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More McHospitals for Merseyside! (part 2)

Revol | 02.08.2006 16:25 | Health | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Liverpool

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology and University Hospitals Aintree were today given 'foundation' status by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt, meaning that three NHS hospitals on Merseyside are now open to private business. In June, the Liverpool Womens' Hospital opened itself up for bids to 'help' manage its finances.

Under the foundation scheme, individual hospitals can loan money from the private sector, whilst determining their own wage rates and clinical priorities. Though the scheme is only a couple of years old, it has already resulted in drastic cuts and closures.

The government's regulator - Monitor - recommended that St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals trust among twelve that should now be invited to apply for foundation status.

The announcement comes after Alder Hey children's hospital yesterday launched a consultation into its bid for foundation status, after an initial decision not to bid in 2003.

Much has been made about how local people can now supposedly get involved in running these hospitals, but healthcare union UNISON have exposed this as a sham on their website ( http://www.unison.org.uk/foundation/pages_view.asp?did=511#j).

For more on the government's privatisation agenda, see
 http://www.keepournhspublic.com/index.php
 http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk/issues/nerve7/health_inequalities.htm

Revol

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Good idea

13.08.2006 21:43

Why shouldn't hospitals set their own wage rates? There is no point paying more than the market rate in some areas and less than the market rate in others as is the case with national rates. In an area of relatively high unemployment it should be possible to pay lower wages for public sector jobs as there would be less employment alternatives for people. The public as a whole needs does not want to pay wages for public staff that are higher than necessary. National wage rates are a waste of money, and that money comes from taxpayers, most of whom are not rich.

Tom