UNISON members are urging the public to join them in a demonstration in Truro tomorrow to protest at plans by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust to transfer more 600 dedicated, hard-working NHS staff to the private sector.
People are asked to join the demonstration on Saturday 17 May at 10 am for a march from Treliske hospital into Truro, followed by a rally on Lemon Quay.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust runs NHS acute services at three sites in Cornwall: Treliske in Truro, West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance and St Michaels Hospital in Hayle.
It has invited bids from a number of private companies to provide support services for up to 10 years, across the three sites.
This includes include portering, patient meals, switchboards, housekeepers, stores, security, retail catering, linen, waste and cleaning.
UNISON fears that services and patient care will be compromised by a drive to cut costs and to make profits for shareholders.
The current services provided by the NHS staff are high quality and cost efficient, says the union – the in-house team have been delivering savings, year on year, and improving the services provided.
UNISON believes that, if there are any more savings that could be delivered, these should be ploughed back into patient care rather than paid out to private company shareholders.
