Public services: Are we getting value for money?

TM2010

With the government awarding more and more public services contracts to private companies at a time of severe cuts to public spending, where local councils are being forced to make substantial savings, you have to wonder whether tax payers are receiving value for money? Are exemplary procurement practices being promoted?
An employee working in a London borough has brought a multi discrimination case at an employment tribunal against Babcock Education and Skills Limited, (formerly VT), and a subsidiary of the FTSE 100 Company Babcock International Group PLC.

The employee is a Connexions worker. Has anyone else heard about similar cases? What are the experiences of workers delivering public services who are employed by private companies, are they positive?

darkpool

I think the private sector offers better value for money than the public sector. The best thing they could ever do is privatise the NHS

vuvuzela

TM2010 wrote: »

With the government awarding more and more public services contracts to private companies at a time of severe cuts to public spending, where local councils are being forced to make substantial savings, you have to wonder whether tax payers are receiving value for money? Are exemplary procurement practices being promoted?
An employee working in a London borough has brought a multi discrimination case at an employment tribunal against Babcock Education and Skills Limited, (formerly VT), and a subsidiary of the FTSE 100 Company Babcock International Group PLC.

The employee is a Connexions worker. Has anyone else heard about similar cases? What are the experiences of workers delivering public services who are employed by private companies, are they positive?

You clearly have an axe to grind. Why don't you state what exactly you want, rather than trying to be oblique ?

vuvuzela

darkpool wrote: »

I think the private sector offers better value for money than the public sector. The best thing they could ever do is privatise the NHS

It's rare I laugh out loud when reading things here but this really made me chuckle. A privatised NHS would be one of the most disasterous things ever to happen to this country.

geordieracer

vuvuzela wrote: »

It's rare I laugh out loud when reading things here but this really made me chuckle. A privatised NHS would be one of the most disasterous things ever to happen to this country.

But the NHS wastes billions of pounds every year and hospitals are still in debt all over the country. This is unsustainable.

so what are your ideas on making it work and getting good value for money then oh wise one?

darkpool

we trust the private sector to provide us with food and houses. why should healthcare be any different?

DKLS

I have never had value for money for my taxs, I pay out yet use hardly any public services.

sookipeaspud

Private industry does not have morals. They work to generate a profit unlike the NHS.
Anybody who thinks that the NHS should be privatised is already in need of one of its services - sectioning under the mental health act!

darkpool

thanks sookiepeaespud, you can't imagine how hard it is to type while wearing a straightjacket!

Private industry does have morals, I work in the private sector and I always consider the environment/ society etc when i do things. At the end of the day the "private sector" is really just composed of individuals. Most people I know are moral and I'm sure they usually act for the greater good.

I think the competitive environment in private industry is good for the consumer. for instance if you get bad service from a supermarket you go to another chain. You get business evolution, the companies offering the best prices/ services do well. While the bad companies go bust.

You get bad service from the NHS and your ability to improve the situation is limited.

molerat

The public sector workers who are moved over to the private sector usually get a culture shock as they are actually made to work for a living. No more 5 sick days extra holiday at the end of year, no more sitting around from 4.45 with coats on waiting to go home at 5, no more sending e-mails to all and sundry during work hours.

Private hospitals seem to work fine in other countries, Germany for instance. The NHS, as in most of the public sector, is overburdened with management, consultants (not the medical kind), advisors and staff that are checking that the staff are being checked correctly :cool:

MrsE_2

molerat wrote: »

The public sector workers who are moved over to the private sector usually get a culture shock as they are actually made to work for a living. No more 5 sick days extra holiday at the end of year, no more sitting around from 4.45 with coats on waiting to go home at 5, no more sending e-mails to all and sundry during work hours.

You are joking.
I can't remember the last time I was sick, I think I had a week - once a couple of years ago.
I start before 8.30 & rarely finish before 5 & if I'm lucky I take a 20 minute lunch break - some of the time. I still have it docked whether I can take it or not, as its HR law.