'Let social enterprises run the NHS'

Monday, October 27, 2008

Social enterprise is an excellent way of running the National Health Service, according to a report by the NHS Alliance.

‘Social enterprise, not-for-profit and the NHS’ reckons the government feels the same way, pointing out that the Department of Health has put £100m into a fund for new and existing social enterprises. And Lord Darzi’s recent review of NHS services encouraged primary care trusts to look at social enterprises as alternative providers to the public and commercial sectors.

NHS Alliance chairman Dr Michael Dixon said: "It is significant that the out-of-hours provider that scored highest in a recent Healthcare Commission report is a social enterprise company that employs local GPs. This is a new and exciting way forward."

Report author Mo Girach said: "Not-for-profit is a bit of a misnomer. Not for shareholder profit would make more sense. Social enterprise fits well with the NHS ethos and values. These organisations are attractive to high quality clinical staff and they re-invest surplus to benefit their patients. They are often more trusted than commercial providers.

He added: "As the NHS moves further from being a provider of services to a commissioner, with non-NHS agencies delivering services with NHS values, the opportunities for social enterprises will continue to grow. Nevertheless, social enterprises will have to demonstrate that they have business acumen and are outcome focused, with well thought through strategies."