Commenting on the announcement today (Thursday) that 2,000 health workers based in Wiltshire are to be transferred further away from the NHS, this time to private firm the HCRG Care Group, UNISON south west regional secretary Kerry Baigent said:
“This is a disastrous decision and is not at all what staff will have wanted to hear. The health workers want to be employed by the NHS, not moved yet further away from it.
“The employees, who include occupational therapists, nurses, care co-ordinators and physiotherapists, have already been transferred out of the NHS once.
“Staff had hoped their jobs would be moved back to the health service. Instead the workers have been shifted to a company owned by venture capitalists that they fear will be more intent on wealth creation than patient care. Public money should not be spent in this way.
“Earlier this year, the staff were forced to go on strike to secure the same pay rise given to NHS employees. Now this unwanted takeover means the workers are to be removed even further from the NHS and the job security and fair pay this brings.
“This move is also totally at odds with the prevailing mood in Westminster. The recently published employment rights bill seeks to do away with two-tier workforces. Ministers have also promised the biggest wave of insourcing of privatised contracts in a generation
“The NHS desperately needs to attract new recruits and hold on to experienced staff. But hiving off workers like this to private firms will likely deter people from choosing careers in patient care.”
