GMB fear 84 redundancies by Sussex patient transport provider

NHS

GMB, the union for staff at the Sussex Patient Transport Service, has learned that 84 jobs are at risk of redundancy as Thames Ambulance service begins a 30 day consultation period starting today, 7 November 2016.

GMB understand that Thames Ambulance invoices for over £700,000 have not been paid. Thames Ambulance has informed the Clinical Commissioning Group that from 7th December 2016 it will cease to provide the service due to a breach of contract by Coperforma.

This comes after the news last week that Coperforma is to leave the Sussex PTS contract over the coming months with South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) NHS Foundation Trust take over full responsibility for the management and delivery of the contract by 1st April 2017 after a managed exit for failed private contractor Coperforma.

GMB has been calling for the CCG’s to remove Coperforma from the contract for many months due to poor performance and failure to pay invoices. See notes to editors for copies of previous GMB press releases. GMB also identified that John Porter, chairman of Coperforma, was involved with the Panama Papers leak.

Gary Palmer GMB Organiser said, “GMB has been raising its misgivings over the ever-increasing financial behaviour of Coperfoma for months, and now it seems that despite the good news they are to leave the Sussex contract, they intend to continue to try to damage as many of their contractors as they can before being replaced by South Central Ambulance service.

Once again it will be Ambulance staff, GMB members and Patients who now have to suffer if as expected Thames carry out their intention and notice to quit the failed Coperforma contract over the failure to pay them around £700,000.

If it’s as suggested that there were to be financial incentives to ensure a smooth and managed transition, we would suggest that Coperforma have already failed and I hope the CCG will not waste any more public money on handing such an unprofessional organisation anything but a notice to immediately quit Sussex for good.

We will be speaking to the CCG as soon as possible to seek assurances that they will intervene and make payments to Thames Ambulance to ensure that they can have the confidence to continue working for the benefits of Sussex patients in the knowledge that invoices will be paid in a timely fashion. Or, if Thames remove themselves from provision as they threaten to do, they will move to further protect these Ambulance professionals similarly to Docklands staff who found themselves without work as a result of Coperforma’s failures to pay invoices on time or at all.”

Contact: Gary Palmer on 07552 165950; Paul Maloney on 07801 343839 or Michelle Gordon on 07866 369259

Notes to editors

1) GMB press release dated 1 November 2016

GMB WELCOME TROUBLED PATIENT TRANSPORT SERVICE RETURN TO NHS AS COPERFORMA STEP DOWN FROM SUSSEX CONTRACT

GMB members and staff from Docklands Medical Services have been informed that troubled Patient Transport provider Coperforma is to leave the Sussex PTS contract over the coming months.

The move will see South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) NHS Foundation Trust take over full responsibility for the management and delivery of the contract by 1st April 2017 after a managed exit for failed private contractor Coperforma.

Docklands staff will be transferred to SCAS as soon as possible as the combined CCG’s and GMB look to get over 70 staff back to work at the earliest opportunity.

GMB has been calling for the CCG’s to remove Coperforma from the contract for many months due to poor performance and failure to pay invoices. See notes to editors for copies of previous GMB press releases. GMB also identified that John Porter, chairman of Coperforma, was involved with the Panama Papers leak.

Gary Palmer GMB Organiser said, “We can only applaud along with patients and GMB members the long awaited decision by Sussex’s 7 CCG’s to remove Coperforma from managing the Patient Transport service here in the county.

Coperforma simply never got to grips with delivering a contract which far exceeded the amount of patient journeys they had organised before, and every GMB Ambulance professional and contractor who worked on the contract all said the same in regard to their failed App and did so from day one.

Some of their choices in sub contractors also left much to be desired, and I remain surprised that their inexperience, financial mismanagement and corporate bullying only led to two company’s going to the wall although with the amount of money reported to be outstanding to other contractors they clearly cared very little to those they worked alongside.

This whole Coperforma debacle has been an awful experience for both patients and our members and GMB, as the recognised union for PTS in Sussex, will work together with SCAS to ensure the transfer back to the NHS family is both smooth and protective of their current terms, conditions and continual service.”

2) GMB press release dated 13 October 2016

PATIENTS AND STAFF COULD SEE MORE TURMOIL AND JOB LOSSES IF COPERFORMA FAIL TO SETTLE OUTSTANDING PAYMENTS TO SUSSEX PATIENT TRANSPORT CONTRACTOR THAMES AMBULANCE SERVICE

Coperforma’s failure to achieve an acceptable standard for Sussex patient transport services is worrying says GMB

GMB, the union for ambulance staff, will be backing its members at Thames Ambulance Service Ltd against any potential job losses brought about by Coperforma’s failures to pay outstanding monies owed to their employer.

Last week GMB called for the CCG’s to call time on Coperforma after the latest twist in the ill-fated Sussex Patients Transport service that could leave Thames Ambulance Service staff at risk of losing their jobs. GMB, two weeks ago, called on the CQC to investigate the financial health of Coperforma over links to offshore tax havens. (see notes to editors for GMB press releases on this)

GMB understand that Thames is now owed over £600,000 and are now seeing penalties levied against them at a higher rate than the monthly contract value.

GMB members are being accused by Coperforma of logging on late and signing off early, something our members would strongly refute. GMB members at Thames are as committed to their jobs and to the patients they serve as those at Docklands, many of whom worked 8 weeks without pay, whilst continuing to deliver PTS provision for the benefit of the patients in Sussex.

In recent weeks a growing amount of ambulance staff are being stood down from shifts or sent home as service provision is systematically managed away from Thames in addition to the growing list of unfair charges. Thames are currently paying our members and staff when they are not being deployed and GMB recognises their commitment in doing this.

Last month GMB revealed John Porter, chairman of Coperforma since 2010, was named in the Panama Papers leak which released millions of documents exposing the offshore holdings of thousands of the world’s richest and most powerful people. Mr Porter is listed as a shareholder of Pentarn Management Ltd, a company whose jurisdiction is the British Virgin Islands. John Porter is the son of controversial former conservative leader of Westminster City Council, Shirley Porter, who was involved in the homes for votes scandal. (see notes to editors for release dated September 27 for further details)

Gary Palmer GMB Organiser said, “Coperforma’s failure to achieve an acceptable standard for Sussex patient transport services, no matter how low they set the bar with their own sister company GRC Improvements providing the ‘independent’ governance is worrying. The way they happily let companies, who they contract, struggle is testament to the character of shysters making a profit off the NHS, regardless of the cost to patients and staff working for them.

It’s all about the making of money with Coperforma no matter who suffers. To date GMB have helped ex-Docklands staff recover just over £135,000 of the outstanding monies owed to them since April, with around £85,000 still to be verified and settled, together with October’s expected wage bill of around £92,000.

Over £300,000 is a costly public legacy for the people of Sussex as a result of the CCG not recognising Coperforma’s inability to be able to organise the Sussex PTS service from the outset and the possibility that Thames could be forced out of the Sussex contract in the same way. The CCG needs to prepare to see those amounts rise even further.

Coperforma boast of having over 20 contractors on stand-by should any further contractors follow the Langford’s and Docklands demise or in standing down from the contract. But considering that Docklands were given the contract without due-diligence, and the fact that they were not registered with the CQC as required to be to transport patients, GMB have to ask the question how can Coperforma be assured that all vehicles are safe and properly equipped, that the staff are trained as per contract requirements and are not simply drivers, that they have had the required CRB checks and safeguarding training updates?

Our health care professional ambulance members have real concerns over the safety of patients, as their experiences of the Coperforma’s safeguarding app not working and Coperforma’s inability to handle safeguarding escalations, if required, means patients will be put at risk. Recently, some Thames GMB members were called on to bail out another provider because they did not have the equipment on their vehicles or ability to safely manage and transport their patient.

Although we are calling for Coperforma to come clean about the part they played in bringing ruin to both Langford’s and Docklands we are actually going to see it all painfully re-enacted again as they turn their full attention to Thames Ambulance, potentially threatening the livelihood’s of GMB members yet again.

GMB will therefore be seeking to protect staff and the service with assurances from the CCG’s that, if necessary, monies will be made available to Thames Ambulance to guarantee the future involvement of the company in the contract. This assurance will give security to our members put at risk by Coperforma. If that means that the CCG consider paying Thames Ambulance directly, as they did Docklands staff, and then looking to subsequently deduct it from their payments to Coperforma if they are not intending to remove them from contract, then that is what we would expect to happen.”

3) GMB press release dated 5 October 2016

GMB CALL ON SUSSEX CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP TO STEP IN TO PREVENT COPERFORMA DAMAGING ANOTHER PATIENT TRANSPORT CONTRACTOR

The CCG must act now and remove Coperforma from this contract and place it in the hands of an NHS provider for the sake of Sussex patients and staff alike says GMB

GMB are calling for the CCG’s to call time on PTS provider Coperforma after the latest twist in the ill-fated Sussex Patients Transport service that could leave Thames Ambulance Service staff at risk of losing their jobs.

GMB understand that Coperforma are following a similar pattern with Thames Ambulance Service where they are querying invoices, failing to pay outstanding payments (£600,000 owed to Thames Ambulance Service Ltd) and exerting unfair patterns of control over contractors through reducing or regulating the amount of units a contracting ambulance service can put on the road below their current staffing levels. This results in GMB members and other staff either sat at base throughout their shift or sent home because there is no work.

Last month GMB revealed John Porter, chairman of Coperforma since 2010, was named in the Panama Papers leak which released millions of documents exposing the offshore holdings of thousands of the world’s richest and most powerful people. Mr Porter is listed as a shareholder of Pentarn Management Ltd, a company whose jurisdiction is the British Virgin Islands. John Porter is the son of controversial former conservative leader of Westminster City Council, Shirley Porter, who was involved in the homes for votes scandal. (see notes to editors for release dated September 27 for further details)

Gary Palmer GMB Organiser said, “It appears that ruining both Langford’s and Docklands wasn’t enough for Coperforma CEO Michael Clayton as Thames Ambulance now appear to have incurred the wrath of the Coperforma team, as we start to see the familiar pattern of undermining the contractors through disputing and delaying the payment of invoices.

Work is purposefully removed and dissipated amongst others within the contract when any organisation questions the failures to pay invoices for work ambulance units and crews provided. This has a knock on effect in causing hardworking frontline staff to panic and begin to fear for their jobs.

Having spoken with Thames, they assure me that there is no immediate threat or risk to staff pay, but with the removal of units from front line Sussex service it’s clear that it could leave Thames with a number of over staffing issues at their Sheffield Business Park base.

GMB members are already reporting that when they log on with Coperforma to work they are immediately being stood down and asked to return to base to wait for work or sent home.

The problem is that any sustained period of de-mobilisation and instability as a result of Coperforma’s shoddy practice of shifting provision amongst its 22 current providers for those that complain will mean that maintaining current levels of employment becomes impossible and job cuts might prove inevitable.

I really do feel and worry for GMB Thames Ambulance members, knowing what I do from the Langford’s and Docklands experiences over the last few month. This has all the signs of a further impending disaster for those involved, and must surely be the last straw for the CCG on the Coperforma transfer fiasco.

They must act now and remove them from this contract and place it in the hands of an NHS provider for the sake of Sussex patients and staff alike.”

4) GMB press release dated 27 September 2016

GMB CALL ON THE CARE QUALITY COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF SUSSEX PTS CONTRACTOR COPERFORMA OVER LINKS TO OFFSHORE TAX HAVENS OF RELATED DIRECTORS

NHS contractors should not be linked to offshore tax havens, a sprawling secretive industry which the worlds rich and powerful use to hide assets and skirt rules says GMB

GMB, the union for ambulance staff, call on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to investigate the financial health of Sussex Patient Transport Services provider Coperforma following potential uncovered links of a director to offshore tax havens. (see notes to editors for information on John Porter and previous GMB press releases)

John Porter, chairman of Coperforma since 2010, was named in the Panama Papers leak which released millions of documents exposing the offshore holdings of thousands of the world’s richest and most powerful people. Mr Porter is listed as a shareholder of Pentarn Management Ltd, a company whose jurisdiction is the British Virgin Islands. John Porter is the son of controversial former conservative leader of Westminster City Council, Shirley Porter, who was involved in the homes for votes scandal. (see notes to editors for information on Shirley Porter)

In addition to this, the largest shareholder of Coperforma is Guernsey registered company, Seabourn Ltd, of which John Porter is a director.

Last week GMB were in dispute with Coperforma due to the growing problems of running the Sussex Patient Transport Service after the second subcontractor, Docklands Medical Services, ceased trading two weeks ago. This follows on from the collapse and liquidation of VM Langfords in July 2016.

Paul Maloney, GMB Southern Regional Secretary, said “GMB call for an urgent investigation by CQC into the financial health of Coperforma following information that it’s Chairman could be linked to offshore tax havens.

NHS contractors should not be linked to offshore tax havens, a sprawling secretive industry which the worlds rich and powerful use to hide assets and skirt rules. CQC must investigate to make sure the directors and shareholders of Coperforma are not involved in the shadowy world of offshore finance and that Guernsey based Seabourn Ltd and British Virgin Islands based Pentarn Management Ltd are above board and legitimate.

Two Coperforma subcontractors have gone under, how many more have to go the same way before an investigation takes place?”

Directors of Coperforma are:
Michael Clayton
Ella Clayton
Peter Harris
John Porter

Shareholders are:
Seabourn Ltd – 36.73%
Michael Clayton – 31.64%
Ella Clayton – 31.64%

Seabourn Ltd, along with Pentarn Management Ltd and John Porter, are all shareholders in another investment holding company, i-spire Ltd of which Mr Porter is the ‘ultimate controlling party.’ I-spire Corporation Ltd, a subsidiary company of i-spire Ltd, is incorporated in Bermuda.

Another shareholder is Panama incorporated company, Toxford Corporation, an investment company owned by a trust of which Mr Porter is one of the beneficiaries.

John Porter is a director of Guernsey registered Seabourn Ltd alongside British Virgin Islands entity S.O. Clover Management Ltd.

Shirley Porter was the conservative leader of Westminster City Council during the homes for votes scandal, playing a key role in the scheme that sold off council homes to potential conservative voters in marginal wards. In 2006, the Independent reported that she was ‘found to have forced 122 homeless families likely to vote Labour out of eight marginal seats, forcing them instead to live in tower blocks that the council knew to be contaminated with asbestos.’ She was found guilty of corruption and after a 7 year inquiry of ‘wilful misconduct and gerrymandering’ and ordered to pay back £12.3m, a fraction of the total cost of the corruption to the council.