NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other services? : Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:26 am  

Humberside Fire Service signs deal with Tata Steel I cannot help but wonder if this is the thin end of the wedge for all the emergency services to start competing for private business and if successful, will this then lead to a multi-tier service? After all, if you are offering service to multiple clients, the obvious reaction is to prioritise looking after those who pay the most. Although we've had sports clubs and other event organisers paying the emergency services to cover specific locations, is this a foretaste of: The police competing with private security companies? The ambulance service competing with St John's and others or providing dedicated cover to private clinics/hospitals? It looks to me that this is now an attempt to commoditise emergency cover

Humberside Fire Service signs deal with Tata Steel I cannot help but wonder if this is the thin end of the wedge for all the emergency services to start competing for private business and if successful, will this then lead to a multi-tier service? After all, if you are offering service to multiple clients, the obvious reaction is to prioritise looking after those who pay the most. Although we've had sports clubs and other event organisers paying the emergency services to cover specific locations, is this a foretaste of: The police competing with private security companies? The ambulance service competing with St John's and others or providing dedicated cover to private clinics/hospitals? It looks to me that this is now an attempt to commoditise emergency cover

[John_D]

Re: NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other servic : Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:25 am  

I demand that my misfortune be monetised.

Re: NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other servic : Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:07 am  

If the fire service's contract is properly costed and profitable then surely they can just take on extra people for the steelworks and retain full cover elsewhere? They can use any profit to cross-subsidise their other operations.

Re: NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other servic : Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:11 am  

Could be a nice little earner for the fire service/ambulance/police all along the south bank of the Humber, steelworks, two refinery's...

I'd have a couple of firemen out there mailshotting with leaflets this morning.

Re: NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other servic : Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:28 am  

Dally wrote: If the fire service's contract is properly costed and profitable then surely they can just take on extra people for the steelworks and retain full cover elsewhere? They can use any profit to cross-subsidise their other operations. Are you aware of what a "retained" fireman is? Many brigades have been closing permanently-manned stations and relying more on retained firefighters. As always, the devil will be in the detail. It would be interesting to see the incidence of shouts at the steelworks, compared to outside calls on the brigade's services. I also wonder if a study has been undertaken of the possible effect on reaction times to non-steelworks call-outs, service from the steelworks base. On a separate but not unrelated note, sad to read of the death of Mick Shaw ex-President of the FBU

Dally wrote: If the fire service's contract is properly costed and profitable then surely they can just take on extra people for the steelworks and retain full cover elsewhere? They can use any profit to cross-subsidise their other operations. Are you aware of what a "retained" fireman is? Many brigades have been closing permanently-manned stations and relying more on retained firefighters. As always, the devil will be in the detail. It would be interesting to see the incidence of shouts at the steelworks, compared to outside calls on the brigade's services. I also wonder if a study has been undertaken of the possible effect on reaction times to non-steelworks call-outs, service from the steelworks base. On a separate but not unrelated note, sad to read of the death of Mick Shaw ex-President of the FBU

Re: NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other servic : Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:43 am  

It's got its good points and its bad points.

The deal is entirely good if, and only if, you know where to draw the line. Tata's money will no doubt come in very handy in getting the country's debt pile under control.

However, you cannot fall into the trap of the piper's paymaster calling all the tunes when it comes down to the ENTIRE fire service. I think you would have to be pretty unreasonable to think that would happen, though. I'm sure NO government would allow themselves to be exposed to allegations of skimping on safety just to please Tata.

Re: NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other servic : Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:06 am  

ROBINSON wrote:

... I'm sure NO government would allow themselves to be exposed to allegations of skimping on safety just to please Tata.

This government has already declared an attack on health and safety – even though it's also stated that there is no problem with the rules as they exist now, only with some people's interpretation of them.

Re: NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other servic : Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:14 am  

There's also the added cost, let alone management layer (I thought this lot were in the market of removing bureaucracy?) of commercial experts who are better equipped to handle contract negotiations, tendering etc. The emergency services already employ press officers or contract the services of PR experts. Looks like this could lead to some nice little earners for some

Re: NHS Bill has passed, is this the future for other servic : Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:25 am  

Mintball wrote:

This government has already declared an attack on health and safety.

That's to create demand in the privatised health sector. It's joined up thinking.