- Conference
- 2025 National Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 6 December 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the establishment of wholly owned subsidiary companies within the National Health Service has raised significant concerns regarding the impact on patient care, staff conditions, and the overall ethos of public service in healthcare. These companies often operate within a framework that prioritises profit over patient outcomes, leading to fragmentation of services and a dilution of the NHS core values of equity, compassion, and accessibility. Conference further notes the introduction of wholly owned subsidiary companies has often resulted in a two-tier workforce, with differences in pay, terms, and conditions, which can adversely affect team cohesion and ultimately compromise patient safety and care quality.
Conference is also aware that wholly owned subsidiary companies can operate with less transparency and accountability compared to NHS trusts, creating barriers between the public and the services provided. This undermines the principle of a publicly funded NHS, where the interests of patients and the community should be paramount. The financial viability of wholly owned subsidiary companies remains questionable, with many facing significant challenges that could lead to cuts in essential services or employment. This practice leads to instability and uncertainty for both staff and patients. Conference has previously highlighted that the creation of wholly owned subsidiary companies often leads to staff being employed under less favourable conditions.
Conference congratulates those branches and regions that have led campaigns opposing the implementation of wholly owned subsidiary companies and those campaigning to bring them back in-house. Conference believes that wholly owned subsidiary companies have no place in our NHS. Work must start now to bring these back under direct NHS provision and campaign to prevent the creation of more. Conference welcomes the election of a Labour Government and its call for the ‘biggest wave of insourcing for a generation’ and believes this includes wholly owned subsidiary companies and, this work should start now.
Conference calls on the Health Service Group Executive to:
1. Call for the abolition of wholly owned subsidiary companies within the NHS to restore the integrity of public healthcare provision.
2. Work with Labour Link to hold the government to account on the election pledges regarding insourcing.
3. In addition to promoting UNISON’s ‘Bringing Services Home’ campaign, continue to provide updated advice, support and guidance to branches to campaign against the creation of any further wholly owned subsidiary companies.
4. Emphasise the need for direct investment in NHS services, highlighting that funding should go towards improving patient care rather than requiring profit margins for wholly owned subsidiaries.