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NHS supply staff vote to strike NHS supply staff vote to strike
(10 minutes later)
NHS staff who supply goods and equipment to English hospitals are to go on strike over a deal which would privatise their network. English hospitals face running short of vital equipment after NHS supply staff voted to go on strike in protest at their network being privatised.
From 1 October, German firm DHL - best known for delivering parcels - will supply everything from stationery to bed linen and MRI scanners. It is the first national strike in the NHS for 18 years. Union officials say it will cause "major inconvenience" and could see operations cancelled.
Unison leader Dave Prentis told the TUC 1,000 workers balloted had voted "overwhelmingly" for strike action. The row is over the sell-off of the supply network to German firm DHL.
The news came as unions launched a joint campaign to "defend the NHS". The Unison union has yet to announce when the strike days will be, but the action could last up to three days.
Efficiency benefits? Eight hundred staff were balloted and 74% voted yes to strike, on a 66% turnout.
A deal reached earlier this month will see 1,700 NHS employees from parts of NHS Logistics and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency transferred to the private sector. Hospitals will get seven days notice of the strike but they have to order equipment three days ahead and have limited space to store stockpiles.
More than £22bn of orders over 10 years will be affected. The company says it will save the NHS £1bn in that period but insists quality will not be sacrificied to cut costs. 'Not hardliners'
The service supplies 48,000 lines of products, including bedpans, latex gloves, syringes, bandages and Weetabix.
More than £22bn of orders over 10 years will be affected. DHL says it will save the NHS £1bn in that period but insists quality will not be sacrificed to cut costs.
The move is the biggest example of what some regard as "creeping" NHS privatisation.The move is the biggest example of what some regard as "creeping" NHS privatisation.
Announcing the strike, Mr Prentis told the TUC conference: "These are not trouble makers, not hardliners but workers who care deeply about the NHS, who want to stay part of it, who want to play their part in saving it. Announcing the strike, Mr Prentis told the TUC conference: "These are not troublemakers, not hardliners but workers who care deeply about the NHS, who want to stay part of it, who want to play their part in saving it.
"Hardworking public service workers who have never taken action before.""Hardworking public service workers who have never taken action before."
'No quality cuts'
The last time there was a national strike in the NHS was 1988, when midwives took action.
From 1 October, DHL - best known for delivering parcels - will supply everything from stationery to bed linen and MRI scanners.
A deal reached earlier this month will see 1,700 employees from parts of NHS Logistics and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency transferred to the private sector.
DHL Logistics chief executive John Allan defended the deal last week.DHL Logistics chief executive John Allan defended the deal last week.
He said: "We are hoping to achieve efficiency benefits in buying for the NHS, which they will be able to feed back into patient care.He said: "We are hoping to achieve efficiency benefits in buying for the NHS, which they will be able to feed back into patient care.
"But we will be working very closely with clinical specialists - with doctors, with the trusts - to ensure we procure for them precisely the products they want.""But we will be working very closely with clinical specialists - with doctors, with the trusts - to ensure we procure for them precisely the products they want."
'Unprecedented anger''Unprecedented anger'
The news comes as the unions launched a joint campaign to "defend the NHS".
At a fringe meeting an alliance of unions vowed to make the government rethink its NHS reform plans through a series of demonstrations.At a fringe meeting an alliance of unions vowed to make the government rethink its NHS reform plans through a series of demonstrations.
The NHS Together campaign combines TUC affiliated unions with groups like the British Medical Association, Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Nurses.The NHS Together campaign combines TUC affiliated unions with groups like the British Medical Association, Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Nurses.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said it was an "unprecedented alliance" which reflected the "unprecedented anger about the pace and direction of change" in the NHS.TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said it was an "unprecedented alliance" which reflected the "unprecedented anger about the pace and direction of change" in the NHS.
Mr Barber said he had met Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to try to make her recognise the anger among NHS staff.Mr Barber said he had met Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to try to make her recognise the anger among NHS staff.
"I think we have still got a long way to go to get the government to realise there needs to be a change in direction," he said."I think we have still got a long way to go to get the government to realise there needs to be a change in direction," he said.
He criticised ministers for failing to consult about the reforms and warned they could face a backlash from voters.He criticised ministers for failing to consult about the reforms and warned they could face a backlash from voters.
"The government would underestimate at their peril quite how precious to the British people is the NHS," he said. "The government would under estimate at their peril quite how precious to the British people is the NHS," he said.
The campaign will organise regional demonstrations which union leaders say could involve 10,000 people.The campaign will organise regional demonstrations which union leaders say could involve 10,000 people.
There will also be a lobby of Parliament later this autumn and a national demonstration next spring.There will also be a lobby of Parliament later this autumn and a national demonstration next spring.
Stephen Campion, general secretary of the Association of Hospital Consultants and Specialists, said staff were being blinded by the almost daily government initatives. Stephen Campion, general secretary of the Association of Hospital Consultants and Specialists, said staff were being blinded by the almost daily government initiatives.
The relationship between the government and NHS staff was now close to the lows seen in the 1980s, he said.The relationship between the government and NHS staff was now close to the lows seen in the 1980s, he said.