UPDATE: Government drops plans to sell off NHS Professionals
Due to the high costs of using private staffing agencies the NHS set up its own agency to supply hospitals with agency doctors, nurses and other health profesionals. NHS Professionals saves hospitals over £70m every year in fees compared to using private agencies. All profits made by NHS profesionals is reinvested into the NHS.
The government has now decided to sell off a 75% stake to the private sector. Many UNISON members work for NHS Profesionals and their jobs are at risk if this privatisation goes ahead.
UNISON is working with the We Own It campaign groupto stop the sell-off of NHS Professionals. Please sign the petition and encourage your family, friends and colleagues to do the same.
An Early Day Motion (EDM) is to be tabled in parliament calling on the government to halt the sale:
That this House recognises the incredible value and effectiveness of our National Health Service;
Notes the success of NHS Professionals in supplying short-term and flexible staff to NHS Trusts with staffing gaps at a very low overhead cost;
Understands that private agencies perform the same function at a higher cost, by charging expensive rates of commission;
Notes that the use of NHS Professionals as opposed to private staffing agencies saves the NHS approx £70 million per year;
Understands that all profits made by NHS Professionals are currently reinvested into the NHS, and, with all this in mind;
Regrets the Government’s decision to sell 74.9% of their stake in NHS Professionals to a private buyer;
Maintains that NHS Professionals in the hands of a private buyer will cost the NHS more and will not improve the service provided;
Notes that the start of the contract is set to be the 1st of September 2017;
And calls on the Government to halt the sale immediately and retain full ownership of NHS Professionals.
You can contact your MP and ask them to support the motion from the We Own It camapign website
The deal is due to be signed off within weeks – but if we all join together we can stop it.