nhs - blood samples outsourced
WORKERS, OCT 2004 ISSUE
The Department of Health has proposed to fly blood and urine samples for testing to India, with the results emailed back to Britain. The fact that they could pay Indian lab technicians £4,000 per annum and still make a profit over the air carriage, shows that "offshoring" is not just about call centres for utilities and banks.
The recent investigation into industrial relations within the National Blood Service highlighted the aggressive, bullying, quasi-military mentality of the employers. Though the industrial relations structure is being radically changed, primarily due to pressure from Unison, some managers -the union thinks - obviously hanker after a more 'colonial' and obedient regime.