NHS PROBLEMS SOUTH OF THE BORDER A CLEAR WARNING OF PRIVATISATION DANGERS LESSONS NOT BEING HEEDED AS £5 BILLION CONTRACTS GO OUT TO TENDER IN ENGLAND The latest private sector shambles engulfing the NHS south of the border has provided another clear warning of the dangers posed by privatisation. It was announced yesterday that NHS Direct was set to withdraw from its contract to deliver telephone health advice line NHS 111 in parts of England, sparking widespread condemnation of the approach taken by the Westminster Government. Despite this major blow to the credibility of privatised delivery of NHS services, reports in today’s Financial Times reveal that a further £5 billion of NHS contracts south of the border are out to tender with the scramble to snap up contracts taking place described as an ‘arms race’. In contrast, the SNP Government has repeatedly committed to keeping Scotland’s NHS in the public sector. Unlike the situation in England, NHS 24 – the equivalent phone advice service in Scotland - is a public sector service and will remain so under the SNP. Commenting, SNP MSP Mark McDonald who sits on the Health & Sport Committee said: “The shambolic situation engulfing NHS 111 in England is just the latest example of the problems that come with trying to asset strip the NHS. “It has been entirely caused as a result of trying to break bits of the NHS in England apart in order to make a profit, yet it seems that the lessons of NHS 111 are not being learnt in Westminster with a further £5 billion of NHS contracts out to tender. “The role of the National Health Service is to give medical care to those who need it, not to bump up the profits of private companies engaged in empire building. “That is something we fully understand in Scotland and the SNP remains utterly committed to keeping the NHS in the public sector. “Unlike the problems being faced in England, the NHS in Scotland delivers its NHS 24 service efficiently and effectively through the public sector. “The stark contrast in what is happening north and south of the border is the clearest demonstration possible of why we have been right to keep NHS Scotland in the public sector where it belongs. This sorry episode shows how we are better off making decisions for Scotland in Scotland, instead of Westminster being in charge.” Notes: Reports of the £5 billion of NHS contracts out to tender in England can be viewed at ft/cms/s/0/6424b29e-f60a-11e2-a55d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2aWQ1iiUY
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:59:42 +0000
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