02.08.12
Will Hinchingbrooke prove sustainable?
Hinchingbrooke hospital does appear to be improving under the guidance of private company Circle. Savings are being made at the hospital which, at the time if the takeover in February this year, was £40m in debt and Circle is reporting that improvements have been made to patient care.
These claims have been supported by NHS officials for the region though they have been more cautious in their praise: Circle’s progress has been commended but tempered by the warning that their improvements must be sustainable.
Unison, which opposes private sector involvement in the NHS, does not think the improvements will turn out to be sustainable and has reported that many employees at Hinchingbrooke are concerned that spending cuts to save money will spill over into job cuts. This has been highlighted particularly amongst the cleaning staff.
The developments at Hinchingbrooke warrant careful inspection over the following year as its success or failure could dictate government policy regarding the private administration of NHS hospitals.
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