AN NHS boss has apologised after he was filmed telling protestors that directors have already decided an external company will oversee Colchester Hospital’s facilities management.
In a video shared by the Health Service Journal, Nick Hulme – the chief executive of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) – is filmed saying “there isn’t the opportunity to change that decision”.
Under plans drawn up by the ESNEFT board, cleaners, porters, and caterers’ jobs could be overseen by a facilities management company called OCS.
It would mean hundreds of jobs are effectively privatised, though papers from a trust board meeting held last month suggest the outsourcing will only go ahead “if all of our quality, HR and financial thresholds are met”.
The papers added that withdrawing the possibility outsourcing “is not recommended nor deemed a viable option”
Mr Hulme, who has been the trust's chief executive since the organisation was formed in 2018, appeared to suggest the privatisation of hundreds of jobs would proceed regardless of the outcome of any consultation.
The video was taken after a board meeting in May and was leaked to the Health Service Journal last week.
In the video, Mr Hulme is filmed saying: “Speaking to the non-executives, the decision is that it is going to be outsourced.”
He went on: “There isn’t the opportunity at this board or future boards to change that decision.
“We are now in the process of delivering that decision and that’s really important people understand that.”
Caroline Hennessy, a spokesman for UNISON – the union which represents Colchester Hospital support staff – said: “Despite reassurances to staff and the public that no decision had been made, privatisation efforts were clearly well under way behind closed doors from the off.
“Outsourcing will almost certainly mean cuts, fewer resources and declining standards of care.”
'A decision will be made in the coming weeks'
A SPOKESMAN has insisted a decision has not been made about Colchester Hospital’s cleaners, caterers, and porters having their jobs managed by a private company.
The statement was in response to revelations that Nick Hulme, the chief executive of the trust, telling protestors a decision had already been made about hundreds of jobs being transferred to facilities management company OCS.
The spokesman said Mr Hulme apologised for “inadvertently” suggesting the decision had been made before a key board meeting next month.
He said: “Due process is being followed to make sure we reach a decision on the future of soft facilities management at ESNEFT which delivers services that are best for our patients, staff and communities.
“ESNEFT wishes to reiterate that no final decision has yet been made as to how our soft facilities services at Colchester Hospital and community sites will be provided in the future.
“A business case will be considered at a trust board meeting in the coming weeks, with a summary of the decision to be published shortly thereafter.
“It is the trust’s responsibility and overriding priority to deliver the best possible care and outcomes for patients in a safe environment and at the best value for money for taxpayers.”
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