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NHS supply staff vote to strike NHS supply staff vote to strike
(about 2 hours later)
English hospitals face running short of vital equipment after NHS supply staff voted to go on strike in protest at their network being privatised.English hospitals face running short of vital equipment after NHS supply staff voted to go on strike in protest at their network being privatised.
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.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.
The row is over the sell-off of the supply network to German firm DHL.The row is over the sell-off of the supply network to German firm DHL.
The government says it has detailed plans in place to keep disruption during any strike to a minimum.
The Unison union has yet to announce when the strike days will be, but the action could last up to three days.The Unison union has yet to announce when the strike days will be, but the action could last up to three days.
Eight hundred staff were balloted and 74% voted yes to strike, on a 66% turnout.Eight hundred staff were balloted and 74% voted yes to strike, on a 66% turnout.
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.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.
'Not hardliners''Not hardliners'
The service supplies 48,000 lines of products, including bedpans, latex gloves, syringes, bandages and Weetabix.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.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 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.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''No quality cuts'
The last time there was a national strike in the NHS was 1988, when midwives took action.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.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.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. The Department of Health said most hospitals had their own supply and delivery arrangements and most products used by the NHS would not be affected by the strike.
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. A spokesman said: "All distribution centre controllers have been instructed to maintain a full staff complement at all times and to keep in place the temporary staff recruited for holiday cover so that we can respond to customer demand."
"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." He said private sector involvement in the NHS was nothing new - for example, pharmacists were paid for the services they provided and hospitals had always bought services from private firms.
"The existing NHS Logistics operation uses trucks and drivers from TNT rather than directly employed NHS staff," added the spokesman.
'Unprecedented anger''Unprecedented anger'
The news comes as the unions launched a joint campaign to "defend the NHS".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.
Lobbying Parliament
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 under estimate 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 initiatives. But the government says it is not turning the NHS into a private service and will keep the principle that care should be free at the point of need.
The relationship between the government and NHS staff was now close to the lows seen in the 1980s, he said. Private firms will be used if they can give better value for money and better treatment, say ministers.