Image: We Own It campaign officer Ellen Lees celebrating the win.
The government announced last week that they have abandoned their plans to sell of NHS Professionals at the 11th hour. This last-minute victory shows that when campaigners, unions, and politicians work together, we can force the government U-turn, and protect vital public services from privatisation.
NHS Professionals is a publicly owned staff bank which supplies temporary staff to NHS Trusts and hospitals. It saves the NHS £70m per year by charging low commission on staff wages, and investing its profits back into the NHS. It was created to save the NHS from forking out high commission to private staffing agencies. It serves around a quarter of NHS Trusts, and is looking to expand its service to reach more hospitals, and save more money. The government decided to privatise NHS Professionals to inject private capital, and we think, to palm off responsibility for yet another aspect of the national health service.
