Suffolk Coastal MP speaks out over UNISON hospital strikes

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) announced in April that it wished to "outsource" services to include cleaners, porters and caterers at some of its sites. 

UNISON members have held two weeks of industrial action and sent a petition to the trust's board to show that they do not wish for this decision to come to fruition. 

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, the Suffolk Coastal MP, met up with the workers from Aldeburgh and Felixstowe hospitals to discuss their issues. 

Mrs Riddell-Carpenter met with workers last week. (Image: Office of Jenny Riddell-Carpenter) She said: "In the past few weeks, I have met with staff and constituents who are directly affected by the possible outsourcing of services at Felixstowe and Aldeburgh hospitals.  

"These staff work incredibly hard - and in many cases, they have done so for years - providing outstanding services and care to those in need, including during some of the most challenging circumstances of recent years.  

"These staff members are concerned that outsourcing hospital services will diminish their working conditions, whilst comprising the quality of care provided."

She added that she would urge both the union and the trust to resolve the issue quickly to ensure patient care is prioritised.

Unison has held two strikes on this issue in August and September. (Image: UNISON Eastern region) ESNEFT's decision to outsource the job would affect workers at Colchester Hospital and community sites such as Aldeburgh and Felixstowe hospitals and the rehabilitation clinic at Bluebird Lodge in Ipswich.

These services at Ipswich Hospital are already outsourced to private company OCS, which will see its contract end in April next year.

Workers have raised questions about working conditions under a privatised contract and patient wellbeing. 

Workers are unsure about their conditions if their services are outsourced. (Image: UNISON Eastern) UNISON Eastern regional organiser Sam Older said:  “ESNEFT’s board is swimming against the tide, trying to outsource services when other NHS trusts, the government, workers, patients and the public all know it’s a bad idea.

“For the sake of people across Suffolk and Essex, the trust needs to abandon its plans and keep cleaners, caterers, porters and other staff in the NHS.”

He added that the union has have received support from other MPs as well, and Colchester's Labour group has sent a letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting in a bid to block the privatisation. 

ESNEFT will take a final decision during its next board meeting on November 7.