Former MP brands privatisation of hospital jobs ‘nauseating’ after FOI request

Sir Bob Russell discovered through a Freedom of Information request that of the 23 decision makers on the board of trustees in charge of Colchester Hospital, only ten of have a Colchester post code.  

The former Colchester MP, who is being treated for cancer at the hospital, said: “The stench behind the outsourcing is nauseating.

Statement – Sir Bob Russel has said he finds the proposal to outsource NHS jobs ‘sick’ (Image: Newsquest) “People who do not live locally have been debating the privatising the jobs of support staff who wish to remain working at the hospital as National Health Services employees, but the majority of those in charge of our Hospital do not live locally.

“How can handing over people, loyal and hardworking NHS support staff, to a private company be in the interests of patients—and the taxpayer?”

The trust insists no final decision has been made on the proposals and different options are being looked at.

A second Freedom of Information request by Sir Bob revealed that five of the 23 trustees have never worked for the NHS, whilst 14 Trustees are currently employees and four are former NHS employees.

Jobs – The proposal to outsource jobs at Colchester Hospital has been met with criticism. (Image: Newsquest)Sir Bob, 78, has written to Prime Minister Kier Starmer and Secretary of State of Health Wes Streeting in a bid to keep the support workers inside the NHS, and has twice joined strikes organised by the union Unison.

Natalie Sommers, Colchester Council’s portfolio holder for communities, said: “As a cabinet, we Liberal Democrats are bringing a motion to full council on Wednesday evening against the privatisation.

“We are concerned about the potential impact on patient care, staff job security, and the quality of public healthcare.”

Strikes – The discussions come less than a year after junior doctors’ strikes over pay disputes. (Image: Newsquest) If hospital support jobs are outsourced, it will also affect Clacton, Harwich, and other north Essex constituencies, as well as east Suffolk.

East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust bosses announced plans to outsource the jobs earlier this year.

Chief executive Nick Hulme said: “We are looking at how we provide the future of soft facilities management services across all our trust sites in East Suffolk and North Essex. 

“We are considering the options and following due process to make sure the final decision delivers services which are best for our patients, staff and the wider community.”

The board is set to make a decision at a meeting on November 21.