UNISON is calling on board members of Nuneaton’s George Eliot Hospital (GEH) to clarify its current position and postpone procurement options, after the recent announcement by the government that the hospital is to be ‘buddied’ up with the high-performing N University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) trust as a result of the Keogh inspections.
UNISON regional organiser Edna Hall asked: ”How on earth can a franchise option realistically work in George Eliot Hospital now there is another organisation in the mix?
“Or could University Hospitals Birmingham also be bidding to become its procurement partner?
“What affect will this have upon the running of the trust?
Could it muddy waters adding to the issues the trust already has, should it continue to forge ahead with partnership plans which will now in effect be a third party contract?”
And Ms Hall added: “The partnership business case is not based on a tripartite arrangement – yet another reason why it is increasingly out of date. There is no reference to UHB in any of the procurement documents, so prospective bidders may not be aware of this contract or its implications.
“UNISON strongly believes that the expertise in the NHS should be fully utilised and successful practice shared to achieve a sustainable NHS solution at GEH. We are calling on the trust board to postpone its procurement option in the light of this major development and in the interests of patients, staff and the local community.@