UNISON has today (Thursday) criticised plans by NHS Property Services to make more than 140 posts redundant in England.
Roles at risk include those responsible for maintaining the safety and high standard of NHS properties, and those who carry out health and safety audits, fire risk assessments and manage the security of buildings.
UNISON head of health Christina McAnea said: “The Health and Social Care Act has created nothing but chaos in the NHS and cost billions. At a time of scarce resources, this extortionate expense was both unnecessary and money the NHS could ill afford. The new structures the Act created are now also failing on many levels.
“For many of the staff affected this is the second time in as many years that they have faced the risk of redundancy. This is due to the failure of NHS Property Services to create a sustainable national organisation when it was first formed.
“UNISON is calling on NHS Property Services to engage in meaningful talks during the consultation period to try to limit the number of compulsory redundancies and ensure skills essential to the NHS are not lost.”
Notes to editors:
NHS Property Services was created as a result of the Health and Social Care Act.
On 1 April 2013, 3,200 staff and 3,600 properties transferred to the new company from 151 primary care trusts and 10 strategic health authorities. These properties were mainly primary or community healthcare facilities, such as GP practices, or NHS administration offices.
NHS Property Services is a private limited company and is owned by the Secretary of State. The company has two main roles managing the estate (acting as a landlord, modernising facilities, buying new facilities and selling facilities the NHS no longer needs) and providing support services (facility management, cleaning and catering).
UNISON media contacts:
Fatima Ayad T: 0207 121 5255 M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk