Fire Authority puts lives at risk with their cuts

Devon and Somerset Fire Authority have decided to put pennies before public safety by adopting plans, revealed at the last minute, and not debated upon or put out to consultation, to cut 24 firefighters' jobs from Barnstaple, Exeter and Torquay. The Authority also decided to introduce dual-crewing of all aerial platforms in Devon. This would mean if another large fire broke out like the recent one in Ilfracombe, firefighters would have to choose whether to take an engine OR an aerial platform.

Devon and Somerset Fire Authority have presented the plan as a choice made "between a rock and a hard place". It is true that the Government has cut funds to the Authority, which is symptomatic of this New Labour Government. They would sooner see public funds go to shareholders through privatisation and PFI (Private Finance Initiative, where schools and NHS trusts have to pay extortionate sums to rent premises from private companies) than to frontline public services and the people carrying out those services.

However, the Fire Brigades' Union put forward a 'third way', enabling the Authority to save money while maintaining services. The Fire Authority decided to ignore these proposals, which included reviewing the salary levels of those in senior management positions. Surprisingly, Chief Fire Officer Paul Young (who earns a mere £135,000 a year) didn't support these plans.

As you might imagine, FBU officials, including station representatives and Devon & Somerset Brigade Secretary Trevor French, are furious with the cuts. The Fire Authority has ignored the warnings from firefighters and the overwhelming opposition to the cuts by the public.

Speaking to the Devon Socialist Party website, Barnstaple firefighter and Socialist Party member James Leslie summed up the feelings of firefighters - "There's a lot of anger at the plans, and a feeling that management have let down the public and firefighters". He also pointed out that the Authority had previously rejected the plans to dual-crew aerial platforms due to the risk to the public, "but suddenly they're OK".

Devon Socialist Party remains completely opposed to the cuts, which will put lives at risk. It seems likely that next year the Government will come back and reduce the Fire Authority's grant even further, and also try to introduce more private sector involvement.

We will continue to campaign against the cuts and will support any action the FBU decides upon. Secretary Trevor French is hinting at strike action, which obviously firefighters would be very reluctant to do. However we are facing, not just in fire services but in the NHS, schools and other essential public services, death by a thousand cuts and the increasing involvement of private companies who are interested in profit, not people.

What is needed is united action by public sector unions to fight for 'public services not private profit'. We also need a party that will represent such a campaign politically - a party for workers, for public services, and not a party that represents the needs of big business, as the three main parties do.

Above all we need to replace the system that puts the enrichment of a greedy few before the needs and wants of the many - capitalism. We need to replace that with a system where people have real democratic control over their lives, where they work and society as a whole - socialism.

North Devon District Hospital - Decontamination Threat

In NHS hospitals Sterile Supplies departments fulfil a vital function by making sure that surgeons have everything they need during operations, including thoroughly sterilised equipment. Last year the Government falsely claimed (based on distorted interpreatations of relevant information) that these departments weren't meeting the standards of service expected of them.

Of course, you can decide for yourself whether this was deliberate or not, but the New Labour Government's obsession with privatisation seems to override any other consideration. After all, it wouldn't be the first time that they'd eased the path for private healthcare parasites to make good money out of the NHS.

Traditionally, and with good reason, NHS Sterile Supplies Departments are based in hospitals near to where they are needed, operating theatres for example. Now, the Department for Health has plans to replace these services with regional 'super-centres' run by the private sector. In the South West this would be in Taunton.

In April Northern Devon Healthcare Trust board will decide whether to accept the 'in-house' tender from North Devon District Hospital's Sterile Supplies Department or the one from the private sector company in Taunton - Decon Sciences. If the Trust Board accepts the outside tender the contract will be for 20 years. The contract may also include penalty clauses which would hit the Trust with a large amount of money to pay if they decide to pull out of the contract. Even if there are penalty clauses if Decon Sciences don't deliver an acceptable service 20 years is still an enormous commitment, especially if the standard of service isn't up to scratch..

With the existing services, the safety of patients is paramount. In the hands of private companies profit is the main motive, so the danger is always there that the company may cut corners to save money (and so make more money).

The British Orthopaedic Association has expressed its firm opposition to these developments. They are concerned with the threat these changes pose to the quality of care they can give to patients. For surgery, it is essential that sterilised equipment is readily available. If it isn't, there's a danger that the start of an operation will be delayed or unnecessary equipment won't be available if something unexpected happens. Either of these might mean the operation not being as successful as it would normally be. There is also a danger that infection rates might rise.

This isn't just scaremongering. One of these 'super-centres' opened in Birmingham last year. In the 6 months up to September 2007 there were 3,400 decontamination 'clinical incidents'. These included mislabelled, damaged, mixed up and badly packaged instruments. One Birmingham-based consultant pointed out that in one instance they had to open up 7 sets of surgical instruments before they got the properly sterilised ones they needed.

In the case of North Devon, there's an even bigger problem - the hospital is in Barnstaple, the supplier is in Taunton! The danger of greater delays in therefore greatly increased, along with the possibility of the items being contaminated in transit.

As socialists we are particularly concerned about the welfare of the staff at the centre of this storm - through no fault of their own. What protection would they have if Decon got the contract? Well, they get the glorious opportunity to work for Decon Sciences, i.e. move to Taunton or have to commute there. If they decide to stay with North Devon Trust they'll be given other employment, but how suitable or acceptable this might be to them is open to question. Considering there doesn't seem to be any problem with the past standards of service provided by these Sterile Supplies staff, all this must be doubly upsetting and annoying for them.

Whatever the cost might be to keep the existing service at North Devon District Hospital, at least it would mean that the department remained conveniently on-site and under the control of the local Trust. Some other facts also need to be taken into account. What effect would the proposed change have on the welfare of future patients in North Devon needing surgery of some kind? The risk of something going wrong just because instruments aren't properly sterilised or available when needed - is the hospital Trust Board prepared to face the possible consequences? Also, not all of (our!) public money paid to Decon Sciences would just be for services provided - a certain percentage would be given to them just to line the pockets of their shareholders.

Despite pressure from the Government to accept this, these changes aren't inevitable. Plans in Oxford were successfully opposed. Closer to home, the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Trust has declined to use the Taunton 'super-centre'. The Northern Devon Healthcare Trust Board isn't going to make its final decision until early April so there's still time to turn back from going down this potentially serious, risky and dangerous path.

UNISON branch officials in North Devon have been working with the hospital's Sterile Supplies staff to fight these plans. But they need more support. You can help by doing one or more of the following -

- Get your trade union branch to send messages of support to Northern Devon UNISON Healthcare branch. Pauline Brennan is the branch secretary. She can be reached at Level 3, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB or by email at northdevonhealth@hotmail.co.uk.

- Express your opposition to these plans by writing to or emailing the local MP Nick Harvey, your councillors, the Hospital Trust Chief Executive (Mrs Jac Kelly, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB) and your own GP.

Also please write to the North Devon Journal and North Devon Gazette.

No to the privatisation of Exeter University Family Centre!

Yesterday, members of Exeter University Socialist Students' Society (a group who we have close links with, and common members) held a protest against the University's proposed privatisation of the Family Centre, which functions as a popular nursery for staff and students. They were joined by many of the parents who would be affected by the changes. Socialist Party members fully support the campaign, which has also involved the collection of over 2000 signatures on a petition, and those who were able to attended the demonstration, which gained media attention from Westcountry News and local newspapers.

Once again the Students' Guild (the name for the Student Union at Exeter University) has only showed half-hearted opposition to this attack on students and staff, as they did when Exeter Socialist Students led a large campaign against the privatisation of student catering facilites a few years back.

With the support of the Devon Socialist Party, staff and other students (including those at nearby Exeter College) Exeter Socialist Students will continue to fight this privatisation, and any others proposed in the future. If you would like to know more or express your support and solidarity with the campaign, you can contact the President of Exeter Socialist Students, Jim at: maj_mij@hotmail.com