‘Don’t privatise NHS jobs’

Rochdale Council Leader Colin Lambert supports the campaign

‘Don’t privatise NHS jobs’ – that’s the message from staff, the public and local MPs ahead of the Pennine Acute Trust Board meeting on Thursday.

The Board is due to decide whether to outsource key payroll, pensions and human resource functions to private companies based outside the North West.

The privatisation plan has met with widespread opposition. UNISON, the trade union for NHS staff, has organised a petition which has been signed by over 3,000 people, including Rochdale Council Leader Colin Lambert. 　

NHS staff have worked through UNISON to develop alternative proposals to privatisation. Detailed submissions have been put forward to the Board showing that modernised in-house delivery can improve service and save the Trust double what the private sector is offering. 　 　　

Angela Rayner, UNISON North West Regional Convenor said: “There is overwhelming local opposition to these plans. It’s not right to invite private companies into our NHS to move jobs away and take profits out.　

“Higher cost savings could be achieved without the Trust having to outsource these important functions. We are hopeful that the Trust Board will see sense and ditch the privatisation plan on Thursday.”