‘Services are better delivered in the NHS’: Petition to protect York emergency department goes to Parliament

More than 14,000 people have signed a petition to stop the part-privatisation of York Hospital’s emergency department – and it will be delivered to Parliament today (Wednesday).

York Central MP Rachael Maskell will present the petition in Westminster, which calls on the NHS Trust to scrap plans to allow a private company, Vocare, to take over duties at the A&E’s minor injuries unit.

The Labour MP said: “Over 14,000 people from across the city have shown their support for the NHS to keep its minor injuries unit in the NHS.

“This incredible response joins with the voices of staff working in the department at the hospital who have made it clear that services are better delivered in the NHS.

“The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has also confirmed this to be the case.

“We are still in the midst of a pandemic, where the NHS has been placed under significant pressure.

“It now has to turn its focus on clearing a significant backlog of appointments and procedures. These should be the priorities of York’s NHS, not the privatisation of services; not now, not ever.”

Public pressure

Ms Maskell told YorkMix since the launch of the petition, intense talks have taken place over the future of York’s minor injuries unit.

Changes are required to comply with guidance over urgent treatment centres – but alternatives to transferring the service to Vocare, a subsidiary of the multi-million pound business Totally plc, are now being seriously considered.

She added it was the support from the residents of York “who depend on the hospital at their time of need, and fund it through paying their taxes” that has helped open up these discussions.

“In presenting this petition to Parliament, I am clearly highlighting the importance that the people of York place on keeping the whole of their Emergency Department in the NHS, working for public good not private profit.

“I am grateful to York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group for meeting with me, and am glad that intense discussions are now taking place to find an alternative solution.”

What the NHS Trust says

This is the statement from York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust about their plans for the emergency unit.

Dr James Taylor, medical director for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) provide treatment for non-emergency patients, avoiding the need for them to wait in emergency departments when they don’t need to be there.

“This also helps emergency departments to focus on the patients that need more urgent help.

“Vocare is already commissioned by NHS Vale of York CCG to provide the current minor illness service and GP out of hours service, both of which are located in York Hospital alongside the emergency department, which has been the case for several years. The trust provides the minor injury element of the service.

“As NHS guidance on UTCs has evolved over time, there is now a requirement for a more integrated approach to minor illness and minor injury, and to support the ability for patients to be directly booked in to appointments via NHS 111.

“As the two current providers, the trust and Vocare, have agreed to continue to work together to ensure that York has a fully compliant UTC that best meets our patients’ needs.

“UTCs are seen as one of the ways of reducing overcrowding in emergency departments, ensuring that our emergency department staff are available to see the patients with the most urgent need, and that patients are seen in the right place by the right clinical staff.

“We know that staff have raised concerns that there may be plans for their employment to be transferred to Vocare.

“There are no plans to do this. As is the case now, staff employed by the trust will continue to work jointly with Vocare staff to deliver the service, and we are working with Vocare to establish joint governance arrangements.

“The streaming of patients on arrival into the emergency department will continue to be managed by the trust’s clinical staff.

“As well as the existing relationship with York Hospital’s emergency department, Vocare also runs the UTCs at Scarborough Hospital and Malton Hospital, as well as a number of other services on behalf of the NHS.”

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Public pressure

What the NHS Trust says

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