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Private firms set to take over running of failing hospitals



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PRIVATE firms could take over the management of struggling NHS hospitals and primary care trusts under Government plans being unveiled today.
Around 20 NHS trusts which are falling short on quality, safety or finances are set to be identified as candidates for takeover.

The first – Hinchingbrooke in Cambridgeshire – is already understood to be searching for new management, which could come from the private sector.

The plans have already been criticised even before the details are announced.

Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union which represents NHS staff and ambulance drivers, said the union "will resist this move with every sinew".

He added: "This announcement shows that New Labour is totally out of touch with the needs and wishes of ordinary people."

And Dr Jonathan Fielden, of the British Medical Association, said "We have grave concerns about this.

"The Government is bringing in the private sector – effectively privatising part of the NHS."

The Department of Health stressed that contracts would not involve the transfer of NHS assets or staff to the private sector.





The full article contains 183 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 June 2008 11:34 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Health of the NHS
 
1

Peter - very disappointed/concerned,

Edinburgh 04/06/2008 12:17:02
Privatisation of NHS hospitals will only result in their perfomance becoming worse.

A better way forward would be to dismiss the trusts and boards of directors (largely bungling incompetents from the private sector anyway).
2

antifa,

04/06/2008 12:17:37
Perhaps you could add this sentence:

"None of this applies to Scotland."
3

Green booger,

04/06/2008 14:14:34
That's handy for Gordon Brown's closest friends. Build hospitals with public money, then hand them over to private companies. Reminds me of when Maggie McBroon sold 415 tonnes of OUR gold reserves to the European Central Bank for $275/oz. In March, gold topped $1030/oz.

NuLab loves the publicly funded feeding trough.

"GORDON BROWN was accused last night of trying to take Britain into the European single currency by stealth after surprising the City with an announcement that he was selling more than half of the country's gold reserves, leaving Britain the lowest bullion holdings of any major country. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1999/05/08/ngol08.html"
4

Joe Macdelta.,

04/06/2008 17:24:11
Its a disgrace, that a "LABOUR" government would even consider this, how out of touch can you get.
5

John Blackley,

Florida 04/06/2008 21:18:55
Definition of insanity: To keep doing what you've always done but to expect a different result.

These failing hospitals have been run by the NHS (and the unions) for decades. I admit that there is a danger that, in bringing in a commercial management firm, service may suffer. I will also point out that there's at least an equal - and possibly better - chance that service will improve.

Look upon it as a pilot project. Healthcare is about service to the patient, not about dogma.
6

yoric,

04/06/2008 22:25:55
Non of this applies in Scotland.

The Westminster Government always says Britain when it means England, the press in England is sometimes as bad.

Brown made an hour long speech the other week about Englands NHS, but didn't mention England once,kept saying Britain, then he wonders why he's unpopular in England.


 

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