NHS constitution should not be ‘a smokescreen’ for more
privatisation
21 January 2009
The NHS workforce must be fully involved in how the new NHS
Constitution evolves, Unite, the largest union in the country, said
today (Wednesday, 21 January).
And Unite said that the constitution should not become ‘a
smokescreen’ for further privatisation of the NHS.
Unite National Officer for Health, David Fleming said: ‘We
welcome any steps that makes the NHS more accountable to patients
and clients, makes clearer what they are entitled to, and that
staff and patients are treated with respect and dignity.’
‘However, another important part of the equation in making this
constitution work on a practical level on a daily basis is
involving the workforce and their trade unions in its development.
It is shame that the role of the trade unions and professional
associations are not mentioned in the main body of the
constitution.’
‘The NHS Constitution is ‘a top down’ document, but it needs the
speech and language therapist, the lab technician, the health
visitor, the ambulance personnel and the maintenance staff to
be consulted fully on how it can be best implemented.’
‘Unite remains wary about the government’s continued obsession
with privatisation of the NHS and we would not like the fine words
and elegant phrases embedded in the constitution to be used as a
smokescreen for private companies to take a larger slice of NHS
services.’
‘The constitution enshrines further involvement of private and
third sector organisations in the delivery of NHS services i.e.
privatisation.’
‘But at the same time, the constitution seeks to enshrine the
efficient and best use of resources – however it is now evident
that marketisation and privatisation are not the best use of such
resources. Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs), for example, are
wasteful.’
‘There is, therefore, a glaring contradiction in the
constitution as to what it hopes to achieve. We will be raising
these apparent contradictions with ministers.’
-ends-
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
For further information, please ring: Karen Reay, National
Officer, Health 07798 531 004; David Fleming, National Officer,
Health 07798 531013; Obi Amadi, Lead Professional Officer, Policy
& External Affairs 07780 955 936; Cheryll Adams, Lead
Professional Officer, Strategy & Practice
Development 07712 678 281; Shaun Noble, Communications Officer
(Health Sector) 020 7420 8951 or 07768 693 940
Unite is campaigning against the imposed three-year NHS pay deal
which will mean pay rises being barely 50% of the current
rate of inflation. More information is available on the 'campaigns'
page of the website www.amicustheunion.org
Unite Health Sector web page www.unitetheunion.org/health
Unite/CPHVA press releases can be seen on the CPHVA website:
www.unitetheunion.org/cphva
Unite is the largest union in the UK. It has seven
professional sections: the Community Practitioners’ and
Health Visitors’ Association, the Mental Health Nurses Association,
the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists, the Society of Sexual Health
Advisers, the Medical Practitioners’ Union, College of Healthcare
Chaplains, and the Hospital Physicists Association.
Unite was formed by an amalgamation of Amicus and the Transport
and General Workers’ Union in May 2007.
