Circle Healthcare privately run the Treatment Centre on the Queens Medical Centre hospital campus to make profit.  Before they came ten years ago, it was a National Centre of Excellence - a status that they lost.  The Department of Health review called their takeover 'an unmitigated disaster'. 

Last year, the contract was up for bids again, but when Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said they could do the work more cheaply, they won it.  Circle went to the Courts, who said they should have a year extension.  They got that - but then when it was up for bids again, they lost again to the NHS Trust!  

Now, Circle is claiming the Trust can’t possibly treat NHS patients for less money and that bringing the contract back in-house would be “unrealistic” and “not in patients’ interests”.

UNISON Branch Secretary, Martin Hallam-Benn, says that "What is 'unrealistic' is the crazy idea that it's cheaper to pay Circle to run the service and make a profit rather than let the NHS run it.  This is a private company run to make profit - of course it's going to cost more!  They are owned by Toscafund - a financial services group dealing in asset management and private equity with investment funds in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda!  The only way they can make their profits is by cutting the service and/or cutting hard-working staff's pay".

UNISON Regional Officer, Dave Ratchford, says "We believe that this service should return to the NHS where it's safe - as the official government tendering process has decided already. Twice!  So, we're asking the public, who already pay tax for this service, to support our petition."

UPDATE 22 May 2019 - Circle's attempt to halt the process was rejected by the High Court -  but they intend to proceed with their legal action against the return of the Centre to the NHS.  We continue our campaign to raise awareness with the media and Courts that the public don't want the private sector in the NHS.

PLEASE THEREFORE SIGN AND SHARE TO HELP UNISON PROTECT OUR NHS AND KEEP THE NHS TREATMENT CENTRE IN NOTTINGHAM IN THE NHS TRUST!

Bring Nottingham QMC Treatment Centre back into the NHS.

UPDATE! 22 May 2019  The High Court decided that the return of the Treatment Centre to the NHS should proceed against Circle’s request - But  Circle have vowed to continue their legal action taking the NHS to Court again over the procurement process.

Please sign and Share our Petition to ensure that Circle do not succeed in sabotaging the Treatment Centre's return to the NHS.