Privatisation and cuts accelerate

In a stunning move Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority has unveiled plans to privatise the management of Oxfordshire's new PCT. By April 2006 if they are successful there would be one county wide PCT - run by the private sector. It would be a pilot for a national roll out of yet further privatisation.

Plans to privatise services provided by the PCTs by 2008 were announced by the government in July - but in addition this proposal would hand over control of NHS funding to the private sector.

Possible companies who might run the Oxfordshire health system and buy in services include Group4 and United Health Care (a US firm whose new European President was a top Blair advisor). The government would give them the responsibility of maximising patient choice by buying in beds and operations from the private sector which will divert more funds from NHS hospitals and services.
Its anticipated that if the system were privatised there might be an exceptionally sharp round of service cuts as they moved to bring the NHS into profitability.

Less controversially the TVSHA is also to launch proposals for a single Ambulance Trust covering the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. UNISON's policy is for a national ambulance service so at least this is the correct direction of travel.

Proposals can be seen at  http://tinyurl.com/ay496