Assurances over dialysis unit
Health bosses have made assurances that no staff at a Mid Wales dialysis unit will be forced to transfer to the private sector.
For months nurses at the Welshpool Victoria Memorial, and at hospitals in north Wales have been fearful their jobs may be transferred to a private company, under a tendering process by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUH), which runs health care in North Wales.
Politicians have been trying to get answers and last month county councillor Graham Breeze and Plaid Cymru joined forces to oppose privatisation plans.
Now Vaughan Gething, cabinet secretary for health and social services, and Gary Doherty, chief executive of BCUH have sent written assurances that no jobs will be transferred.
In a letter to councillor Breeze, Mr Gething said: “Healthcare for the people of Wales is comprehensive, universal and free at the point of access and we will not be privatising the NHS. I will be writing to the nursing staff of the Welshpool unit directly.
“The expansion and improvement of the NHS renal services in Wales has been a success for staff and patients and provided excellent value for money.
“Welsh Government’s long established policy position is we will not support the transfer of staff between the NHS and independent renal services providers.”
"Wales has a long history of contracting with independent providers for renal services, the first contracts awarded over 20 years ago. These arrangements have never led to a requirement for NHS staff to transfer to an independent provider of renal dialysis services,” he added.”
A letter from Mr Doherty said he fully understood concerns among staff and patients, however the review is not finalised and dialogue is still ongoing.
He said: "The outcome of the review is not yet finalised but I can confirm that the health board will not support an option that requires the transfer of staff from the NHS to independent renal services providers.”
Councillor Breeze welcomed the replies, adding: “I welcome the responses from both the Health Secretary and the Health Board and in particular Mr Gethin’s promise to write to the staff at the Welshpool unit with assurances on their futures.
“This is a particularly worrying time for all the staff involved and they deserve to have been kept better informed when their jobs are being discussed.”
