Hospital support staff in Suffolk say they'll leave the NHS if contracts are moved to a private company
Members of the union Unison, continue to strike across the country with fears private contracts will threaten the quality of care patients recieve
Members of the Public service union UNISON are continuing their strike action as they want assurance that their contracts won't be turned over to private companies.
Cleaners, porters and housekeepers, as well as other facilities staff, who are employed under the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), say they are concerned being forced to move to private contracts with the company OCS will threaten their pay and conditions and pose a serious risk to patient safety.
"This is about patient safety. This is about patient services. This isn't about money."
Health bosses announced they would be outsourcing contracts for facilities management services such as cleaning, catering, portering, housekeeping and security.
Ipswich Hospital is already run by OCS but Unison said staff told us they received fewer days of annual leave, less sick pay and had missed out on a one-off payment for NHS staff when their jobs were outsourced.
"The services that are delivered on the private contracts are 100 times worse than if they were to remain in House. And that's because private employers only care about profits."
This contract is expected to come to an end in April 2025. Unison is arguing that all services should be brought back in-house and tells us they will continue to strike into next year if a decision is not made.
Caroline Hennessy is the regional head of health for Unison, she told us they've been driven to the picket lines with over 500 members on strike as the Trust has delayed their decision and this is having a negative impact on them.
"Morale is incredibly low within this cohort of staff. They felt not listened to over the last few months.
"They don't feel that the Trust respects them or their jobs. They feel like they're being thrown out to the wolves in terms of being given over to a private company."
Caroline told us this is already having a knock on effect for NHS as a whole as they're seeing more vacancies appear.
"Some of our Members have already said that they will leave the NHS if if their jobs are transferred over to a private company.
"There's already massive vacancies within this cohort staff, they're literally the backbone of the hospitals and community sites.
"...Everything that our Members do contributes to one team within the NHS and getting patients better and getting them back on their feet and we're we're seeing massive vacancy rates in this cohort.
Caroline said they want the trust the acknowledge the jobs they do and the importance of keeping them in the NHS.
The Trust has said "no final decision has yet been made as to how our soft facilities services at Colchester Hospital and community sites will be provided in the future.
"A final business case will be considered at the Trust Board meeting on 5 December 2024, with a summary of the decision to be published shortly thereafter.
"It is the Trust’s responsibility and overriding priority to deliver the best possible care and outcomes for patients in a safe environment and at the best value for money for taxpayers.
"At a time when the local NHS is under significant and mounting pressure – and while we are still in discussion with trades union representatives and other stakeholders - it is difficult to see how a further period of industrial action will benefit local patients and their families.
"As previously, we are working to ensure that cover is in place across the range of services affected while some of our soft facilities staff take part in lawful industrial action."