		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="111265417"
		 data-section="2">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/unions-hit-out-at-nhs-proposals.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Unions are angered over proposals that GP practises could be floated on the stock market" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/min-unions-hit-out-at-nhs-proposals.jpg" alt="Unions are angered over proposals that GP practises could be floated on the stock market"/></a></p>
<p>Unions have reacted angrily to reports that GP practices could be partially floated on the stock market &#8211; making profit for both doctors and private companies.</p>
<p>An investigation by Channel 4 News has discovered the Health and Social Care Bill, currently going through parliament, contains few safeguards to protect patients from conflicts of interest.</p>
<p>The reforms will see about £80 billion of the NHS budget handed to GPs, who will buy in services.</p>
<p>The investigation has found evidence of GPs with shares in private companies which provide services to the NHS for profit.</p>
<p>At present, primary care trusts (PCTs) decide what care to buy for patients but in future GPs will decide, meaning they can send patients to companies in which they have a stake.</p>
<p>A leaked document obtained by Channel 4 News also shows how one private company plans to work with groups of GPs under the Government&#8217;s reforms. It sets out how both the company, in this case Integrated Health Partners (IHP), and GPs could make a profit. It suggests that if 5% is saved from patient budgets, this can be shared as profit between GPs and the company.</p>
<p>IHP is involved with a number of GP consortia in Surrey and aims to list on the stock market in three to five years, Channel 4 reported.</p>
<p>The head of IHP, Dr Oliver Bernath, did not deny the potential for profits but told Channel 4 there would be a balance, with points for outcomes, meaning savings would not be made at the expense of providing quality patient care. </p>
<p>He told The Guardian: &#8220;The whole NHS is £80 billion in spending and if GPs can take underspends then we can get a large audience fairly quickly. Investors will find it very attractive fairly quickly.&#8221;</p>
<p>Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: &#8220;The fact that family doctors could be set for windfall profits under the Government&#8217;s plans, which will see them controlling £80 billion of the NHS budget, will horrify and alarm the public.&#8221;</p>
			<div style="padding-bottom:15px;" class="wordads-tag" data-slot-type="belowpost">
				<div id="atatags-dynamic-belowpost-69e125bcde48f">
					<script type="text/javascript">
						window.getAdSnippetCallback = function () {
							if ( false === ( window.isWatlV1 ?? false ) ) {
								// Use Aditude scripts.
								window.tudeMappings = window.tudeMappings || [];
								window.tudeMappings.push( {
									divId: 'atatags-dynamic-belowpost-69e125bcde48f',
									format: 'belowpost',
								} );
							}
						}

						if ( document.readyState === 'loading' ) {
							document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', window.getAdSnippetCallback );
						} else {
							window.getAdSnippetCallback();
						}
					</script>
				</div>
			</div>
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
