MP fears for hospital future (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

MP fears for hospital future

4:51pm Sunday 8th June 2008 in Local By Jim Jack

An MP has condemned the decision by health chiefs to privatise some services at an NHS hospital in Otley.

Leeds Primary Care Trust (PCT) is in talks with three private companies, one of which will be awarded the contract to run the minor injuries unit at Wharfedale Hospital.

The unit is currently run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust but hospital staff were told of the shake-up in a briefing note which was leaked to the town's MP Greg Mulholland.

The PCT insists the change will help patients as it is part of a streamlining' drive to have all urgent care services (including out of hours GPs) controlled by one organisation.

But Mr Mulholland (Lib-Dem, Leeds North West) and others fear it could signal the first step towards wholesale privatisation.

He said: "People have long feared that Wharfedale Hospital will in the end be hived off to the private sector, and for many this will confirm their fears. This is a very unwelcome move which will send shockwaves through the area. Like many local people, I have used the minor injuries as a patient and it is an excellent service, why on earth change that?

"We are told the idea is that once privatised, the unit would work "separately and independently" from the Trust, who run the rest of the hospital.

"So it would not even really be part of the hospital services any longer, but a separate, private, service which simply is an absurd way to try to use this precious hospital. It is very revealing that the companies who are likely to bid for this service are all out-of-hours GP providers, which is extremely worrying.

"This must be opposed - I have written to the PCT telling it to think again."

Wharfedale Hospital Forum member Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said: "This is totally unacceptable.

"I think this is what's going to happen to the hospital itself, it's softening people up for the hospital either being privatised or run by contractors."

The PCT is adamant, however, that it is carrying out the change in response to feedback from patients who are frequently confused by the fragmented way urgent care services are provided now.

A Leeds PCT spokesman said: "The new Urgent Care Centre at Wharfedale Hospital will lead to an improvement in services for local people and has been developed in direct response to what patients have told us. In addition to the services provided by the current minor injuries unit, the centre will include a range of other services for people who need healthcare urgently.

"Urgent care services are currently provided by a range of different NHS and independent sector organisations. This has led to confusion about how to access them and delays in receiving treatment.

"To improve the care provided we are bringing all urgent care services together by ensuring they are provided by one organisation, with one central phone number for patients.

"NHS and independent sector organisations could all bid to run the new urgent care service. We are currently in discussion with three independent sector organisations about taking our proposals forward and plan to make a final decision about who will be awarded the contract later this year."

Although being driven by the PCT, the changes will have an impact on LTH employees. A Trust spokesman said: "Staff affected by these proposed changes were spoken to last week and we will be doing our best to keep them informed on an ongoing basis and provide reassurance that they are not at risk.''