Privatisation wihin the NHS

[bobjugs12]

This isn't a current 'news' story, but is something that is taking place under the surface of the NHS. Slowly, various parts of the NHS are being privatised and contracted out.
It's (in the main) support services that are being contracted out at the moment.There are more cleaners, cooks, porters, bin-men, handymen, engineers etc employed by companies like Carillion or Sodexho than there are employed by the NHS. Major hospitals have a seperate structure within them for the private sector employees. The NHS is passing operations onto private clinics due to shortfalls. There are private hospitals opening within the grounds of NHS hospitals. There are private ambulances operating on 999 calls, to make up the shortfall of the NHS.

Do you think that privatisation is a good thing? Would you like to see more financial prudence by companies rather than the wasteful spending on the NHS? Do you think a proper managment structure would reign in Doctors ego's?
Or
Do you think that this is a bad thing? Do you think that profits would be put ahead of people, and life would be valued in monetary terms? Do you belive that the public sector and commercial companies cannot work together as they have completely different aims?

What is your opinion

[boxtops]

It's a huge topic, bobjugs. Our own Community Services has just floated off as a foundation trust - will mean radical changes - a local Trust is considering becoming a social enterprise (which, I understand) means that Agenda for Change no long applies to the staff). Much being floated off and around in preparation for GP Commissioning . Watch this space.

[anotheoldgit]

Nothing wrong in sending out certain services to private contractors, all large companies do it.

Let the NHS get on with those medical, surgical and general health matters, that's already an ample task, and let the contractors take care of the services that are needed to keep the whole unit running smoothly.

[Gromit]

I am amazed that the Labour Party has not made more fuss about the stealth Privatisation of the NHS.

Soon, all NHS Trusts will be scrapped and all their functions are to be done by GPs (who work for themselves but contracted to do NHS work). Of course, GPs have no idea how to do this work, or the inclination to do it, so they will contract the work out to Private Companies, who will want a healthy profit.

Meanwhile, Miliband and Co., Are in A&E with their heads stuck up their own ar$es.

[ludwig]

// I am amazed that the Labour Party has not made more fuss about the stealth Privatisation of the NHS. //

Perhaps it's because they happily oversaw the process during their previous 13 years in office - unless it's all happened in the last 6 months of course, in which case, yes they should indeed be kicking up more of a fuss.

[Gromit]

Ludwig,

I meant the Privatisation of the functions of the Trusts. And yes, Labour do have a shameful record.

[youngmafbog]

Gromit, probably because it started under them.

Cuts in NHS were happening well before the Tories came in, and rightly so.

The NHS is full of wasters and it needs clearing up so money can be spent on front line services. I dont think this is a political think, we all want the best from this service and for it to continue, but it cannot continue in its current guise.

[bazwillrun]

Its no different to the way the EU is taking over our country, slow and insidious, like a creeping cancer, bit by bit, trying not to get too much attention.

The NHS is a massive if not the biggest burden for any government to have on its books

[R1Geezer]

Not necessarily privitisation but we certainly need some private sector thinking. Public sector mentatlity is a hugely wasteful shower of sh1te, who think the job exists only for them to have a job, not for the function of that job. NHS would benefit from Private sector management and presssures. Hopefully we can one day get to the stage where we have more beds that clerks, still, I keep dreaming I guess!

You could get rid of entire layers of NHS management without anyone noticing, in the words of Jim Hacker, I don't care if you only do in grown toe nails, just get some patients and doctors and Nurses!

[rov1200]

As long as they don't privatise the patients all will be OK. If its not free at the point of use then we need to start worrying.