Maintaining Impartiality In The Contracting Out Of Health And Local Authority;services

EDM number 1113 in 1994-95, proposed by Brian H Donohoe on 11/05/1995.

That this House notes with extreme concern the policy adopted by joint health and local authorities of contracting out to a manufacturer/supplier of rehabilitation equipment both the procurement and servicing of such equipment for their areas as well as the running of a joint equipment stores; further notes that this is a clear case of conflict of interest and unfair competition, that it will be to the long term detriment of the quality of care and equipment provided for the disabled and elderly in so much as it reduces choice and restricts the contribution that smaller independent manufacturers, through the development of innovative products, can make to the quality of care; and calls upon the Government to address as a matter of urgency the question of how to maintain impartiality in the contracting out of community based services to the private sector, be they for product or care.

This motion has been signed by a total of 25 MPs.