Jump to content

Branson quietly buys up the biggest chunk of NHS


Gaudet

Recommended Posts

While we’re still recoiling from Trump, Branson quietly buys up the biggest chunk of our NHS yet

While the globe is still reeling from Donald Trump’s victory, Richard Branson has quietly made the type of healthcare history only a US President would be proud of. In an unprecedented move, the British government has gifted for-profit Virgin Care direct control of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s core adult social care services as part of a £700m deal.

The deal

From April 2017, Virgin will run three statutory services. Adult social care, continuing healthcare, and children’s community health will all be in the control of a profit-seeking company.

At present, the council has said there is a clause meaning any financial surplus will be reinvested in services. But Ruth Allen, of the British Association of Social Workers, was sceptical:

How long will that last, and how will surpluses be defined?”

How can they provide sustainable value on public money and highest quality when they need to show dividend returns to shareholders?

Virgin Care has shareholders which need to see profit returns on their investment.

The next step on the privatisation stairway

Theresa May’s Conservatives have taken us up another rung of the privatisation ladder in selling off an unprecedented level of NHS services to Branson.

But that’s not the only worrying record they’ve broken with our NHS. Contrary to May’s rhetoric, the Prime Minister and her predecessor’s ideological austerity programme have pushed historic levels of debt on the NHS.

nhs-deficits

NHS funding has dramatically decreased since 2010, according to the government’s own figures.

The pattern continues. As well as record-breaking deficits and levels of private control, the Conservative government tried to sneak out the biggest sell-off in the history of the NHS. £7.9bn of contracts are up for sale in the latest NHS bonanza; 7.3% of the entire health budget.

The government is taking us further and further towards full privatisation. Department of Health figures show that the amount of money going to “independent sector providers” more than doubled, from £4.1bn in 2009-10 to £8.7bn in 2015-16.

Corporate billionaires like Branson love privatised profit and socialised losses

Big Business cannot get enough of risk-free investment in essential services. When our public institutions are privatised, we still need to use them. But now, the government and corporations are continuing to place tollgates between us and what we need, like rent or increased fares. In one way or another, privatisation means we will be charged more each time we use institutions like the NHS or the railways.

Along with buying up our health service, Branson’s Virgin empire already controls a big part of our rail. This offers insight into what we can expect from his reign over our NHS.

Branson’s West Coast mainline received government handouts between 1997-2012 that tally up at £2.79bn at today’s prices. Subsidies to private rail companies like Virgin Trains mean we are essentially paying for our rail tickets twice.

In 2014, the Coalition government handed Virgin and Stagecoach a lucrative £3.3bn, eight-year East Coast Mainline contract. The government is handing public money to rail shareholders through the privatisation con, while imposing austerity on the rest of us. We are handing Branson and co. billions before anyone’s even bought a ticket.

Ending privatisation

On the other face of our outdated two-party system, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised to end private provision and bring the NHS “back into public hands”. He has also vowed to end private rail provision.

In contrast, the Conservatives are taking us closer and closer to a US-style health system.

Across the Atlantic, a bigot who lies 78% of the time has conquered the presidency with very dangerous anti-foreigner rhetoric. Therein lies a warning. Despite enjoying 41.6% of the world’s wealth, America is by far the most unequal country in the world because of the economic policies the Conservatives are imitating. Such as selling off huge chunks of the NHS to for-profit corporations like Branson’s Virgin Care. In following the US model, the government is creating fertile ground for the rise of extremism. As well as siphoning off public funds to the rich.

http://www.thecanary.co/2016/11/11/still-recoiling-trump-branson-quietly-buys-biggest-chunk-nhs-yet/

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hmm...so I wonder if the people of Bath and North Somerset will be eligible for a tax refund seeing as they are now expected to pay for medical care out of their own pockets?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does it say they have to pay? I'm a little behind on this story ill have to look into it. Id say the only way is up really. 

Ill go digging and ask my labour mate. Very interesting, I guess Bath and Somerset are quite affluent so its a good place to start. Lemme see... It can only be a good thing. wheres @Paul Wade ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No it just means those private companies are being paid by the government (via the public purse) to provide the services. It will still be "free" at the point of access for the patient.

But everyone was warned that the NHS was being sold off bit by bit. Did anyone listen? No. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Kim said:

No it just means those private companies are being paid by the government (via the public purse) to provide the services. It will still be "free" at the point of access for the patient.

But everyone was warned that the NHS was being sold off bit by bit. Did anyone listen? No. 

Then we already know that this will be highly cost effective.

I don't understand that governments still sell companies they own to safe money? This has been very popular in the nineties when countries, cities etc. were broke and some fucking financial advisors from KMPG, PWC etc. told politicians to sell state or city owned housing, water companies, gas companies and electricity companies to lower their debt load. Now many cities try to re-buy those companies because they have learned very quickly that this was very bad for the citizens because prices have risen sharply and service has decreased significantly. If there is one lesson to be learned from this: Never sell anything that is essential to the common good to private companies. The idea that those companies will run those businesses more effective and therefore cheaper is a huge myth. All they care for is profit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Raider of the lost Ark said:

Then we already know that this will be highly cost effective.

I don't understand that governments still sell companies they own to safe money? This has been very popular in the nineties when countries, cities etc. were broke and some fucking financial advisors from KMPG, PWC etc. told politicians to sell state or city owned housing, water companies, gas companies and electricity companies to lower their debt load. Now many cities try to re-buy those companies because they have learned very quickly that this was very bad for the citizens because prices have risen sharply and service has decreased significantly. If there is one lesson to be learned from this: Never sell anything that is essential to the common good to private companies. The idea that those companies will run those businesses more effective and therefore cheaper is a huge myth. All they care for is profit.

I worked for Ernst & Young for five years. Every single day it was report after report that I worked on about our company telling private companies how to pay as little as possible in taxes and how to pay their employees as little as possible without breaking the law. 

Companies rather pay companies like EY and KMPG millions and millions of dollars, you know, money that they COULD spend instead on paying their fair share in taxes or paying their employees decent wages. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Everyone knew it was being sold off that's old news! but Bath/Somerset is news to me. Im interested to know what advanced info those people lucky or not were given. Also of course it will be free but they hinted that there were considering a mix between the private sector and the NHS. Ive been sent to a private clinic a couple of times since im no longer able to get Bupa. Id be happy to put money towards it. The difference is quite extreme. Some are in limbo not being able to have the luxury of choice. (Unless I pay fully private, no insurance of course but my budget doesnt stretch to that, only when needs be). 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Kim said:

No it just means those private companies are being paid by the government (via the public purse) to provide the services. It will still be "free" at the point of access for the patient.

But everyone was warned that the NHS was being sold off bit by bit. Did anyone listen? No. 

But at least the British were all aware of the Spice Girls failed attempt at a reunion. Zig a zig argh.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Ivy said:

But at least the British were all aware of the Spice Girls failed attempt at a reunion. Zig a zig argh.

Where the Aussies kept in the dark about this momentous political manoeuvre? I think we should re-nationalize Posh...get her back into public ownership!

None of this affects me anyway. Scotland's NHS is devolved and protected thank the Lord. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of my fave nurses was a scot (god some were evil) she was lovely, best i had, anyway she said she didnt have any student loans! Now thats the way to do it. Yes she was fucking off to do nursing for more money in Australia. Who can blame her? Us thicko's down here are importing from other countries as theres no staff. People are worried to train in the field because they wont be able to pay off the student loans and non stable work placements. We need change if it flops or not, I trust Branson to do it and to treat the staff well he does in the travel industry.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

49 minutes ago, ULIZOS said:

I worked for Ernst & Young for five years. Every single day it was report after report that I worked on about our company telling private companies how to pay as little as possible in taxes and how to pay their employees as little as possible without breaking the law. 

Companies rather pay companies like EY and KMPG millions and millions of dollars, you know, money that they COULD spend instead on paying their fair share in taxes or paying their employees decent wages. 

This is what they do. I remember watching the report about the Panama papers on TV and the reporter asked an insider if governments could do anything in the future to prevent this massive tax avoidance, tax evasion and tax fraud. The insider said "At this very moment there are ten thousand lawyers across the world doing nothing else but finding the loopholes in the legislation to continue with this business as usual."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Kim said:

Where the Aussies kept in the dark about this momentous political manoeuvre? I think we should re-nationalize Posh...get her back into public ownership!

None of this affects me anyway. Scotland's NHS is devolved and protected thank the Lord. 

Don't forget to integrate Kylie into your NHS, due to all the british gays who require carpel tunnel treatment after every album release and Kylie night at G.A.Y.  All that limping and circle jerks occuring at the afformentioned is a national health crisis. But offer a discount if album is purchased at same time as treatment. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Ivy said:

Don't forget to integrate Kylie into your NHS, due to all the british gays who require carpel tunnel treatment after every album release and Kylie night at G.A.Y.  All that limping and circle jerks occuring at the afformentioned is a national health crisis. But offer a discount if album is purchased at same time as treatment. 

Don't be silly. You can't get that on the NHS.

ELECTO-SHOCK treatment on the other hand.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, jazzyjan said:

I am always wary of privatisation of government essential services.   Everything becomes mainly about cost cutting.  

Yep, the railways went to shit, the postal service awful, Telecom, gas...everything more expensive for the consumer while the actual service gets worse. And now the beloved NHS? People should be out on the streets in droves about this!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Meanwhile Farage Mongrel paid a visit @ Trump Tower. I have to say the screwing up of people's most basic rights has been a bipartisan affair both in North America and Europe. Even when you look into the noble and decent idea of having free healthcare for US citizens (something that had been a European certainty for decades) you realise that in fact it was poorly thought out through a plan that consigns even more speculative power and deregulation to insurers and private interests.

Next privatisation of public water. All the toing and froing between the World Health Organisation and heads of pharmaceutical companies needs to be stopped too. This fundamental conflict of interest (another one) is rarely discussed on mainstream media and it is allowed to go ahead through right and left wing policies alike, policies that look alarmingly and increasingly more and more similar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Kim said:

Don't be silly. You can't get that on the NHS.

ELECTO-SHOCK treatment on the other hand.....

But how do undertake electro-shock on kylie fans ( who have obviously had a lobotomy )  Nothing to zap? 

I still think kylie syndrome should be free treatment on the NHS, haven't her fans suffered enough.  Next up gaga fans on the NHS.

 

And yes Jazzy, goverments who sell off public rights are cunts. Instead of solving their own uselessness, they palm off the problem to a private organization. It will not be long before KFC is sponsering our hospitals and elections, and you get either a free cob of corn or chicken wing with every vote. I hope KFC still have those moist towelts like they did in the 80's? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Ivy said:

And yes Jazzy, goverments who sell off public rights are cunts. Instead of solving their own uselessness, they palm off the problem to a private organization. It will not be long before KFC is sponsering our hospitals and elections, and you get either a free cob of corn or chicken wing with every vote. I hope KFC still have those moist towelts like they did in the 80's? 

 

And a bonus Mariah compilation at Christmas time

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 13/11/2016 at 0:11 PM, jazzyjan said:

I am always wary of privatisation of government essential services.   Everything becomes mainly about cost cutting.  

I think in the end it's not that cheap.  but they can rob good money when selling it.  and can pour that money into some financial holes caused by their inability to do things properly. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 13/11/2016 at 6:11 AM, jazzyjan said:

I am always wary of privatisation of government essential services.   Everything becomes mainly about cost cutting.  

indeed. For many people, privatization is the way to go. But history has teach us this is far from being the best answer. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...