NHS challenged to become part of the ‘big society’
pharmafile | August 4, 2010 | News story | | NHS
The government has called for more NHS staff to come up with ideas for social enterprises as part of its Right to Request initiative.
In effect it means that public sector workers have the ability to take over some of the services they deliver, combining “NHS values with business principles in an effective way”, the government says.
This comes hard on the heels of David Cameron’s much-vaunted “big society” idea, and primary care trusts are obligated to consider suggestions from employees.
Care services minister Paul Burstow cites the Eden Project and The Big Issue magazine as examples of successful social enterprises.
“NHS staff have the local know-how on how resources can best be used and I want to put them in the driving seat,” he says.
Sixteen projects are already underway, so far ranging in value from £300,000-£55 million with staff involved numbering from five to 1,300.
They include a specialist health-visiting programme in Derby, which offers parenting support and skills, and a one-stop-shop for homeless people in Leicester giving access to medical and outreach services.
“Already we are seeing projects that are making a real difference,” Burstow said. “In Leicester, a GP- and nurse-led project has helped tailor services for the homeless and those with substance misuse problems.”
Fifteen more projects have been lined up to form the second wave of social enterprises, taken from services currently run by PCTs in Northamptonshire, Brent, Ealing , Knowsley, Salford, Bristol, Devon, Somerset, Swindon, Birmingham East and North, Bradford & Airedale, Leeds, North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus, and Rotherham.
They include a mixture of services, like increasing access to psychological therapies, improving end of life care and a wider range of children services.
“We want to empower millions of public sector workers to become their own boss and help them to deliver better services,” Burstow said. “There is still an opportunity for frontline PCT workers to be part of the next wave of the scheme in the autumn.”
Adam Hill
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