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Physio services are taken over by private firm
Hospital specialists’ shock at decision
SPECIALIST physiotherapy services at the Royal Free are to be axed after another massive NHS contract was awarded to a private company.
Connect Physical Health Ltd (CPH), based 350 miles away from the Hampstead hospital in Northumberland, has won the three-year contract to deliver physiotherapy treatment for more than 11,500 patients each year in Camden.
An announcement is expected on Friday, but the New Journal has learned that CPH have been chosen ahead of an established team of local specialists in a decision which mirrors last week’s move to award Care UK Plc a contract to run a new GP-led health centre in Euston.
A source in the physio department at the Royal Free said: “We are delivering among the best care in London and other trusts visit Royal Free to see how it is done – and now it’s all going to go. They are pulling it apart in favour of a private company with no experience with local patients. I cannot understand why we have been left out.”
The team of 22 trained physiotherapists have been told by letter they must decide whether they will work for CPH or find employment elsewhere.
Physiotherapists currently employed by the Royal Free NHS trust will receive the same pay and conditions but will not be able to add to their NHS pension pot while working for a private company.
Moving outpatient services away from hospitals was a reform proposed by former health minister Lord Darzi, who recently quit the government after setting in motion a series of changes that have allowed private companies to bid for NHS contracts.
A spokeswoman for Camden Keep Our NHS Public said: “We are seeing a wholesale outsourcing of our NHS to the private sector in Camden, which is being driven by central government policy.
“The PCT has yet again ignored staff with years of local knowledge, experience and ambition to improve services in favour of a private company with little to offer the borough other than ticking the boxes in another bureaucratic and secretive tendering process.”
Camden’s physiotherapy services will now be in Kentish Town Health Centre and other “community access” locations in the borough.
Patient records, referrals and appointments will be managed by CPH in a central IT database in Northumberland.
Mark Philpott, primary care manager for CPH, said: “We will be providing services in the community, rather than hospitals. I think that was one of the major factors in us winning the bid. We have an advanced education programme in Northumberland that we will bring to London. We train up GPs and physiotherapists under a robust clinical lead. All staff will be recruited locally in the area.”
An NHS Camden spokeswoman said: “Following an extensive review of musculo-skeletal services locally it became clear that to meet the demands of local people, NHS Camden would have to invest in MSK provision to provide the world-class service local people deserve.” |
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Your comments:
I THINK this is good for the Professional.It will lead to more frontline staffs and reduce number of mamagers who are currently doing the role a good computer software will do in minutes. Physiotherapist will now pick a field to specialise in instead of rushing to become managers.
A. Walker
Would the PCT like to describe the way in which CPH will improve on the service currently being provided at RFH? I have had nothing but excellent quality Physiotherapy at the Royal Free. What was felt to be so wrong with it that it needed changing?
Ruth Appleton
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