Sir – The report in last week’s issue about the financial troubles of the Southern Cross Healthcare nursing homes is a frightening warning to council and NHS commissioners regarding the outsourcing of public services.
Locally some 200 older people face a hugely insecure future if this company collapses.
And who’s to blame? Southern Cross pays its health care assistants about £6 an hour, barely above the national minimum wage and a pound an hour less than the NHS minimum — these are the front-line staff who will care for us at the end of our lives.
In general the key responsibility for this situation lies with those who are breaking up the public sector, right wing politicians and unaccountable public officials (now to include GPs) who at times appear more interested in driving down costs than providing long-term quality care in the public sector.
Of course if this company fails the taxpayer will have to step in.
Outsourcing public services is a lose-lose option for the public and staff — it’s time we challenged it.
Mark Ladbrooke, Secretary,UNISON Oxfordshire Health Branch
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