NIPSA held a lunchtime protest last week outside the South West Acute Hospital
TRADE Union group NIPSA last week staged a lunchtime protest against the use of Ward four by private health company 3Fivetwo in the South West Acute Hospital, yet the Western Trust have say 98% of those treated are in fact NHS patients.
NIPSA held the protest against the decision of the hospital to lease out ward four and a theatre to the 3Fivetwo private healthcare company.The 400-plus in attendance also raised concerns that the company were getting direct patient referrals from local GPs. The group had been down in Enniskillen holding their annual delegate conference in the Killyhevlin Hotel.
Kevin McCabe, an assistant secretary with NIPSA, with overall responsibility for health, explained that the local branch of the trade union felt strongly that a protest should be carried out against 3Fivetwo.
“From our point of view privatisation is being slipped into the NHS. We want to know what are the Trust paying to facilitate the private sector in gaining profits in terms of overheads and rent.In terms of privatisation here is an organisation being facilitated at the public’s expense.”
Out of 300 beds at the South West Acute Hospital, 24 of them are in Ward four, run by 3Fivetwo. The ward is not staffed by the Western Trust nor do the trust have any input to it.
In response to queries from the Fermanagh Herald regarding the use of the ward to deal with growing waiting lists Geraldine McKay, Assistant Director of Surgery and Anaesthetics for the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) explained that 98% of those treated by 3Fivetwo Healthcare on Ward four are in fact NHS patients.
“This particular Waiting List Initiative uses some of this future proofed accommodation to complement the extensive range of services already provided from the South West Acute Hospital.”
“To date there has been 38 inpatient and 400 outpatient attendances by Western Trust patients who have received treatment provided by 3Fivetwo Healthcare on Ward 4 at the South West Acute Hospital. Overall, 98% of the patients who are treated by 3Fivetwo Healthcare on Ward 4 are NHS patients who are receiving treatment through waiting list initiatives. These patients would be from the Western Trust and other Health and Social Care Trust areas.”
In response to these figures Mr McCabe still questioned why the private health company was in place at the hospital in the first place.
“Is that a manipulation of the service? Why is it not being done by the NHS staff?”
He added: “There is more to be done just around transparency; What forced their hand to get a third party private company in? We will be raising these issues.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere