Green candidate backs Unite Union in opposing social enterprise plan for Central Essex Community Services

20 April 2010

James Abbott says "It clearly opens the door to privatisation of much valued local health services".

James Abbott, the Green Party candidate for Witham constituency has vowed to oppose the plan by NHS Mid Essex to establish a social enterprise organisation to provide local community health services.

Councillor Abbott is backing the Unite Union's opposition to the proposal and has discussed the matter with them. Unite are particularly concerned about the lack of a proper ballot of staff and that the patchy consultation that has been done so far points to strong opposition from staff, which is being ignored. Elsewhere in Essex, ballots on similar proposals have been lost and proposals for social enterprise bids dropped.

NHS Mid Essex made the decision to develop the social enterprise model at a meeting on 31st March and claimed that it would be

• "an organisation where Central Essex Community Services staff can work with NHS values but without NHS constraints"
• "in line with a national policy to separate the community service provider parts of PCTs from the main PCT as a "commissioner" of healthcare services"
• "possible for the local NHS to drive up quality and innovation in patient care through encouraging competition from a choice of local providers"
• a model "to pursue integration through managed dispersal to the local NHS or local authorities or open market procurement"

 

James Abbott said

"At this election the Green Party is the only major party standing full square against any further privatisation of the NHS. Which ever way the proposal is dressed up, it clearly opens the door to privatisation of much valued local health services with the option of "open market procurement" on the table.

The services under discussion include district nurses and health visitors who attend patients in their own homes. They often build up trusting personal care relationships. Yet the social enterprise proposal could result in local nurses being shown the door and a private company taking over.

The Unite Union is right to question the legitimacy of the proposed social enterprise move. It is stated by NHS Mid Essex that there will be a formal consultation with staff. But will this be a full ballot? And given the decision they took on March 31st, will it by then be a done deal anyway?

The NHS is a much valued national public service and it should not be carved up to the benefit of private companies and their shareholders. The Green Party will oppose privatisation of the NHS nationally and if elected as MP for Witham I will oppose this specific proposal for Mid Essex in Parliament."

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