Row erupts over health care talks

HEALTH chiefs are considering controversial plans to bring private companies around the decision-making table in an effort to shape the future of the Highland service.

The move this week sparked off a row with a top union official who criticised it, concerned the firms could get too tight a grip of the NHS and use their position for financial gain.

Although early discussions are ongoing and no decisions have been made, the debate centres on an idea by NHS Highland to ask the views of more than 200 firms which now deliver its adult social care services.

It comes on the back of the local authority forging links last year with Highland Council to transfer care services.

The board’s Unite union representative, Ray Stewart, is critical of board chairman Garry Coutt’s calls for the closer working partnership and is vowing to lobby internally against the plans.

Mr Stewart, who sits on the health board as a non-executive employee director, said there could be a conflict of interest, and added that he was "rightly sceptical".

"We think the NHS in Scotland is a better model when we keep the vast majority of it for the public sector," he said.

"I am not saying private companies deliver bad services but if we let them into the discussions they will obviously be looking for more business and they could possibly influence the decisions around the services we should procure from the third sector."

He added: "I do understand that we took over those companies from Highland Council but my preferred choice would be for the public sector to provide those services rather than the private sector.

"If we are trying to create a level playing field when we contract with private companies then they should be providing the same terms and conditions to their staff as we provide to public sector staff."

But Mr Coutts has roundly defended the idea saying the creative talents of the private sector could be tapped into without risking a conflict of interest.

He told Mr Stewart: "I can appreciate your queasiness but I’m afraid you are just going to have to get over it".

The issue was raised at a meeting of the health board in Inverness over the system which pays private companies to care for patients.

A new set-up was launched last April when NHS Highland and the council forged links to transfer key care services to cut costs and improve patient care. NHS Highland took responsibility for adult care, inheriting the private companies and charities, including 17 care homes. The council now manages children’s care services.

Mr Coutts insisted his proposals were not a "radical change".

"In the past it was a case where big bosses of a big local authority would go into a darkened room and they would decide what was needed and they would then just go out and purchase services," he added.

"But strategic commissioning is now the new term and that says it is not just people who sit in offices that have good ideas."

The board has already spent more than £18,000 sending staff to America to pick up tips from a private non-profit making hospital — The Virginia Mason Medical Centre in Seattle.

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