George Eliot hospital heading for privatisation stich up

George Eliot hospital is moving ever closer to privatisation, following news that the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust has been forced out of the bidding process, warned UNISON the UK’s largest union today.
 
The union is highly critical of the whole “franchising” process, which it believes is fundamentally flawed, and is simply being used as a cover for NHS privatisation. The whole exercise has been conducted behind a technical smokescreen of commercial confidentiality, which has left the public without a proper say in whether they want their local health services handed over to the private sector.
 
Christina McAnea, UNISON Head of Health, said:
 
“Ruling out the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, tips the scales towards a privatisation stitch up, with Care UK and Circle lining up against South Warwickshire NHS Trust.
 
“It is a bit rich that the NHS hospital has been ruled out on financial grounds, when Care UK and Circle have clearly got financial issues of theirown.  Both have financial structures with roots in the volatile private equity industry and both have reported large debts.   Interestingly they have both made large donations to the Conservative party.
 
“The whole franchising process is being rigged in favour of the private sector. It is an unfair playing field in which the NHS has one hand tied behind its back. Today’s decision shows that what is in the best interests of local people, patients and staff now come second.”