Responding to the news that Powys council is considering legal action against BUPA after discovering it is transferring the running of care homes to a third party, Carmen Bezzina, UNISON organiser said,
“This news will leave many vulnerable residents in Powys sick with worry that the level of care they receive is at risk. We know too, that any new company will look to make savings by squeezing the wages and working conditions of the carers. We call on Powys council to immediately allay these fears by bringing all care services back in-house.
“When Powys originally outsourced care, UNISON warned it spelt disaster for the local community. We have a social care crisis and private care companies are always motivated first by profit rather than what is best for individuals and their families and the care workforce. This is not the world we want to live in.
“Removing care services from local council control and democratic accountability, means people have no say whatsoever about the quality of the service. Councils are left with no power to intervene to positively shape the lives of their citizens.
“If care services are ever in difficulty, the best solution is not to privatise but to devise an in-house improvement plan with staff, trades unions and users, which places the quality of service and users at the core”.
Contact
Alastair Gittins, UNISON Press Officer on 07816 538397