‘Don’t trash our NHS’

Unite’s response on learning that Virgin Care has become the first private firm in the country to run adult social care after being handed a controversial ÂŁ700m deal by Tory-led Bath and North East Somerset council:

“You can bet that Virgin’s perspective of a surplus will differ radically from the tax payers. Any money that is saved, probably on the back of cost cutting, will be expected to go back to Virgin Care’s shareholders.

“This is what the Tory vision of healthcare in this country looks like: vital NHS services sold off to companies whose primary motivation is money. It’s bad for staff, bad for patients and bad for the country. We need a government that treasures the NHS, not one that trashes it.”

Sarah Carpenter Unite national officer for health