Britain is ‘sleep walking’ into the privatisation of the NHS, warns
Unite
3 November 2011
Britain is ‘sleep walking’ towards the American-style
privatisation of the NHS, Unite, the largest union in the country,
warned today (Wednesday 3 November).
Unite joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said that people
need to ‘wake up fast’ to the implications of the government’s NHS
white paper, which could see GPs receiving the first tranche of
their management allowance as early as next spring.
Unite, which has a 100,000 members working in the health
service, is opposed to the white paper with its plans to give £80
billion of the NHS budget to GPs’ consortia, as it believes that
the GPs will have to buy in private sector firms to operate the new
system of commissioning healthcare.
In a press interview, health secretary, Andrew Lansley said
ministers would award GP consortia ‘a subset, but not the majority’
of their management allowance in 2011/12, with the ‘great majority
of resources’ made available in 2012/13, when GPs will carry out a
dry-run of commissioning.
He also made clear the government would not write off debts
incurred by primary care trusts (PCTs) in their remaining two and a
half years before they are abolished, and urged GPs to work closely
with trusts during the transition period to ensure they don’t start
off with huge financial millstones around their necks.
Tony Woodley said: ”The British people are sleep walking into a
world of healthcare privatisation, unaware of the radical
implications of the coalition’s proposals. They need to demand a
public debate into these far-reaching proposals that were cobbled
together in just six weeks after the general election.
”The prospect is of financial chaos as GPs inherit the debts of
PCTs; and a profits bonanza as private healthcare companies gobble
up lucrative contracts.”
Unite national officer for health, Karen Reay, said: ”The voters
did not elect this government to dismantle one of this country’s
most cherished institutions – the NHS. This white paper is being
driven by dogma, and not common sense.
”MPs need to be aware of their constituents’ concerns when this
bill comes before parliament before the Christmas recess on
21 December– we are at the last chance saloon as the NHS is
prepared to be carved up for privatisation on the altar of
right-wing ideology.“
The Unite 4 our NHS campaign has been launched to oppose the
cuts and privatisation as outlined in the coalition's white paper.
Thousands of Unite members have put their names on a Unite map of
supporters who want to defend the NHS.
ENDS
Note to news editors: For further information, please ring,
Unite communications officer, Shaun Noble on 07768 693940
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