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Friday, 30 June 2006 12:35

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NHS 'privatisation' fears fuelled

Firms have been asked to bid for the role of commissioning NHS care, fuelling fears that the health service is facing privatisation.

Local health managers working for bodies called primary care trusts currently buy in services, although in some areas it has been devolved to GPs.

But adverts have gone out appearing to ask for firms to take on the role.

As news broke of the move, ministers pulled the ads, saying they were wrong to imply firms could run PCT services.

The advert, appearing in the Official Journal of the European Union, said it wanted firms to set out how they could run "a comprehensive range of management services including PCT management and related services".

Instead, the government said it was only looking for firms to provide expert advice to PCTs.

But the denial has not soothed fears outsourcing PCT services is the latest step in a greater reliance on the private sector.

Nearly one in 10 NHS operations are already carried out by the private sector in either hospitals or specially-designed clinics called independent sector treatment centres which carry out minor procedures such as cataract operations.

And last month the first deal was signed in east London for a private firm to run GP services are more are in the pipeline.

Outsourcing the role of PCTs, which control three-quarters of the NHS budget to buy in services from hospitals, GPs and other community services, would complete the triangle.

Karen Jennings, head of health at public sector union Unison, said: "It is hard to see it as anything other than privatisation by stealth.

"The Department of Health have clearly taken their eye off the ball and the pace and scale of NHS reforms is leading to serious errors."

And Alex Nunns, of the campaign group Keep Our NHS Public, added: "We are getting into a situation where private firms could be in charge of commission NHS services and running them.

"It is a conflict of interest as it is not unimaginable that private firms will send patients to private hospitals."

And Liberal Democrat health spokesman Steve Webb MP said the episode "typifies the government's reckless approach to health reforms".

"Once again health policy is being changed by stealth without consultation, bypassing parliament, bypassing professionals and bypassing patients.

"These secret plans represent a fundamental shift in what the NHS is."

Lord Warner said the government was not trying to privatise the NHS, but instead wanted to get firms to be available to offer "expert advice" to PCTs.

"We are determined to create stronger and more effective primary care trusts, which can secure the best possible healthcare for patients in local areas by commissioning services from a range of providers."

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