Labour’s tenure has brought positive developments for the NHS, with increased funding and reduced waiting times. However, this progress is at risk due to government plans to shift numerous low-wage healthcare workers from the NHS. Hospital administrators are being permitted to establish their own enterprises to cut costs.
Contrary to Labour’s pre-election pledge to reabsorb workers on private contracts into public services, the current administration is moving in the opposite direction. A company creation initiative in Dorset is underway, prompting over a thousand hospital cleaners, porters, and caterers to express their desire to remain within the NHS.
While hospital management claims there will be no repercussions on patients, staff salaries, pensions, or positions, Unison disagrees. Similar proposals by Tory ministers a decade ago were met with opposition from health workers then and now.
The NHS requires assistance to recover from the pandemic and years of underfunding by the Tories. It is deemed inappropriate for anyone to profit from managing public services, as workers at private firms providing NHS services often face unfavorable conditions.
At a recent meeting with cleaners in Lancashire employed by Mitie in health centers, it was revealed that the company frequently miscalculates their pay, resulting in financial difficulties for the workers. Additionally, Mitie has refused to provide the Covid-related bonuses granted to other NHS staff, leading the cleaners to take strike action.
One in five payslips being incorrect is deemed unacceptable, and the disparity is highlighted by the substantial earnings of Mitie’s top executives compared to the bonuses denied to frontline workers. As the government unveils its ten-year plan centered on neighborhood health centers, the preservation of NHS values and services is paramount, without unnecessary and unpopular privatization.
In Gloucester, phlebotomists have been striking for fair pay for 121 days, emphasizing the need for equitable compensation for dedicated healthcare workers. The impending employment rights bill aims to protect workers on zero-hour contracts, provide prompt sick pay, and prevent unfair dismissals, marking a significant shift in workplace regulations.
Despite the monumental changes proposed, public awareness of the bill remains limited, underscoring the government’s responsibility to promote these improvements. Frontline workers, including paramedics and police officers, deserve recognition and support, not additional challenges. Cases of inappropriate filming or photography of health workers, shared on social media platforms, highlight the need to respect the privacy and professionalism of those serving in critical roles.