Agenda item
ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING
Pam Richards has registered to make a statement on behalf of Protect our NHS BANES with regard to agenda item 8.
Minutes:
Pam Richards, Protect Our NHS BANES made a statement to the Panel on the subject of Virgin Care. A copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.
Protect Our NHS BANES is deeply concerned about the performance of Virgin Care in several key areas. Reports have come to us from staff, former staff, patients/service users and carers.
On 1st April 2017 1700 employees transferred to Virgin Care but by 10th September 2019 Virgin Care had only 1200 employees. We are aware of significant staff shortages and a high turnover of staff. We would like to see a detailed staffing breakdown - loss of posts through redundancies, long term vacancies, frozen posts, skill shortages number of agency and locum staff employed. Inevitably this staffing crisis will impact on the quality of the service that the public receive.
Many staff have told us that they have left because they no longer feel that they can deliver a safe and effective service. Others have said that their concerns are not listened to and management is poor. Many feel pressured and overworked because of staff shortages. Staff reviews about Virgin Care on employment agency websites are very damning. The health and social care system is a people business, the way you treat people/staff is crucial to the outcomes you achieve.
The lack of progress on achieving key transformation targets such as the introduction of the integrated care record and the creation of care co-ordination hubs calls into question much of the basis of the Virgin Care bid. The integrated record is way behind schedule and although there is work underway to create a hub at Peasedown this does not include social care.
We hear reports of a significant deficit in the Virgin Care budget. Virgin Care promised a standstill budget over 7 years based on efficiency savings. If savings are not achieved what happens next – will Virgin ask for more money or withdraw from the contract?
We feel that there is mounting evidence that Virgin Care is not delivering what they promised and the staffing crisis is a cause for grave concern. It is the role of this Scrutiny Panel to scrutinise and it is time that it did just that. We ask you to conduct (in conjunction with the Commissioners) a thorough review of the Virgin Care contract before real harm is inflicted.
Councillor Liz Hardman asked what she thought the impact of Brexit would be on staffing levels within Virgin Care.
Pam Richards replied that she believed that it would have a severe effect on all staff within health and social care.
Councillor Jess David asked how many members of staff she had met to discuss their morale.
Pam Richards replied that she had met 10 members of staff within the last few months and said that she was aware that some have left Virgin Care due to stress and concern over their professional standards.
The Chairman thanked Pam Richards for her statement on behalf of the Panel.