Branch Debate - "We Don't Want Foundation Hospitals!"

This is the text of the Lostock with Heaton Branch's debate on the governments plans for reorganisation of the NHS, in particular the establisment of so-called Foundation NHS Trusts.

The following resolution was proposed by John and seconded by George:

"This Branch is opposed to the establishment of Foundation Hospitals and calls upon the Bolton West CLP to adopt a similar policy".

In proposing the resolution John made the points that he believed Foundation Hospitals would lead to the creation of a two tier health system and already poorly paid and overworked staff would be even worse off. Bolton would not be a Foundation NHS Trust and local healthcare would suffer as a result. The proposals could easily lead to backdoor privatisation of healthcare.

George supported the resolution. He said that there was nothing in favour of what's being proposed. He read Tony Blair's biography recently, believed that he is isolated in Government on many issues and rules with a small cabal. Robin Cook has said that when he had joined the Blair Government he sold his soul. Foundation hospitals are being foisted on us and Blair seems to be taking on the unions.

Pat said that the Government has backed down on allowing Foundations Trusts to set their own terms and conditions of staff but she said that there would at least be the perception of there being a two tier system.

Joyce said that this is a very complex subject and wouldn't like to vote one way or the other on it without being better informed.

Anne felt that the massive recruitment into the NHS from other countries, e.g. South Africa and the Philippines, was having a very detrimental effect of healthcare in some countries where their health services are already poor.

Leilia used the example of what has happened in schools to illustrate her concerns. However she said that the autonomy given to schools and the loosening of local authority control hadn't been as bad as had at first been feared and maybe Foundation hospitals might be a force for good in the NHS. She had very big reservations about proposals that could lead to a two tiered system.

Ian confirmed Pat's assertion that, although it had been the original plan to allow Foundation Trusts to set their own terms and conditions, this was now no longer the case. All hospitals will be eligible for Foundation status in the next five years. One problem could be staffing, which is already a problem, with many medical people preferring to work in the university teaching hospitals than in local general hospitals such as in Bolton.

Tom said that the whole package of NHS reforms is very complex. A recent survey of NHS Trust Chief Executives had shown that the factors, in order of rating, most likely to have an impact on the NHS in the years ahead will be patient choice, national information strategy, new staff roles and contracts, diversity of provision, Foundation status. Only 59% of the Chief Executives thought that Foundation status would have a major impact compared with 92% for patient choice. He said that getting access to capital is a real problem under the present system and it would be an advantage for Trusts to be able to compete with private providers. The NHS needs to be continually modernised and kept intact. He wondered if the establishment of Foundation Trusts would be part of the break up or would keep it intact.

Leilia was worried that so-called patient choice would be as cruel a deception as parental choice in schools has turned out to be.

John said that a lot of people don't care who treats them as long as their illness is dealt with expertly, quickly and with no charge at the point of treatment. Eve added that a lot of people are prepared to travel appreciable distances to get such treatment.

Alan echoed Joyce's assertion that this is too complex an issue for us to decide on the basis of the information we currently have.

Anne said that in all of this we started by saying that Bolton Hospital is never going to get three star status but her experience over the last few years has been that the hospital provides excellent, expert and timely service. She added that she had no complaints at all with cooperation between her consultants and her GP being second to none. Others present echoed Anne's experiences.

It was thought that the starring system is a nonsensical way to judge the quality of care provided by a hospital. One problem highlighted is that money which is supposed to follow patients coming from outside the Bolton NHS Trust area into it for treatment usually doesn't arrive. This has lead to a critical situation in a number of areas, e.g. the Breast Unit, and needs to be addressed.

Alan proposed and Leilia seconded the idea that we should not vote on the resolution until we have heard from speakers with more knowledge of the effect of the whole NHS reforms than we. John, as the mover of the resolution, agreed to it being "left on the table" at present.

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