Simon Rix criticises more NHS privatisations

A Leading Cornwall Councillor and prospective MP has called on NHS Kernow to think again about its plans to privatise more NHS services in Cornwall.

Councillor Simon Rix chairs Cornwall's Health Advisory Committee and is the Prospective Lib Dem MP for Truro and Falmouth. Commenting on the plans to outsource trauma, orthopaedics, general surgery, gynaecology, cardiology and dermatology services, Simon Rix said:

"This is a Tory agenda of privatisation that I do not support.

"Yes we need more of the so called 'non-complex' services provided in the community away from Treliske, but the NHS, through its talented RCHT staff, can do that in a planned and efficient way.

"RCHT already provides plenty of services in the community. We don't need private companies cherry picking the easy and therefore most 'profitable' procedures. Our healthcare should not be a play thing for those seeking a profit.

"Giving more contracts to private companies will simply mean less financial stability for our NHS hospitals. RCHT has to deal with the complex and therefore more financially risky operations. The ability to do that will be undermined if it can't also provide less complex services in the community too. We need a more joined up, efficiently planned NHS in Cornwall. We need more privatisation and fragmentation like a hole in the head."