Sell-off of GP practices: sign the petition (https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/stop-sell-49-gp-practices)

• THANKS to Tom Foot and the CNJ for exposing the sell-off of GP practices, which has sparked serious concern among residents as well as seasoned NHS campaigners, (The great GP surgery takeover, February 18).

The privatisation of Camden surgeries to Operose, the UK arm of the US-based health insurance giant Centene, is just one part of the much larger acquisition of some 50 London practices and a total of 70 across England.

Operose’s dramatic growth makes it the country’s single largest primary care provider and casts further doubt over claims the government’s recent NHS white paper would halt further privatisation of our NHS.

Opposition to NHS marketisation and sell-offs is not merely ideological. Operose’s strengthened position may mean influence over the development of new ICSs, integrated care systems, taking effect this April, while a for-profit company will look to slash operating costs through consolidation and closure of practices.

This would impact acutely on older residents and others with mobility challenges.

In these circumstances, we’d hoped for a much stronger response from local MP and Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer, not least given his clear pledge just a year ago that he would commit Labour to “end[ing] outsourcing in our NHS, local government and justice system”.

So it was very disappointing to read excerpts from Sir Keir’s letter to health secretary Matt Hancock, which did little more than ask whether the health secretary had “sought fresh legal advice”.

There is a time for posing forensic questions, but this latest example of accelerating NHS privatisation calls for unequivocal and determined opposition to Operose’s takeover.

As active, if retired, members of Camden Unison we urge fellow trade unionists and local residents to sign the petition (https://weownit.org.uk/act-now/stop-sell-49-gp-practices) from the “We Own It” campaign and to consider joining a socially distanced protest outside Operose’s offices in Fitzrovia in the weeks ahead.

GEORGE BINETTE
on behalf of Camden Unison Retired Members Committee