Children’s
health services in parts of western England have been privatized
under a £64-million deal with Richard Branson’s Virgin Care, the
Western Daily Press reports. The sale comes as a £2.2-billion black
hole threatens the future of public healthcare.
National
Health Service (NHS) bosses defended the decision to privatize
community child health services in Wiltshire, saying it would offer a
solution to shortcomings in providing “consistent” care across
the county.
However,
critics say privatization will lead to substandard care and will be
more expensive.
The deal
with Virgin Care comes as the head of England’s NHS secured an
extra £3.8 billion for frontline care, having convinced Chancellor
George Osborne the healthcare budget must be “front loaded.”
According
to one insider, NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens had taken part in
“vibrant discussions” with Osborne before the Chancellor was
convinced of his case.
However,
in reality the extra funds will come in part from cuts to other areas
of the NHS, including nursing training. It also comes against a
backdrop of NHS debt, with the health service expected to end the
financial year with a £2.2-billion deficit.
Despite
the injection of extra funds, critics have argued that public health
services still face budget cuts. Social care, directed by the council
and including sexual health and stop smoking clinics, are all facing
cuts. Social care budgets have also been cut, placing more pressure
on the NHS as more medically fit people are forced to stay in
hospitals due to lack of social services.
More:
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One of the most serious
consequences will be the total destruction and, subsequently,
privatization of the National Health Service – NHS.
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