GMB members call on NHS Shadow Minister to learn from botched privatisation
GMB outsourced patient transport members call on Labour NHS Shadow Minister to learn lessons from botched privatisation on South Coast.
Shadow Cabinet Minister heard today from members who used their own savings to put petrol in ambulances (despite not being paid for 9 weeks) to ensure they could pick up patients says GMB Southern region
GMB patient transport members in South East met Shadow Secretary of State for Health Jonathan Ashworth in Brighton on 22 February to share their experiences of privatisation failure.
Jon Ashworth, Shadow Secretary of State for Health was visiting members in Brighton to discuss the disastrous move to privatise patient transport in the South East.
The members, who were transferred from the NHS (SECAMB) to private contractors Docklands Medical Services, explained that the day the contract started they had no uniforms, no equipment, there was mould in the vehicles and
some vehicles had bald tyres.
Jon met with the members to hear their experiences of privatisation and to join them in celebrating their return to the NHS.
Paul Maloney GMB Regional Secretary said “GMB have supported these members every step of the way in the last 12 months, including by providing hardship fund payments. We are very proud to see the members returning to wearing
their NHS uniforms with pride from the 1st March.”
Gary Palmer, GMB Regional Organiser said; “Today Jonathan has heard the experiences of those working on the front line of our health services. Despite the appalling way in which these members were treated by the health service
and the private contractors their priority throughout has been to provide the best possible service to their patients.
Jonathan has heard today from members who used their own savings to put petrol in ambulances (despite not being paid for 9 weeks) to ensure they could pick up patients.
GMB is incredibly proud of our members and are very pleased to see them return to the NHS where they belong. We hope that Jonathan’s visit today will help to ensure the government are held to account over their disastrous
mismanagement of the NHS.”
Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said: “It was a huge honour to meet the Patient Transport Service workers today. I wanted to congratulate and commend everyone involved, including the GMB and local Labour MP, Peter Kyle, who campaigned tirelessly to bring the contract back into the NHS, where it should have been all along.”
Contact: Gary Palmer on 07552 165950 or Michelle Gordon on 07866 369259
