- Conference
- 2007 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 20 December 2006
- Decision
- Carried
Conference welcomes the publication of the Health Select Committee’s report into wave one of the Independent Sector Treatment Centre programme (ISTCs) following the conclusion of its inquiry in July 2006. In particular its conclusions that:
1.ISTCs had not made a major direct contribution to increased capacity
2.ISTCs are not necessarily more efficient than NHS Treatment Centres
3.the lack of reliable and transparent data on clinical quality has prevented patients from being offered an informed choice
4.there is no convincing evidence that proved that NHS Treatment Centres were in any way adopting techniques pioneered by ISTCs
Conference recognises that this fully endorses UNISON’s own submission of written and oral evidence and directly conflicts with the government’s claims that ISTCs would provide new innovation, increased capacity and extend patient choice.
Conference also notes with concern that contracts were signed in November 2006 for Scotland’s first privately run regional treatment centre between NHS Tayside and Netcare UK. At a cost of £15m this is another example of the increasing role of the private sector across the UK and the introduction of competition within the NHS.
Conference is concerned that the extension in the number of ISTCs in phase two will lead to further instability in local NHS provision, not least in the predicted transferred NHS activity and that the long-term implications of ISTCs will result in an increased market within the NHS.
Conference calls on the Health Service Group Executive to liaise with the health group, regions and branches to:
a)work collaboratively with UNISON’s Private Contractors Unit and utilise the Business Information System (BIS) to monitor a database of the contracts awarded to private providers for ISTCs;
b)develop the regional and branch networks for private providers to share best practice on the process and experiences of working within these companies and to monitor the impact of the HR Framework published in November 2006;
c)roll-out the branch toolkit that will assist members in campaigning locally, recruiting members and developing local coalitions to oppose ISTCs;
d)seek ongoing discussions with the Department of Health, Scottish Executive Health Department and NHS Employers to monitor approved contracts in line with business case submissions;
e)seek an urgent meeting with the Healthcare Commission to discuss concerns over clinical data monitoring and to identify how this can be achieved in partnership with staff side organisations;
f)campaign for the extension of Agenda for Change and trade union recognition in all ISTCs;
g)seek an urgent meeting with Mercury Health representatives following the announcement by Tribal Group plc to sell off Mercury Health to discuss potential implications to members working in their ISTCs in Medway, Portsmouth, Wycombe, an elective orthopaedic centre in Sussex and the centre planned for Havant in January 2008.