BRADFORD MP Imran Hussain has raised concerns with Government after Bradford’s NHS Trust made the decision to create a private company to operate its estates and facilities services.

The board of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust met last week and made the decision, which was circulated to staff.

The new company will be a private subsidiary, wholly-owned and operated by the NHS.

Mr Hussain, MP for Bradford East, has called for the plans to be halted, and earlier this year referred to the plans as “backdoor privatisation of the NHS”.

He has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock to ask why Foundation Trusts are exempt from having to seek permission from NHS Improvement when making such decisions.

He is also calling on Mr Hancock to impose a ban on Trusts creating private subsidiaries until measures are put in place to prevent Trusts selling them, to protect staff by guaranteeing their rights awarded as NHS staff and preventing them from being transferred to a private company without their consent, and to ensure the safety of patients.

Mr Hussain has also written to the chief executive of Bradford NHS Foundation Trust Clive Kay expressing his disappointment with the decision taken by the board, and seeking assurances that staff and patients will be protected.

Mr Hussain said: “I’m extremely disappointed by the decision to move forward with their plans to create a private company to run vital estate and facility services.

“I am very concerned that it is yet another act of dangerous backdoor privatisation in our NHS. It is not the best decision for the NHS in Bradford, for staff or for patients, and the Trust must consider their decision.

“Privatisation has been devastating for our NHS and I have long been opposed to it. It puts the safety of patients at risk as we have seen in numerous other instances of privatisation in the NHS, and it runs contrary to the very principles and ideals of a public health service.

“It also undermines the employment rights of staff who joined as NHS employees, and their existing conditions must be protected with a guarantee they will not be transferred to the private company without their consent.”

In the letter sent to staff explaining the decision, Trust chief Clive Kay said: “The new organisation we set up will be directly owned and operated by and for the NHS, and will be very much part of the Bradford Teaching Hospitals team.

“The board took this decision because we believe this is the best way to continue to provide the highest quality care for our patients and to support the delivery of our clinical services strategy.

“The decision has not been taken lightly. The board wanted to make sure this was the right thing to do for our patients, staff, and the future of the Trust.

“We understand this news may be unsettling, but I would like staff to know the board is fully committed to protecting staff’s terms and conditions.”