowing the private sector to profit from their
blood. This is blood money and it is totally wrong.
"The very essence of the blood service is about people giving
their blood for free to help and save lives. The blood service is
always short of donors and privatisation could have serious effects
on the fragile relationship between the service and voluntary
donations."
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
Notes to editors:
Article published in the Health Service
Journal on 16 February 2011
DH looks to private sector to save money on
blood service
16 February 2011 - By Sarah Calkin
HSJ has learned the DH’s commercial directorate has held talks
with private providers about running parts of the NHS Blood and
Transplant service. It is not known which companies the department
has already spoken to, but HSJ understands NHS Supply Chain, which
is operated by logistics firm DHL has been invited in for
discussions, as has Capita. http://www.hsj.co.uk/5025793.article
(subscriber only content)
