MONTHLY ONLINE NEWS BULLETIN September 2020 Welcome to the first issue of what will run as a monthly online bulletin for Health Campaigns Together affiliates and supporters. It is an effort to fill the gap left by the suspension of HCT’s quarterly printed newspaper, which cannot be effectively distributed at a time when no physical meetings or large-scale events can be held. But a basis for united action is sharing relevant information as widely as possible, seeking to develop a common understanding of the impact of key policy decisions, and combating the spread of fake news. Hapless Hancock has proved his expertise in blame shifting while chaos continues in privatised system This issue has highlighted the latest NHS England policies (p2-3) privatisation (p6-7) and the fight against racism in the NHS (back page). Future issues will focus more on mental health and social care. Given the pace of events, Test & trace failure and the abrupt twists and turns of government policy, and a continuing series of revelations on its handling of the Covid-19 crisis, a monthly news bulletin that can be widely shared fuels COVID chaos online, covering a wide range of Total chaos now prevails in the tests to laboratories in Italy and available capacity. She claimed that issues, and allowing union and privatised test and trace system Germany. the increased demand for tests had campaign activists to download as numbers testing positive to Most of the private laboratories been unforeseen – despite months and information they find useful Covid begin again to rise fast, and are clearing fewer tests than their of warnings by public health seems the best format. hospitalisation for Covid patients is stated capacity, lacking staff and/ experts that reopening schools, We urge local activists also increasing. or supplies. As a result, while the universities and businesses would facing new problems to Between 3 and 9 September, government boasts of “capacity increase demand. forward information to us for 18,371 people were diagnosed for 375,000 tests a day,” the actual Harding also admitted that just investigation and coverage in with covid-19, an increase of 167 number of people being tested was 14% of all tests delivered a result future issues. Contact details per cent compared to the end of down to just 437,000 people a week in under 24 hours in the week to 9 are at the foot of each page. August, and the 7-day daily average in early September – “equivalent to September, down from 32% a week n Future issues of the bulletin will was 3466 on September 18, raising just 62,000 a day.” earlier. As this issue is prepared be emailed directly to HCT affiliates fears of a second lockdown. According to Dido Harding, the the latest figure is just EIGHT and subscribers, and subsequently Documents leaked to the Sunday dim Tory peer with no relevant percent (1 in 12). posted on our website. Times show that the government’s experience who was installed as If your organisation has not “world-beating” testing programme chair of the privatised “NHS Test and Continued inside, page 4 yet affiliated you can do so HERE has a backlog of 185,000 swabs, and Trace”, demand for coronavirus tests is so overstretched that it is sending is running at three to four times Private test and trace is failing Health Campaigns Together - hand it back to the NHS AGM Saturday October 3 ‘NHS test and trace’ is not run by the 10.30-13.00 - via Zoom NHS. The testing side is run by private companies such as Deloitte, and it’s Guest speaker: Dr Dominic Pimenta on his new book clear that it is failing. Duty of Care about NHS staff working during Covid. Please sign the petition backed by We Own It, Keep Our NHS Public Plus trade union speakers tbc. and Health Campaigns Together, The AGM is the chance for affiliated organisations to elect officers, calling for testing to be rooted within NHS structures and given the hear reports, and decide policy and priorities for the year ahead. necessary investment. Details will be sent to affiliates along with more detailed agenda. l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns 2 6-week cut-off for support to discharged patients The DHSC’s August 21 guidance response, this policy, which to hospital trusts goes further emptied tens of thousands of than previous such guidance NHS beds, has been linked with in spelling out the need for additional government funding to additional government funding cover up to six weeks of recovery of “post discharge recovery and and support services. support services” to cease after The funding could also be the maximum six week period used “for urgent community after patients have been hurried response provided within 2 hours out of hospital. to prevent an acute admission” – The whole focus is on although how many areas have speeding the process and been able to offer such a rapid Using Covid crisis to minimising the numbers of response, and how many did so patients deemed eligible to has not been revealed. remain in a hospital bed by strict The document states (with no implementation, in twice-daily supporting evidence) that 50% of push through changes ward rounds, of a draconian people can simply be discharged 9-point checklist of “criteria to home from hospital, with relatives As always, NHS England has been commissioning through a single reside in hospital:” or neighbours taking the strain unwilling to let a good crisis go ICS/STP approach. This will typically … and no further support from to waste. lead to a single CCG across the Within 2 hours NHS or social care; 45% will need NHS England’s July 31 system.” If the patient does not fit at some support from health and/or letter demands more rapid “A plan for developing and least one of the 9 categories, social care to recover at home; 4% implementation of the drive implementing a full shared care and regardless of their social will need rehabilitation of short towards the imposition of record, allowing the safe flow of circumstances, the policy states term care in a 24-hour bed based “integrated care systems”, mergers patient data between care settings, they must be discharged “as soon setting; and just 1% will need of CCGs, and new measures to and the aggregation of data for as they are clinically safe to do so” ongoing 24-hour nursing care. eliminate even the pretence of population health.” to a “designated discharge area” However there are public consultation. “Finally, we are asking you – within an hour, or at most on complications over Covid All “ICSs and STPs” are required – working as local systems – to the same day, and where possible screening: “DHSC/PHE policy is to draw up a “development return a draft summary plan by discharged from the discharge that people being discharged from plan” which must include steps 1 September using the templates area as soon as possible, “often hospital to care homes are tested to speed through controversial issued and covering the key actions within two hours”. (p4) for COVID-19 in a timely manner decisions with minimal if any public set out in this letter, with final plans Hospitals are required ahead of being discharged …. involvement: due by 21 September.” to give reasons for any Where a test result is still awaited, “Collaborative leadership NHSE also warns that in areas delays to this whistle-stop the person will be discharged if the arrangements, agreed by all where CCGs have not yet merged discharge process. “The default care home states that it is able to partners, that support joint working into larger bodies with even less assumption will be discharge safely isolate the patient …. and quick, effective decision- local accountability, applications to home today.” (p25) “If this is not possible then making.” (p9). merge CCGs next April also need to However senior geriatricians alternative accommodation and In addition the July 31 letter be submitted by 30 September. have warned that the guidance care … needs to be provided by requires three further plans to be Once again only the most token could prompt an increase in the local authority, funded by the drawn up at a rapid pace, with tight consultation will be possible in “urgent readmissions”, “permanent discharge funding.” (p16). timescales across the peak holiday the timescale on proposals that disability” and “excess mortality”, It’s not at all clear what period, making it impossible for in some areas have already been while charities said families could “alternative accommodation” there to be any local consultation specifically rejected by local GPs or be left with “unsustainable caring might be available, affordable, or genuine involvement in as a result of local opposition. responsibilities” because of the or appropriate for patients who producing them: n Extracted from fuller coverage new rules. might potentially arrive with “Plans to streamline in The Lowdown Since the peak of the Covid-19 Covid-19, and are also likely to require complex care. The policy is clear on one thing: THE The from six weeks after discharge from Healt l h news and analy o sis t w o inform d and empow o er NHS s w taff and c n ampaigners hospital the local NHS and social

how Fram opaque and secretiv ewor e these deals can be. ks Ru therford’s chief medic al officer is one of the services are left to carry the can. me dia’s favourite private for s doctors, Karol Sikor ecrec who a, y famously claimed on the BBC in 2017 that t NHS he was the “last bastion – of communism” and Regular fortnightly evidence-based online news, analysis, explanation and needed a “total private rethink”. Around the country staff in S uch scruples obviously do not stop Rutherford from ea prof gerly hoovering up cas it too h from NHS hospital contracts, although the No contest – y do seem more than a community health and social and comment on the latest developments in the NHS, for campaigners little A seemingly endle congrats! shy o ss succession of larg f revealing any details. e-scale The contract was only lowdown ‘framework agreeme publishe nts’ has bee d at all in resp n rolled out onse to a Freedom of by NHS Engla m Infor- nd and the Departme ation Act request to nt of Health SFT but, as with so m & Social Care in r doc any care will be grappling now with and union activists. ecent months, c uments grudgin r g eating the con- ly released by secretiv ditions for mo “T e man- re rapid awarding of c he recent agement, the 97-page ontracts with contract has been he a pre-authorised publica re avily shortlist of private, p tion dacted to remove almo ublic sector st any useful informat and not-for-profit of ion. providers, with limite one the fall-out from these policy d – if The Lowdown has been publishing since January 2019, and FREE – f any urther c ompetitive tendering. contract Blacking out Recent exam Al ples include a £500 gives a l of the content – an m facilities d sometimes the wh management fram pag ole ework, an £800m fram glimpse e – has been comple ework for tely blacked out on 2 statements without the necessary a range of he 8 to access, but not to produce. It has generated a large and growing alth IT services, a of just ho pages, including the la £ s 10bn “open w t 18. All detail of pena opportunity” to re in t lties duce waiting times, a opaque and he case of failure to de nd a mas- liver has been expung sive £47bn constru from ed ction framework. secretiv pp49-50 and pp70-71 e , as indeed has any in It is possible to tra forma - means to cope. wl thr tion o ough the general term these deals n the key performa searchable database. of the s nce indicators se agreem (ie ents, and also to ch basic contract requi eck out the can be” rements) for the supp NHS Shared Busin (pag lier ess Services (SBS) list e 68), and all the deta of almost il on the company han 1200 approved orga dling p - nisations that have ac rivate patients on beh The buck-passing guidance cess to alf of SFT (p41). the SBS portfolio Please consider a donation to enable us to guarantee publication into of framework agreem Many pages have be e ents, and n so heavily edited it can use any of them impo is as and when require ssible to deduce wha d. t has been removed But what do the fr from pu amework agreement blic view, but it is clear l s look that all of the details may have been published, but ike at t he local level, when a relating to the hospital trust signs quantity and cost of a third year. Contact us at [email protected] up with the services one of th (p1 e pre-approved prov 3) and milestone date iders and s of the implementatio agrees a contract fo plan n r a specific set of task (pp20-21) have been s? blacked out. Even the date of th the implementation is far from a e agre ement has been obsc Light on ured on p51. l details With so much Please send your donation by BACS (54006610 / 60-83-01) or by of this a g T reement apparently he recent publication embarras of a contract for the “p sing to one party or t sio rovi- he other, it is hard n of mobile and strat to avoid th egic clinical solutions e conclusion that this done deal. and and m associate any similar d goods” – between framework agree Somerset NHS ments are funnelling s cheque made out to NHS Support Federation, and post to Foundation ubstantial Trust (S and d FT) and the private o isproportionate profit ncology s to private providers services provider R while tru utherford Health (an st bosses hide from a s d its ny public accounta- ubsidiaries Rutherfor bility. An d Diagnostics and Ru d that the NHS bud fo ther- get is being more rd Infrastructures) – systemat us at Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XG. gives a glimpse of ically milked for privat just Rutherford/SFT link up e profit. John Lister n Extracted from fuller https://lowdownnhs.inf o [email protected] Visit the website at: www.lowdownnhs.info number 30 – 15/09/2020 coverage in The Lowdown. l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns 3 Impossible Puzzle of the private beds demands The latest available NHS England figures (September 3) show that of an undisclosed total of available – based on beds of all types (general and acute, mental health, maternity, Learning Difficulties) open non-existent overnight, 110,000 were occupied. This appears to be close to the average of just 112,000 beds that hubs were occupied in the equivalent period of 2019 before the impact Plans for restarting urgent and elective NHS services, “re-establish (and where necessary redesign) of Covid-19. announced in a 13-page circular from NHS England to services to deliver through their own local NHS (non- However unlike 2019, when NHS chief executives and accountable officers on July independent sector) capacity the following: all of the bed numbers were from 31, depend upon the rapid roll-out of a new network of “In September at least 80% of their last year’s NHS and foundation trusts, the ‘Community Diagnostic Hubs’ – which, according to the activity for both overnight electives and for outpatient/ HSJ have not yet secured funding, and for which there daycase procedures, rising to 90% in October (while most recent figures show that Cheltenham and Chorley are as yet no local plans, or staffing so far in place. aiming for 70% in August); 5,369 (4.8%) of the total beds But the creation of Community Diagnostic Hubs is “This means that systems need to very swiftly return occupied were private sector only one of many unanswered questions to arise from to at least 90% of their last year’s levels of MRI/CT and beds, at least 3,000 of them from Not such “temporary” closures NHS England’s letter, the subsequent 46-page guidance endoscopy procedures, with an ambition to reach 100% mental health providers. document ‘Implementing phase 3 of the NHS response by October.” So only 2,300 of the private to the COVID-19 pandemic,’ published on August 7, and The many questions over whether such ambitious hospital beds block-booked by the even further delayed ‘Hospital Discharge Service: targets can be achieved so quickly given the NHS England to increase capacity Policy and Operating Model’ which did not emerge constraints of post-Covid restrictions, continued staff for urgent and elective acute until August 21. shortages (with some key staff having been reassigned services were being used in early to different duties), and the complexity of managing September. One month deadline (and staffing) capacity commissioned in private While suspicions will run The July letter, headed “Important – for action – Third hospitals on separate sites, are neither asked by NHS high, in the absence of any Phase of NHS response to Covid-19” gave trusts just England nor answered. They just send out the orders. transparency or official data the month of August to draw up and Community health care on the scale and terms of the implement delivery plans, to run from block-booking, the proportion September 1 through to March 2021, A huge question mark also hangs over the of booked beds used for NHS to “restore full operation of cancer future resources and staffing of community services.” health services: patient care, and theactual cost, To achieve this, trusts were tasked “Community health services crisis it is impossible to tell whether or with: responsiveness should be enhanced in line not this is value for money. “Ensuring that sufficient with the goals set out in the Long Term Plan, However NHS England’s July diagnostic capacity is in place in and should continue to support patients 31 letter expects local trusts to Covid19-secure environments, who have recovered from the acute phase of make plans including the use of including through the use of Covid but need ongoing rehabilitation and private sector beds, and to independent sector facilities, and other community health services.” “produce week-by-week the development of Community For community health and CCGs there is an independent sector usage plans Diagnostic Hubs (CDHs) and Rapid additional unfunded nightmare for managers, from August.” The letter goes Diagnostic Centres.” arising from NHS England’s instruction that on to refer to “£3 billion NHS The new Hubs are supposed run for “12 to 14 hours hospitals “must” discharge patients prior to their needs revenue funding for ongoing a day seven days a week,” and to offer a range of being assessed (“discharge to assess”). independent sector capacity” diagnostic services including “CT, MRI, ultrasound, plain This has been backed up by temporary funding for Will any of these plans – or X-ray, echocardiography, ECG and rhythm monitoring, support packages – of up to 6 weeks only – to keep any figures to show how much spirometry and some lung function tests, phlebotomy patients out of hospital. public money has been spent and, in some CDHs, endoscopy facilities.” Assess – and move out and what private sector capacity In another leap into the world of fantasy, given the was secured and actually used continued revelations on the disastrous failures of the “The Government has further decided that CCGs must during the period of this deal – privatised testing system for Covid19, according to the resume NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments from 1 HSJ NHS England plan assumes that CDHs “will rely September 2020 and work with local authorities using ever be published? n upon rapid testing being available at each site.” the trusted assessor model. See full Lowdown article The NHSE letter went on to call on health bosses to: “Any patients discharged from hospital between1 19 March 2020 and 31 August 2020, whose Rescue Plan 1 Watch now: discharge support package has been paid Richard Horton’s fantastic speech for by the NHS, will need to be assessed and moved to core NHS, social care or self-funding at Keep Our NHS Public AGM 2020 arrangements.” Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, The letter makes no assessment of how spoke on September 12 about how many patients fall into this category, and and why the Government has let us no suggestion of where the extra staff A Rescue Plan down so badly. should come from to conduct the additional 2020 vision for a You can also check out KONP Co- assessments, where patients needing ongoing chair John Puntis’ fantastic review of care should be cared for, by whom or at post-Covid NHS Richard Horton’s latest book whose expense. A draft for discussion and action The COVID-19 Catastrophe. n Extracted from fuller coverage in The Lowdown See our Rescue Plan HERE l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns 4 Royal Free, Covid Chaos Continued from front Cheltenham page workers, teachers and other key workers, on people without and Chorley: symptoms inappropriately seeking tests (for a virus which is not such asymptomatic in up to 80% of cases). Hancock even suggested that the fact the test is free might be “temporary” leading people to make frivolous use of it. So ministers are looking to ration (“reprioritise) access to closures testing for those who can’t or won’t Children’s A&E at the Royal Free fork out £119 for a private test. Hospital in Hampstead will Junior minister Edward Argar temporarily close on September admitted that this could mean 25, and children’s inpatient services some sick members of the public will be shut “throughout the with Covid symptoms could be winter” as part of plans to prepare officially forced to wait while others in case of a “second wave” of get tested first. coronavirus. Booking system Healthwatch Camden has referred It’s not just the private sector the wide-ranging reconfiguration laboratories, set up in preference of hospital services to the again with an estimated 1,100 new With almost every expert and and in parallel to the existing borough’s health overview and cases every day, and Matt Hancock analyst, including former Kings network of NHS laboratories that scrutiny committee. admitting to MPs that outbreaks Fund CEO Chris Ham now calling are failing to work as required (and Many parents in the wide had been detected in 43 care for the failed test and trace system seeking a helping hand from NHS catchment area of the Royal Free homes after months of calm. to be devolved to local level, and lab staff) – but the computerised will face awkward additional However Channel 4 News run by public health experts, the booking system, wayward from the journeys to the Whittington reports that this could rapidly get government is resolutely looking very outset, is now in daily chaos. Hospital in Archway, which will add even worse as NHS hospitals again the other way. For days on end whole areas 7 spaces to its children’s A&E (to 16) pressure care homes to accept They are throwing in more are told no tests are available, or and treble its number of inpatient patients who are, or may be, Covid millions and drafting in costly people are sent hundreds of miles beds – up from 15 to 45, including positive – indicating nothing has management consultants in the to testing centres. “paediatric assessment, ambulatory been learned from the disastrous vain hope of reviving the deeply On September 10 hundreds of care, high dependency and mental policies in the spring. flawed system. people were sent from as far afield health beds”. as Cornwall , London and Stockport The decisions have been taken to queue in vain for tests in Telford. behind closed doors by sub- But to make matters worse, Livid – North Tyneside on the committees of the North London the shambolic testing regime is Partners (the Integrated Care coupled with an equally disastrous System for North Central London) slippery privatisation slope privatised system that is failing which publish no minutes or to track down and contact huge Private Swedish-owned firm Livi has contract for, and how much is it agendas of their meetings. numbers of patients testing been awarded a contract to carry costing, given that Livi’s standard Meanwhile other “temporary” positive. Recent data shows out virtual consultations in Primary charge for a private consultation closures are being extended to just 60% of people who had Care in North Tyneside, reports is £29? become more permanent. In been exposed to someone with KONP North East. Why is there no mention of it Cheltenham, the local A&E is set to coronavirus were contacted by Whilst this is claimed to be a being a pilot scheme in the Livi remain closed until at least March Serco, one of the outsourcing pilot scheme, and it is to be seen publicity material? next year, having been downgraded companies that continues to pick as an addition to the usual GP What steps were taken to enable to a minor injury and illness unit for up lavish government contracts clinical work, it is undoubtedly local GPs to manage this service? a ‘3-month period’ in June. despite its failures, compared to part of a very slippery While our GPs link There have been protests in 80% being reached by under- privatisation slope. in with many non- Grantham in Lincolnshire over funded local public health teams In this instance, the statutory organisations the continued downgrading of its contract was awarded and collaboration day time only A&E to an Urgent Councils take over by North Tyneside CCG is a key feature of Treatment Centre, with emergency Telford and Wrekin is the latest and patients registered their work, Livi GPs admissions diverted to Lincoln or council to have attempted to set with North Tyneside (communicating to us to Boston, each 30 miles away. up the borough’s own coronavirus practices received a from elsewhere in the Questions have been asked in test and tracing system, pointing letter from Livi over the UK) won’t have any the Commons over the “temporary” out “national contact tracing is not summer: knowledge about what closure of already reduced A&E working – it is failing to reach cases KONPNE strongly is generally available in services in Chorley, Lancashire. and contacts sufficiently and not objects to this insidious the local area And staff in Southend able to identify outbreaks early privatisation of the NHS. The fundamental Hospital, now merged with enough.” Apart from the question is why is the Chelmsford’s Broomfield Hospital It seems that the situation is central fact that North Tyneside funding provided to Livi not being and Basildon & Thurrock hospitals already lurching out of control. The CCG should not be wasting invested in local, existing primary into a mega-trust covering Mid Guardian reports research showing taxpayers money by contracting care services? and South Essex, raised fears in that cases of coronavirus in England out to private, profit making North Tyneside CCG should June that the relocation of ICU are “doubling every seven to eight companies with shareholders, a not be wasting taxpayers money staff to work in Basildon could days.” number of key issues need to be by contracting out to private, herald the downsizing or closure of The coronavirus is also answered as a matter of urgency. profit making companies with Southend’s ICU. spreading through care homes One of these is how long is the shareholders. l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns 5 NHS workers say “NO!” held a rally in Nantwich on Sunday, organised by nurse Vanessa Harratt, and addressed by Karl Parr (UNISON rep and nurse at Royal Stoke), Derek Jones (Unite organiser), Mike Travis (RCN), Laura Hother (student nurse), Laura Smith (Cllr and former MP), and a Covid-19 critical care survivor. There were around 50 NHS staff, plus Crewe TUC and the public in the town square. Rallies press case for big NHS pay increase Nursing staff and other allied health Scotland have since organised more protests from the public sector pay increase, and we will professionals have reacted with anger to being demanding a 15% pay increase paid from 1 make ourselves heard until you listen.” overlooked when pay rises were given to many December 2020, in order to start recovering a Another day of protests on September 12 in the public sector at the end of July, showing decade of lost wages. saw hundreds of angry health workers marching that the government was ignoring the call by 14 The organisers of the August 8 protests, through London, with simultaneous protests health trade unions call to bring their pay rise which included an online rally for anyone who elsewhere,including Sheffield, Brighton, and forward from April 2021. could not join outdoor protests said: Bournemouth. A London protest on July 29 was called by the “We are calling on NHS staff and supporters A majority of the public (69%) think all NHS Unite branch at Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital to join us to send a clear message to the staff should get an early pay rise before the end and supported by NHS staff across London. government. of this year, according to a UNISON/Savanta NHS workers throughout England, Wales and “We do not accept your plans to exclude us ComRes poll.

NHS firmly on table for trade talks Campaign for a National Care, Support & Independent Living Service The Conservative Party manifesto the Independent earlier this month.

at the 2019 election said: It found that almost half of Publicly funded, free at the point of use Publicly provided, not for profit “When we are negotiating trade British voters do not believe Boris Nationally mandated but designed and delivered locally deals, the NHS will not be on the Johnson’s claim that the NHS is “off Co-produced with service users and democratically accountable table. The price the NHS pays for the table” in trade deals, and that Underpinned by staff whose pay and conditions reflect true value & skills Meets needs of informal carers Sets up an independent living task force drugs will not be on the table. The three-quarters (75 per cent) want services the NHS provides will not specific protections for the NHS to Initiated by Keep Our NHS Public and The Socialist Health Association be on the table.” be written into law in the Trade Bill, Supported by Reclaim Social Care, Health Campaigns Together, GMB, National Pensioners Convention, Reclaim Our Futures Alliance of Disabled People’s Orgs. However few campaigners which had its second reading in the believe this, and in July the House of Lords on September 8. The pandemic has exposed the neglect, injustice and exclusion in our Social Parliamentary Labour Party A fourth round of trade talks Care system. Lives have been casually devalued. Large, often remote attempted to amend the trade between the UK and US has just residential units or chains, designed to max profit rather than provide what bill to set rules and establish begun, with US negotiators eager people need and want have heightened risk; while what fragmented, severely Parliament’s role in advance of the to secure easier access for American rationed support at home remains after wholesale privatisation and 50 % cuts to LA budgets falls dangerously short of meeting even basic needs. anticipated post-Brexit talks on a companies to NHS markets, as well US deal is negotiated. as tougher rules on SEIZE THE TIME FOR RADICAL CHANGE ! To widespread patents to improve dismay the pharmaceutical th Join the CAMPAIGN LAUNCH Sat. 10 Oct. 11-1pm amendment was companies’ profits voted down, and from new drugs. the Bill, which the The fight goes Speakers John Mc Donnell, MP, Jan Shortt, NPC President, Stephen Tories argue is about on. At the end Cowan, Leader of London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, Sandra Daniels and Bob Williams-Findlay, leading disabled rights activists, Heather existing deals that of August a legal Wakefield, former Unison Local Govt. Head & Women’s Budget Group, the UK has with other challenge from Rachel Harrison, GMB Public Services national officer, plus others tbc.

countries via the Global Justice Now European Union (EU) won a court ruling Share the discussion and bring ideas for joint action - and not about a future trade deal that the government must provide with the US – was voted through, campaigners with the dates of and sent on to the House of Lords. all meetings of trade working However the public suspicion groups, Agendas of such meetings, that any deal with the US will be Information about plans for the attached to strings with negative establishment of any new trade www.keepournhspublic.com www.sochealth.co.uk consequences for the NHS is working groups and Schedules of widespread, according to a poll for forthcoming meetings. l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns 6 Privatisation watch Billions Frameworks for wasted secrecy open doors on no- for private profit A seemingly endless succession of framework agreement whenever contest large-scale “Framework Agreements” required. have been rolled out by NHS England But what do the framework agreements and the Department of Health in look like at the local level, when a contracts recent months, creating conditions for hospital trust signs up with one of the A cross-party group of MPs in contract for test and trace failures more rapid award of contracts with pre-approved providers and agrees a alliance with the Good Law Project Serco, in addition to a contract a pre-authorised shortlist of private, contract for a specific set of tasks? has launched a lawsuit against worth up to £432m. public sector and non-profit providers Somerset secrecy the Government over the award with limited if any further competitive Even this seems to pale into The recent publication of a contract for of as much as £5 billion worth of tendering. insignificance compared with “provision of mobile and strategic clinical contracts without competition, Recent examples include a £500m Boris Johnson’s fantasy vision solutions and associated goods” between exploiting a legal loophole that facilities management framework NHS of a £100 billion “Moonshot” Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and allows the Government to award and public sector, an £800m framework programme to deliver 10 million the private cancer company Rutherford public contracts in an “emergency”. for a range of health IT services, a £10 Covid tests a day by early next Diagnostics and Rutherford Infrastructures The challenge follows a billion “open opportunity” to reduce year. gives us a glimpse into just how opaque succession of shocking revelations waiting times, and a massive £47bn The BMJ has highlighted both and secretive these deals can be. through the summer as contracts construction framework. the lack of expert involvement and Rutherford’s chief medical officer worth tens and hundreds of It’s possible to trawl through the evidence that a lion’s share of is one of the media’s favourite private millions have been awarded to the general terms of these the extra spending would flow to doctors, Karol Sikora, who famously tiny, sometimes dormant, and agreements and also check out the private contractors: claimed on the BBC in 2017 that often completely inexperienced NHS SBS Approved Organisation “The leaked documents reveal a the NHS was the “last bastion of companies for procurement of PPE. List and over 1194 Approved heavy reliance on the private sector communism” and needed a “total In August, the Daily Mail Organisations that have access to to achieve the mass testing and rethink”. Such scruples obviously do not has reported the Department the framework agreement portfolio give details of “letters of comfort” and as such, can utilise any NHS SBS stop Rutherford from eagerly hoovering of Health had spent £3.6billion that have already been signed with on 334 contracts, with PPE. The companies to reach three million list of firms manufacturers and tests a day by December. services companies accounting for Firms named are GSK for North West £1.77billion of the total. supplying tests, AstraZeneca for Byline Times which has charted laboratory capacity, and Serco and these contracts estimates that £180 G4S for logistics and warehousing.” Anglia NHS million worth of PPE contracts Tax expert Richard Murphy have been awarded to individuals warns: “The risk of corruption in this with links to the Conservatives, plan is enormous. … And I have to ‘bucking the including £120 million awarded to say that I smell something pretty a firm run by a Tory councillor. rotten in this plan. I can’t prove it. trend’ towards But more contracts are still But £100 billion of spending plans being given out with no tender or on something totally unproven accountability: Open Democracy has the risk of potential corruption safer hospital has revealed a further £45m written all over it.” food Public health carved up by desperate councils Unions representing 70 NHS employees working Catering, Local authorities facing yet It will also undermine the Logistics and Patient Services cooks meals for patients and staff another year of brutal cuts in viability of some community at Hinchingbrooke Hospital are from locally sourced ingredients, spending after a decade of cuts health services. in dispute with NW Anglia NHS and the plan to hand the contract have slashed their budgets are Boroughs in North East Foundation Trust which has put these to a private company reliant on seeking cash savings by putting London and Cambridgeshire services out to private tender. bulk-processed cook-chill food from public health services out to County Council are among those The outsourcing move is a delayed central depots, is sharply at odds with tender, reports the Independent. trying to cut costs of services for consequence of the merger of the a drive announced last year by Health The problem has been people with learning and physical former Peterborough and Stamford Secretary Matt Hancock towards highlighted by an unusual alliance disabilities. Hospitals Trust with Hinchingbrooke bringing hospital catering back in- of NHS Providers and the NHS Chris Hopson and Niall Hospital, where despite the period house to improve standards. Confederation who argue that Dickson, chief executives of NHS under management from Circle, key The Trust wants to combine dumping NHS community health Providers and NHS Confederation, services remained in-house. Hinchingbrooke’s catering, cleaning, providers for ostensibly cheaper called for a pause on retendering UNISON and Unite have portering and other support staff private contractors is a risky move NHS community services contracts pointed out that the attack on with around 100 facilities staff that will disrupt care and support until the end of 2021-22 Hinchingbrooke’s highly successful already outsourced to three different for service users. catering department, which freshly firms at its other hospital sites in l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns 7

up cash from NHS hospital contracts, although they do seem more than a little shy on revealing any details. The contract was only published at all as a response to a Freedom of Information Act request to the Trust – but, as with so many documents grudgingly released by secretive management, the 97-page contract has been heavily redacted to remove any useful information. All of the content or the whole page has been completely blacked out in 28 CCG spending pages, including all 18 final pages. Lighthouse labs bypass NHS Many pages have been so heavily There has been too much reliance The Independent revealed the edited it’s impossible to see what has on private on the private sector when it new part-privatised labs were often been removed from public view: even comes to laboratory testing for taking 72 hours from the time they the date of the agreement has been coronavirus and not enough received tests to determine a result providers obscured on page 51. investment in long-established – by which point the results were of With so much of this agreement NHS facilities says Unite. no use for wider strategy or policy, concealed, it’s hard to avoid the It has just published a survey while local NHS labs could give reaches new conclusion that this and many similar of Biomedical Scientists which results in six hours. framework agreements are funnelling highlights the under-use of NHS This was followed by a profits to private providers while high science facilities and resources as whistleblower’s report that dozens trust bosses hide from any public the crisis over the nationwide gaps of shifts at one of the Lighthouse Clinical Commissioning Groups accountability – and the NHS is being in the Covid-19 testing regime labs had been cancelled and staff are spending an average of more systematically milked for profit. escalates. paid to stay away because of a lack around 15% of their expenditure Back in April, The Lowdown of test samples. The Institute of purchasing healthcare from non- Peterborough and Stamford, and exposed the government policy of Biomedical Sciences have raised NHS organisations, according award a single private contract. bypassing the extensive network concerns over standards and to an NHS Support Federation Any claims that privatisation might of NHS laboratories to establish accreditation. survey of 2019/20 annual lower costs or increase efficiency are a new network of “ Lighthouse Private partners Astra Zeneca, accounts undermined by the latest official NHS Laboratories”, with private sector Randox and PerkinElmer lead four However 18 CCGs spend figures that show that the cost per involvement. of the Lighthouse laboratories in around 20% and the highest patient meal is significantly HIGHER Now the Unite survey Cambridge, Antrim, Newport and spending CCGs allocate 26% to for supplying bulk-processed food says: “Concerns about under- Loughborough; with non-profits, non-NHS organisations. from the privately-run re-heating utilisation of NHS resources were Bio Centre and Medicines Discovery The non-NHS organisations facilities in Peterborough Hospital matched by concerns around the Catapult running the Milton Keynes that are receiving money to run (averaging £5.33 per patient meal) introduction of the new Lighthouse and Alderley Park labs. Glasgow NHS services include private than the professionally-run in-house Laboratories and the impact this University lead the Scottish Centre. companies, community interest kitchens preparing fresh food in was having on NHS services.” Cambridge, Loughborough and companies (also known as Hinchingbrooke (averaging £3.64). Dundee Universities are also local not-for-profit companies), and The logic behind the perverse Concern over quality partners. charities. decision to put multi-award winning More than 85 per cent of the The Guardian has revealed plans The Fed notes that the CCGs catering services and logistics survey’s respondents agreed that to spend up to £5 billion over record their spending on GP services out for tender, when there was concern about the two years establishing a largely surgeries separately, some of the food delivered to patients in service quality from the Lighthouse privatised expanded testing system, this will include APMS contracts Hinchingbrooke is 46% cheaper as well Laboratories and over 90 per cent with expansion of the Lighthouse signed with companies paid to as superior in quality, is unclear. concurred that there were worries labs, and a further seven new run local GP surgeries such as The unions point out that no about the transparency and commercially run laboratories to be those with AT Medics and Virgin business case has been produced to contracting arrangements for these added, potentially rising to as many Care. show what NW Anglia management laboratories. as 29, “one for each NHS pathology So the true amount of private might hope to achieve from this In contrast, only 38 per cent region in England”. sector spending will be higher. apparently irrational initiative. For the said their NHS laboratories were Chair of the Unite healthcare Of the top ten CCGs for non- Estates department which is leading working at full capacity. science committee Ian Evans NHS spending a common factor this charge towards outsourcing the There was near unanimous said: “Long-established NHS was the large scale outsourcing of answer is “privatisation” whatever the support for further investment laboratories with a wealth of community healthcare – services question. in NHS labs, which the scientists professional experience built up that are not covered by the GP Unions have also launched a believe are well-placed to over decades appear to have been contracts or carried out within petition calling for all North West undertake the mass testing of marginalised in the battle against hospitals. Anglia NHS staff to be employed in millions envisaged by Operation coronavirus – this has been a huge For full details of this report house, not by private profiteers. Moonshot. mistake.” check out The Lowdown l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns 8 Fighting racism in the NHS No black trust bosses in Brum In a year which has highlighted continued institutionalised discrimination against Black and Minority Ethnic communities, a shocking Health Service Journal report has exposed the fact that not one of the executive directors at any of Birmingham’s five NHS trusts is from a BAME background. 42% of Birmingham’s population was from a BAME background at the last census, as were 36% of the workforce at the city’s largest trust, University Hospitals Birmingham in 2017: Experian checking patients’ credit but the trust has not had a BAME history to find recent migrants. executive “for at least 20 years.” Birmingham and Solihull Widening the fight against Nottingham report Mental Health Trust, which has Nottingham KONP works with four BAME non-executives, the regional Refugee Forum, whose told the HSJ it would have a NHS charges on migrants recent report highlights Asylum new executive from a BAME Seekers and Refugees. They are background, due to start in Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter are vital that there is unfettered access exempt from all NHS charges, but November. transforming arguments over race for all to NHS services, we urge you some are actually charged. It appears that Birmingham and health. to take action to remove from our The Forum found 28% avoided is lagging behind the generally In a pandemic, no-one is safe NHS all barriers to health care faced treatment due to worry that slow progress towards diversity in until we’re all safe. But contact by overseas workers, migrants and they would not be eligible or the top ranks of the NHS: recent tracing can’t work if part of the anyone with undocumented status would be charged. KONP met the data shows every NHS Trust in community is scared to use the NHS living in the UK, with particular Nottingham University Hospitals London now has at least one black and unwilling to name their contacts reference to Greater Manchester.” Chief Exec and asked what and minority ethnic (BME) Board for fear of the Home Office. discretion the Trust used over member. The Hostile Environment is West Yorks inquiry pursuing charges, and the lack of It’s five years since the Race government policy. KONP co-Chair Dr John Puntis provision of interpreters. Equality Foundation published But Trusts must also uphold pursued Leeds Teaching Hospital In March, a BMJ letter argued its damning report on the “snowy medical and nursing ethics, Duty over a Counter-Fraud newsletter that contact tracing requires ending white peaks of the NHS”. of Care, Information Governance, warning of “overseas visitors who the Hostile Environment. oppose racism in practice, and have remained in the UK during protect public health. Local lockdown, fraudulently seeking Merseyside campaigns are now taking the medical care” – words which KONP Merseyside initiated a Muslim argument to NHS Trusts and interfere with a public health petition calling on local Trusts to Councils. strategy to control the pandemic. take down all hostile publicity, medics Lambeth KONP asked Lambeth West Yorkshire and Harrogate suspend the charges and stop Council to join in public opposition Partnership Board commissioned reporting patient details and to the hostile environment, write an inquiry into the impact of Covid debt to the Home Office, and tell taunted to the Home Secretary about on health inequalities, BAME the public that health care in the A shocking survey for the protecting migrants from Covid-19 communities and staff. The Board pandemic is free to all. Huffington Post has revealed that and contact Guy’s and St Thomas’ then promised to consider the During the Covid-19 outbreak in over 80% of Muslim NHS staff to ensure people have access to harm caused by charging. August, the Liverpool Director of have experienced Islamophobia healthcare, irrespective of migrant North East London Save Our Public Health appealed to Toxteth or racism within the NHS. status or documentation. NHS (NELSON) responded to a residents to come for local testing, More than two thirds of the Barts Health report, entitled assuring them that no-one would 133 Muslims responding to Gateshead “Co-creating a truly inclusive ask about immigration, a message the survey (69%) felt it had got The Gateshead Council Leader and organisation: informed by the lived repeated in leaflets in all relevant worse during their time at the Health and Wellbeing Board Chair experiences of racial inequality”. languages. organisation, and more than half wrote to the Gateshead Health While welcoming Barts intentions, The pandemic proves that – 57% – felt Islamophobia had Chief Exec, asking the Trust not to NELSON’s leaflet featured an an injury to one is an injury to held them back in their career share data or report on debt to the elephant in the room, trumpeting all. We call on NHS Trusts to stop progression within the NHS. One Home Office. “Migrant charges in the NHS are implementing a policy which registrar summed up: Manchester KONP is writing to interferes with health in the racist too”. Barts has now admitted “Until the management all local Council Leaders and Health communities they serve. that even more were wrongly within the NHS is reflective of and Wellbeing Board Chairs, and charged in 2019-20. n This is an edited version of its workforces, it’s going to be the Greater Manchester Mayor. Lewisham Hospital is due to a report by Merseyside KONP incredibly difficult to root out and Their letter begins resume an inquiry prompted by campaigner Greg Dropkin to the “At this critical time when it is press coverage of financial firm KONP AGM on September12. address Islamophobia.” l www.healthcampaignstogether.com l [email protected] l @nhscampaigns