LONDON, October 24 /PRNewswire/ --

- Unite the Union has Crunch Meeting With Strategic Health Authority on 27 October

Creeping privatisation of the NHS - with knock-on adverse effects for patients - is on the march in the Greater Manchester area, Unite, the country's largest union, has warned.

Unite, along with other health unions, plan to meet NHS North West, the strategic health authority, at Gateway House in Manchester on Monday, 27 October to thrash out the implications of the continuing privatisation process in the region.

Unite is protesting at the latest private health scheme in Stretford, given permission by Trafford Council last month.

The centre called Independent Capture Assess Treat and Support Service (ICATS) will be contained within a portable facility at the car park at Stretford Leisure Centre. Unite understands that this facility will be transported on a truck to different locations during the week.

Not only will the centre generate traffic problems for local residents with extra traffic and parking, but Unite said the scheme is another 'insidious body blow at the NHS'.

Unite Regional Secretary for the North West, Kevin Coyne said: 'These ICATS centres are run by private, profit-making companies. Their primary duty is to their shareholders, not to NHS patients in Trafford.'

'The contract has been awarded to Care UK. It is understood that this company has already had, at least, two other contracts to provide NHS services elsewhere in the UK cancelled by the government.'

'So we don't see why they should be given another chance to use the NHS in Trafford as a milch cow for their shareholders.'

'It also represents a possible conflict of interest. You could have a scenario where Care UK, which does the screening, refers the most profitable cases to their own private facilities, while directing the more complicated and costly conditions back to the NHS.'

'This could place a disproportionate financial burden on Trafford General Hospital at a time when it can least afford it.'

'This privately-run centre also threatens to take a huge chunk of work away from existing NHS facilities. Trafford General Hospital - the birthplace of the NHS 60 years ago - could have its financial stability undermined, forcing it into cuts in services and redundancies. This is something that neither our members, nor the Trafford public would wish to see.'

Unite Regional NHS Committee member, Andy Ford said: 'Our Regional NHS Committee wants the Trafford scheme to be shelved. We will not tolerate this 'patchwork privatisation' of our NHS.'

For further information, please ring: Kevin Coyne, +44(0)7798-531006; Gary Owen, Regional Officer, Unite, +44(0)7909-926934; Shaun Noble Communications Officer, +44(0)207-420-8951 (direct line)