2018

The Banner Theatre’s ‘Spirit of 1868’ was be performed at the Clarendon Community Theatre on Thursday, October 11, 2018. Supported by Notts TUC, this has been described as a brilliant production, including folk, blues, punk and reggae rhythms to create an inspirational celebration of 150 years of trade union struggle – strikes, solidarity, picket lines and much more - poster:

Demo to Celebrate and Demonstrate Our NHS is 70 in London, Saturday 30th June 2018 - poster:

Public Meeting: NHS Privatisation - a bitter pill to swallow for Notts

Colin Hutchinson

Due to unforeseen circumstances Prof Allyson Pollock will be unable to attend this meeting but instead we have Mr Colin Hutchinson. Colin is Chair of Doctors for the NHS (DFNHS) and a signatory on the application calling for a judicial review challenging the establishment of Accountable Care Organisations (ACOs) - Doctors for the NHS - Info about ACOs and why they need to be opposed.

1st February 2018
6.30 - 8.30pm
The Nottingham Mechanics
3 North Sherwood Street
Nottingham NG1 4EZ - flyer:

Public Meeting: Nottinghamshire being used by government for testing its creeping privatisation plans

Des Powe

A well-attended public meeting organised by your Branch was held on the 1st February 2018, with over 100 members of the public and Unite members in attendance.

Government’s proposals to test new and possibly illegal privatisation plans in Nottinghamshire were laid bare at a public meeting organised by Unite Nottinghamshire Health Branch, 1st February 2018. Speaking to a capacity and determined audience at The Mechanics, Nottingham, Dr Colin Hutchinson explained the new management Accountable Care Organisations (ACO), for contracting out NHS and social care delivery. ACOs have evolved from Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) whose aim is to integrate health and social service delivery in a single package. Alarmingly, commercial organisations will be allowed to tender to become ACOs.

ACOs will have powers to asset strip NHS property and resources to achieve profits to service shareholder demands

Several major companies including Capita and Centene have shown interest in tendering to become ACOs. Capita is the largest UK provider of private services to the public sector, having received more public funding than any other company. Shares in Capita fell 40% in early February amid fears that they were at risk of following a similar demise as seen with Carillion in January 2018. read more:

Carillion: Lessons learned - NHS funding awarded to private companies?

Des Powe

Carillion went bankrupt in January 2018. It’s now a matter of history that Nottingham University Hospital prematurely terminated the 5 year £250m Estates and Facilities (E&F) contract with Carillion on April Fools Day, 2017. This turned out to be a wise move for the Trust and patients alike. The full facts behind NUH’s decision (including due diligence) in awarding the contract were not given at the time, but a significant factor would have been based on costs. Unite Nottinghamshire Health highlighted unsafe working practices and staff shortages putting employees and patients at risk.

Carillion was a massive firm – some thought it too large to fail - it was the second largest construction firm in the UK and had successfully been awarded the most amount, bar one, of public funding in its sector. It has now come to light that Carillion carried massive debts. The full facts behind its demise will emerge over coming months but one question that needs answering is why the government continued awarding more public funding to Carillion? Carillion went bust with debts of £1.5 billion pounds and an estimated £990 million pensions’ deficit (Work & Pensions Committee) - read more: