Social Enterprises - bad for your health
UNISON is extremely worried about the government's intention to create 'the largest social enterprise sector in the world'.Voluntary and community organisations have taken on specialist roles in the health service, where they use their skills and innovation alongside the NHS to deliver quality patient care.
Now the government wants to allow social enterprises - private companies outside the NHS - to provide everyday mainstream health services.
UNISON believes this will break-up the NHS.
It means that innovation will take a backseat in the fight to win contracts, with costs being driven downwards. Patient care will suffer as the race to provide the cheapest service will affect the quality of care - and teams from different organisations will find it increasingly difficult to co-operate with competitors over a patient's care.
If these small social enterprise businesses fail, the NHS will not be able to bail them out. This opens the door for multi-national companies to step in, meaning that your healthcare will be run for profit. Any surpluses will go into shareholders' pockets rather than into improving the service.
Staff in Sandwell say 'no' to social enterprise
UNISON members in Sandwell Community Health Services have slammed local plans to create a social enterprise because they believe that transferring to a social enterprise effectively results in the privatisation of local health services. Read the full story hereSandwell is the latest successful UNISON campaign to halt attempts to push staff into social enterprise. Staff in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, South Bedfordshire and West Essex PCTs have also successfully campaigned against social enterprise.
What you can do
Tell us if you hear about any local plans to involve social enterprises in the delivery of your healthcare - email ournhs@unison.co.ukClick here to add your voice to our campaign to protect the NHS and other public services (if you opt in we will keep you up to date with our campaign and ask you to take part in campaign actions) - and tell us why the NHS matters to you.
