into local NHS services and could force hundreds of elderly for their own scheme in the country so far for hiving Contes elderly patients to the care of profitseeking private companies.
If their scheme goes through, patients, relatives and staff will authority (WBHA) stands to maxe a s- way cost kott • WBHA would save money sibility for the continuing care of 350 elderly people, passing the buck initially to the Department of Social Security and after 1993 to local councils. In place of the full cost of providJHS bed, WBHA would only have to pay a limited "top-up payment to help cover the nursing home fees of existing patients.
WBHA also profits by clos ing hundreds of its beds for the elderly (and presumably he staff involved). This will of course restrict its capacity to offer continuing care to some of the most vul Hundreds of people attended meetings addressed Salim Socialist Action (WOSA) during his three week tour. The tour was : Socialist Oull sponsored by and Front Line Worker.
Despite the decline of the movement of solidarity with the South African struggle, 19 meetand patients, could be leased or sold off lock stock and barrel to a private company. Close down NHS care Other health authorities before west berkshire have done similar deals to privatise continuing care of sne frank elderly.
What distinguishes the WBHA proposal is the sheer scale of the privatisation, and the inclusion for the first time of large numbers of ekierly mentally infirm patients (EMI), for whom no private nursing home The plan would effectively close down the present NHS services for EMi patients in West Berkshire. Worse, it appears to ignore completely the fact that EMI patients have very different probiems and nects trom the frail elderly. Many are far even be violent: all of them need to be cared for by trained psychiatric nursing staff.
WBHA scheme rides roughshod over NHS staff. Dedicated and experienced were held as far apart as London, Oxford, Swansea and Glasgow. In addition to evening public meetings, Salim ad dressed meetings of students and shop stewards.
A fringe meeting at the Anti-Apartheid Movement AGM drew 25 of the 120 delegates The tour has made WOSA and its political challenge to the retreats of the ANC leadership better known in Britain. teams or nursing and support staff could be broken up or while the private firms will seck to cut their staffing costs to a minimum by employing as few qualified staff as they think they can get away with.
At Hungerford House in Newbury, NHS employees could be tract for a private employer, or risk losing their jobs.
The WBHA plan also implies massive job osses in hospitals. closureofall 91 EMI beds at Fair to 120 Mile Hospital and up more continuing care beds -with no consultation or sugges tion of alternative employment.
West Berkshire has ignored
Become a Socialist Outlook Privatisation of elderly care is driving deep into the NHS