Hospital Trust rethinks privatisation plans

The Pennine Acute Hospital Trust Board has decided not to proceed with a plan to privatise its payroll function.

It had been feared that NHS jobs would be privatised and moved away from Greater Manchester.

The campaign against privatisation attracted widespread support, with the UNISON petition being signed by over 3,000 people, including Rochdale Council Leader Colin Lambert.

NHS staff worked through UNISON to develop alternative plans to the privatisation proposal that they say will save the Trust twice as much money.

Jean O’Donnell, UNISON Branch Secretary said: “It’s a great relief that the Trust has seen sense and gone with the in-house proposals. Privatisation would have cost NHS jobs and would have provided no cost savings or service improvement.”

Angela Rayner, UNISON North West Regional Convenor said: “This is fantastic news. Public services are best delivered in the public sector. The in-house staff can provide a superior and more cost-effective service than the private sector. NHS money should not be squandered by being turned into profits for the shareholders of private companies.”

Ms O’Donnell warned the struggle is not over yet, she said: “The Trust has not yet taken a final decision on whether to privatise the HR function. It is welcome that the Board has not rushed into privatising this function and has instead opted to take more time to consider the bids from the in-house team and from the private company Capsticks. We are hopeful and confident that the Board’s careful deliberations will again lead them to back the in-house bid and keep this work within the NHS.”