NHS/Localism/selling-off...
"We are constantly told that the government in its localism agenda wants decisions and control to go to the local level. What, then, are we to make of the decision, slipped out by Andrew Lansley in a written statement in January, that NHS properties such as community hospitals, health centres and clinics are to be removed from local control by April 2013, and vested in a new national NHS property services company? This company will manage the NHS estates and sell off those it deems surplus.
Surrey alone will see 73 estates seized in this way, originally either provided by local charities or, since 1947, by the local councils and health service. This land grab leaves our local NHS services exposed to a distant bureaucracy with no democratic control. It has been made clear that a prime consideration will be maximising profit but with no provision for any sale's proceeds to remain in the local area to benefit local services.
If we really had joined-up government, following the return of public health to local councils, these estates would be returned to local control so that integrated health, social and educational services could be developed together. Not since the enclosures acts has there been such a blatant, undemocratic and unaccountable seizure of public and locally controlled assets.
Cllr Ruth Lyon
Elmbridge borough council, Surrey"
From...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/31/health-act-privatising-nhs