NHS changes: have a say
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13 Sep 2011
Stroud Town Council is urging residents to express their concerns over the creeping “privatisation” of the NHS.
Councillors agreed to send a letter of objection to the Gloucestershire County Council committee which scrutinises NHS services in the county.
Mayor John Marjoram also encouraged people to turn out for a protest on September 24, organised by the Stroud Against the Cuts Campaign group.
From October 1, more than 3,000 workers will be required to leave the NHS in Gloucestershire and be transferred to a community interest company which will be responsible for running services.
“We are unhappy about how people were consulted - or not consulted. We do not think the process has been followed. Where was the the county council scrutiny committee which should have questioned this?” said Cllr Marjoram.
Councillor Haydn Sutton, who represents Farmhill and Paganhill, said: “The implications of transferring the NHS services to a social enterprise company haven't been explained fully. The general public do not realise what it means.”
More than 350 people turned out to a meeting last month organised by the town council to discuss the proposal.
Many at that meeting expressed fears that transferring the services to a social enterprise company run by Gloucestershire Care Services could eventually lead to private firms winning contracts, driving down costs and damaging the standard of services.
The Stroud Against the Cuts protest starts from 10.30am on September 24 at Park Road and will march to the Subscription Rooms for noon.