December 13th 2024.
It seems that changes are on the horizon for the NHS, and unfortunately, they may not be for the better. Keir Starmer promised change during the last election, and now it seems that the NHS might be feeling the effects of that change. As our Prime Minister, Starmer has stated that his approach to reforms will resemble New Labour's "Clause IV moment on steroids." And now, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting at the helm, it appears that plans are in motion for a new round of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) in the health service.
But just like steroids, any plans for more privatization in the NHS should come with a warning label. They can be dangerous and have side effects. PFI was originally introduced by the John Major government, but it was Tony Blair who really gave it a boost in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The basic idea is that the government wants to build more hospitals and health services without having to spend any money up front. Private finance companies step in to provide the initial funding, and then local NHS Trusts pay back the costs with interest over several decades. This often results in the public paying the private sector several times over in the long run.
Unfortunately, just like steroids, PFI has now received a boost from Wes Streeting as he looks to implement the biggest expansion of private involvement in health services ever seen. This means that private hospital companies and their shareholders are likely salivating at the prospect of increased profits. They have already offered to invest £1 billion to expand facilities. However, to some, it may seem all too familiar to the PFI deals of the past.
NHS Trusts, staff, and patients are still paying the price for Tony Blair's PFI scheme, which is even more scandalous when considering he left office over 17 years ago. This has caused significant damage to the healthcare system's ability to provide the quality care that patients deserve and staff want to give. Research has shown that 78 NHS Trusts with current PFI debt have already paid back more than the initial investment. In fact, a 2019 report found that some Trusts are spending a staggering £1 in every £6 available to them on servicing PFI debts. This means that for every £600 million they have, £100 million goes to private companies instead of being used for medical supplies and patient care.
One analysis even discovered that some NHS Trusts are spending more on PFI debts than on medical supplies. The effects of Blair's PFI were bad enough, but at least the public received an asset at the end of each contract. But under Streeting's plans, there seems to be little long-term benefit as the investment goes towards building up private sector facilities instead of public NHS ones. The Green Party has always been a staunch defender of the NHS against creeping privatization, and we will continue to do so. We firmly believe in a fully public health service without the influence of profit motives.
This expansion of private provision will ultimately undermine the amount of money available for patient care in NHS Trusts. The more the NHS relies on private providers, the more they can charge, which is not good value for money. It's also worth noting that Streeting has accepted significant donations from individuals linked to private healthcare, which may explain his apparent fondness for their work.
As new Green MPs, we have already moved an amendment to the King's Speech, outlining our government's program aimed at protecting the NHS from privatization. In a Commons debate last October, my colleague Adrian Ramsay MP rightly stated that there are real reasons to keep the delivery of the NHS public and to not outsource it to private providers. He called for clarity on whether the plans to use the private sector to reduce waiting lists are short-term solutions to help the NHS recover or a permanent policy.
The Green Party proposes to increase taxes on the super-rich to properly fund our frontline services. We also believe that the government should borrow to invest in the NHS. PFI under Blair was a nail in the coffin for the NHS, and Streeting's desire to involve the private sector could be the final blow. Our country needs a health service that prioritizes patients over profit. As Green MPs, we will stand with patients, NHS staff, hospital trusts, and campaigners to oppose Labour's disastrous plan to adopt this policy. We invite you to share your views on this matter in the comments below.
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