An NHS worker has slammed the transfer of some NHS services in Swindon and Wiltshire to a private company.

In a letter, the employee who wished to remain anonymous, said that a private company, HCRG, taking on community care would mean services being operated for the benefit of shareholders rather than patients.

Although, this is denied by HCRG.

Great Western Hospital used to provide community care services outside the hospital, like nursing, therapy and personal care, but in October HCRG Care Group was announced as the new provider.

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The NHS employee criticised the “fantasyland” idea that private companies can provide services more effectively than public bodies.

They wrote: “After 40 years of evidence, it still hasn't dawned on some people that the prime motivation of these companies is to transfer as much taxpayers money as possible into the pockets of their shareholders and pay their executive staff obscene bonuses for achieving this. 

“The actual services they provide always come a very distant second place to ‘shareholder value’.

“It's a very sad day for our NHS. Expect levels of service going forward that would make the privatised water companies blush with embarrassment.

“I seem to remember the former Tory PM, Sir Robert Buckland, holding Swindon up as an example of how joined-up Adult Social Care provision can work well. 

“Perhaps even he might agree that taking money away from the front line and putting it in the pockets of high-paid executives and shareholders is a pretty dumb idea.

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“In 2022 HCRG Care Group (formerly Virgin Care) declared a gross profit of over £40m and paid executives over £620,000 (source: Open Democracy). 

“It's worth remembering that this profit and these salaries come directly from the taxes we pay. Wouldn't it be better to not pay this and employ more frontline staff?”

HCRG say they have been providing local services since 2016 and in that time have in fact saved the NHS money.

It is added that of the £40m gross profit that is referred to in the letter, £36,133,000 of this was costs/overheads for HCRG.

Its profit for the financial year was £3,478,000 (representing a profit of 1.2 per cent) - it says this is in line with what would be expected in any NHS or other public sector organisation.

An HCRG spokesperson said: “We are excited to get on with delivering this work in partnership with providers. 

“Patients want good services which are high quality and meet their needs, and this is exactly what we have delivered and will continue to deliver.

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“We’re well known to local people as we’ve been providing services here since 2016 and have a proven track record of delivering productive services and saving the NHS money – absorbing an increase in demand of around a third in the past three years with no additional funding.”

A BSWICB spokesperson said: “The decision to appoint HCRG Care Group to provide integrated community-based care was made following a robust and detailed procurement process, involving the NHS and local authorities.

“HCRG Care Group will work in partnership with the NHS, local authorities and charities, building on the services that are valued by patients and their loved ones, as well as giving people more support to live more healthily.

“The new arrangements will focus investment on front-line services, support staff to provide high-quality care and respond to the needs of our communities.

“HCRG Care Group operated its first NHS service within BSW in 2006, and has delivered more than 200 community services, employing more than 1,300 NHS staff in BSW since 2017. They have been rated both ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ by the CQC for services provided across the area.”

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