nhs - private treatment
WORKERS, OCTOBER 2003 ISSUE
UNISON and other healthcare unions have slammed the government's decision to set up new diagnostic and treatment centres. While it is tempting to see this as a positive move to reduce waiting lists, the long-term effects on the NHS could be devastating.
The contracts will go to overseas private companies who will be guaranteed five-year contracts. Primary Care Trusts will be forced to pay more than NHS rates per operation.
In the NHS the routine operations such as those on hips, knees and cataracts help to subsidise the more complex long stay procedures. Without these 'bread and butter' operations, NHS wards may have to close and more complicated treatments will be cut back.
The companies involved are purely out for easy profit and many have little or no experience of delivering healthcare. The real cost of this privatisation will be a weakened NHS and worsening care for patients.