The decision by NHS England to reverse plans for a national public consultation over proposals to privatise Commissioning Support Units (CSUs,) through the creation of social enterprises or staff mutuals is hasty, warned UNISON, the UK’s largest union today.
The union has written to the NHS England board raising its objections and highlighting the fact that decisions about the future of CSU’s will have wide spread implications for patients and staff.
Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said:
“The vast majority of the public will have no idea what the changes to CSUs will mean to them. We have a national health service and local consultation is just not good enough. That is why a national public consultation is needed to educate and to ensure the views of the public are not sidelined.
“Changes to CSUs will affect the whole commissioning and provision of health services in England and that is matter of wide public interest.”
In its letter to the Board the union points to the fact that a consultation is particularly required because the commissioning support function was subject to little scrutiny, inside or outside Parliament, during the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill.
Public being sidelined in NHS Commissioning Plans
Nearly half a million UNISON members work in health care in the NHS and for organisations providing NHS services. We work to improve terms and conditions, highlight issues that will affect all workers, ensure workplaces are safe and challenge discrimination.