Watch out for NHS privatisation by stealth

It was welcome news to hear that plans by the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust to create a WOS (Wholly Owned Subsidiary) at its three hospitals – Wexham, Heatherwood and Frimley – have been dropped.

These proposals would have seen more than 1,000 non-clinical staff roles, including housekeeping, security and porters, transferred to the new company, thus creating a two-tier workforce with new workers operating under separate terms and conditions to the NHS.

The WOS always represented ‘the thin end of the wedge’ starting with cleaners and security guards, etc but opening a path to put more and more staff at arm’s length.

According to local news, a spokesperson for the Trust said: ‘we have confirmed to staff that we will not be pursuing the creation of a wholly-owned subsidiary and we will continue to work with them to deliver our strategy and to secure the benefits in different ways’.

Clearly this represents a victory for the three unions – GMB, UNITE AND UNISON who reacted so quickly and stood firm against the Trust proposals with relentless determination to say ‘No’ to this privatisation by the back door.

Solidarity was also expressed by others across the locality.

Slough & District Trades Council, the Save Heatherwood Hospital campaign group (SHH), Defend Our Community Services (DOCS) and local Labour Party members all came together in support of the campaign.

They joined the rallies, ran street stalls and wrote to the press to defend the workers and the future of our NHS.

This announcement has been welcomed wholehear tedly.

However, caution should be exercised as the future of our NHS is in jeopardy and needs to be monitored closely.

It is well known that the Government has handed out lucrative contracts to the likes of SERCO; often with disastrous results as in the NHS Test and Trace which have been well reported in the national press.

So too, the latest news that one of the UK’s biggest GP practice operators with 500,000 patients has quietly passed into the hands of the US health insurance group Centene Corporation, fuelling calls for an inquiry into ‘NHS privatisation by stealth’.

All who believe in the importance of the NHS need to be aware of its precarious existence.

We have all benefited from the NHS and more recently, its value has become critically apparent during COVID-19 when we have seen the sheer dedication, loyalty and commitment from all who work within it.

We need to be mindful of all the challenges to its future and rally to its defence.

Long live our NHS! SPIKE HUMPHREY Vice-Chair, Slough & District Trades

Council MARGERY THOROGOOD Secretary, Slough & District Trades

Council