The privatisation of the NHS, and what we can expect

The abuse of vulnerable residents at Winterbourne View hospital for adults with learning disabilities was exposed by a BBC Panorama documentary last week. As they investigated the multi million pound Castlebeck business empire we discovered that they routinely employ unskilled low paid staff to care for highly distressed and disabled adults with acute and complex needs. They do this in order to minimise costs. The undercover report gives us an idea of what the neoliberal coalition have in mind for all high dependency services in the NHS as they are moved into private hands.

The Care Quality Commission, the organisation charged with regulating care facilities such as those run by Castlebeck were alerted many times to the abuse that seems to have been routine at Winterbourne View. But they did nothing. Yet this should be no surprise. As we already know, neoliberals hate regulation, and that's why Mr Cameron imposed a freeze on staff levels at the CQC. They now have a serious shortage of personnel at a time of crisis, and staff at the CQC are therefore expected to limit their scrutiny of private companies to 'arms length' compliance exercises rather than engage in full inspection. And the CQC is the body charged with regulating the GP consortia that are set to take over from the Primary Care Trusts in Mr Lansley's plans for health in Britain. The CQC is not fit for purpose.

Meanwhile Southern Cross, the company that is supposed to care for over 30,000 elderly residents across the country, has reached a crisis point. In 2007 four executives pocketed £35 million and left their 750 care homes vulnerable to a debt crisis that is now causing untold anxiety to many thousands of residents and their families as they face an uncertain future and look to the tax payer for help.

Private companies are only interested in profit. Are these the sort of organisations that you want to run your hospitals?

Private companies are only interested in profit. Are these the sort of organisations that you want to run your hospitals?

This sentiment extends to all aspects of private sector profiteering. They couldn't give a hoot about the role just as long as they've got some uneducated beggar to staff the position

8 June 2011 update

Southern Cross announce 3000 redundancies.

...Private companies are only interested in profit. Are these the sort of organisations that you want to run your hospitals?

A sweeping statement there, sir!

Have you ever come across any private companies outside the health service? Were they all solely motivated by profit? - If so, how do you manage to live?

This sentiment extends to all aspects of private sector profiteering. They couldn't give a hoot about the role just as long as they've got some uneducated beggar to staff the position

'All aspects of private sector profiteering'. Would you like to live in a world where all services, facilities and goods were provided by the state? - Isn't that the only alternative if you want to get rid of private enterprise?

8 June 2011 update

 

Southern Cross announce 3000 redundancies.

Perhaps (and hopefully) the Government will 'examine the behaviour of Southern Cross' and take appropriate action.

Southern Cross may be a Limited Liability Company, but should the directors be held responsible for misfeasance (or malfeasance) they are not immune from prosecution.

Did the fat lady sing yet?

Or is the show not over yet?

Seeing as no-one is planning to privatise the NHS is this thread relevant?

Seeing as no-one is planning to privatise the NHS is this thread relevant?

Oh but they are even though they say they're not. If they openly said that they would be ridiculed and would lose votes, in fact, the damage would be untold to the political party and to UK health.

Seeing as no-one is planning to privatise the NHS is this thread relevant?

You should do stand up son.

The abuse of vulnerable residents at Winterbourne View hospital for adults with learning disabilities was exposed by a BBC Panorama documentary last week. As they investigated the multi million pound Castlebeck business empire we discovered that they routinely employ unskilled low paid staff to care for highly distressed and disabled adults with acute and complex needs. They do this in order to minimise costs. The undercover report gives us an idea of what the neoliberal coalition have in mind for all high dependency services in the NHS as they are moved into private hands.

 

The Care Quality Commission, the organisation charged with regulating care facilities such as those run by Castlebeck were alerted many times to the abuse that seems to have been routine at Winterbourne View. But they did nothing. Yet this should be no surprise. As we already know, neoliberals hate regulation, and that's why Mr Cameron imposed a freeze on staff levels at the CQC. They now have a serious shortage of personnel at a time of crisis, and staff at the CQC are therefore expected to limit their scrutiny of private companies to 'arms length' compliance exercises rather than engage in full inspection. And the CQC is the body charged with regulating the GP consortia that are set to take over from the Primary Care Trusts in Mr Lansley's plans for health in Britain. The CQC is not fit for purpose.

 

Meanwhile Southern Cross, the company that is supposed to care for over 30,000 elderly residents across the country, has reached a crisis point. In 2007 four executives pocketed £35 million and left their 750 care homes vulnerable to a debt crisis that is now causing untold anxiety to many thousands of residents and their families as they face an uncertain future and look to the tax payer for help.

 

Private companies are only interested in profit. Are these the sort of organisations that you want to run your hospitals?

What a lot of nonsense. The private sector is interested in service because that is where profit comes from. The NHS is quite capable of being a deviser, procurer and monitor of services.

There is no reason for any health service worker to be employed by the state and since the state has continually demonstrated that it is incapable of running the service itself (e.g. the CQC) it's long past time for a change of how health care is provided.

9 June 2011 update

Southern Cross have announced that they shall revise the terms and conditions of their remaining employees. This means that low waged front line staff shall have their pay reduced.

Seeing as no-one is planning to privatise the NHS is this thread relevant?

Its funny that. This was my thought too when I read the OP.

The abuse of vulnerable residents at Winterbourne View hospital for adults with learning disabilities was exposed by a BBC Panorama documentary last week. As they investigated the multi million pound Castlebeck business empire we discovered that they routinely employ unskilled low paid staff to care for highly distressed and disabled adults with acute and complex needs. They do this in order to minimise costs. The undercover report gives us an idea of what the neoliberal coalition have in mind for all high dependency services in the NHS as they are moved into private hands.

 

The Care Quality Commission, the organisation charged with regulating care facilities such as those run by Castlebeck were alerted many times to the abuse that seems to have been routine at Winterbourne View. But they did nothing. Yet this should be no surprise. As we already know, neoliberals hate regulation, and that's why Mr Cameron imposed a freeze on staff levels at the CQC. They now have a serious shortage of personnel at a time of crisis, and staff at the CQC are therefore expected to limit their scrutiny of private companies to 'arms length' compliance exercises rather than engage in full inspection. And the CQC is the body charged with regulating the GP consortia that are set to take over from the Primary Care Trusts in Mr Lansley's plans for health in Britain. The CQC is not fit for purpose.

 

Meanwhile Southern Cross, the company that is supposed to care for over 30,000 elderly residents across the country, has reached a crisis point. In 2007 four executives pocketed £35 million and left their 750 care homes vulnerable to a debt crisis that is now causing untold anxiety to many thousands of residents and their families as they face an uncertain future and look to the tax payer for help.

 

Private companies are only interested in profit. Are these the sort of organisations that you want to run your hospitals?

What a sweeping statement that is.

So every private company is just interested in profit.

Many private sector companies are struggling to make ends meet.

Cashflow is a real issue.

Not knowing from one week to the next when they are going to be paid, Chasing payments on a daily basis, waiting for large statutory sector organisations to pay them ( if they indeed do business with statutory sector)

Do you have any real idea of the experience of running a business in the private sector???

Why not privatise the NHS? Why is organisation become the sacred cow that no one dare challenge?

Other correspondents mention Southern Cross and other failed and failing businesses that operate within the Care industry.

What about Stafford? People are dead because of the idiotic and criminal management of that NHS hospital, what about the fact that the most dangerous place to have an open wound in this country is hospital that is supposed to be treating you.

MRSA is still rampant due to the filthy conditions that NHS allows to be present in their hospitals.

The abuse of the capitalist system such as by the Directors of Southern Cross is lamentable, but no more so than the overpaid over rated arrogant incompetents that run and operate the NHS.