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\u201cI am thrilled about what our campaign has achieved \u2013 it\u2019s better for the patients, better for the public, and better all round,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hospitals we work in belong to the community. We never want to see a government try and outsource our public health again.\u201d<\/p>\n
United Workers Union WA State Secretary Carolyn Smith said the move was a turning point for workers across the country facing threats of privatisation every single day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe courageous effort of our members to stand up and take a stand against the privatisation of health services has built the case for showing Serco the door,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe multiple failures of Serco show the risk of putting company profits ahead of the public good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis privatised system of cutting corners has left cleaners, caterers and orderlies demoralised and unable to provide the quality of care they know patients deserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s decision is a victory for working people who stood up for the high standard of health care our community expects and deserves.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur members are pleased the State Government has listened and will bring hospital services under public control.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is recognition that privatisation in our hospitals doesn\u2019t work. It never has, and never will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Serco is a multinational services company with an appalling track record in the health sector.<\/p>\n
The union\u2019s members at FSH led the fight against Serco\u2019s financial mismanagement, understaffing and operational stuff-ups that marred its 6-year tenure with the hospital since it opened in 2014.<\/p>\n
Some examples include:<\/p>\n
– Parliamentary inquiries into Serco\u2019s management of FSH services found the contract was established with no cost benefit analysis, no assessment of clinical and other risks and poorly-scoped financial modelling.
\n– The initial project cost blew out by $330 million dollars, including $151 million in IT costs and paying Serco to run a hospital that had no patients.
\n– Senior Medical staff resigned from the Hospital due to Serco\u2019s delivery of \u2018non-clinical\u2019 services
\n– An 82 year old woman left for four days without food waiting for a medical test.
\n– Blood and bone found on surgical instruments that Serco was meant to have had properly sterilised .
\n– The contract meant that hospital porters \u201ccouldn\u2019t touch patients\u201d, requiring an additional 57 staff having to be hired to stop doctors fetching patients themselves .
\n– Worker\u2019s reporting having to sneak food out to patients because there was no funding to give them a dessert.<\/p>\n