HEALTH chiefs have registered a new company to provide maintenance services at hospitals - before beginning consultation with hundreds of staff affected.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has registered the company to manage maintenance services at its sites, including York Hospital, in partnership with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust.

Union bosses have opposed plans for the limited liability company, which could affect 979 facilities staff including cleaners, porters and technicians, saying it is a step towards privatisation.

Terry Cunliffe, of Unite the Union, said the incorporation of the new company on March 7 made it look like a decision had already been made before staff were consulted.

However, the trust said staff and unions had been kept up to date, and the company had to be registered before consultation began.

Mr Cunliffe said: “I’m disappointed with the trust’s actions and that this was registered before meaningful consultation with the trade unions. They may have their own rationale but the message it gives is that they really don’t care about the consultation and that they are pressing ahead regardless.

“I think the setting up of an internal private company is dangerous and morally wrong. Facilities staff are the lowest paid workers in the NHS, they are predominantly women and part-time. They are the most vulnerable workers. I think they will be very concerned.”

A hospital trust spokesman said the company would remain wholly owned by the NHS and that staff and union representatives had been kept up to date.

They said staff in the new organisation will keep their current terms and conditions, adding: “The board considered the possible options and agreed to set up a limited liability partnership (LLP). One of the first steps in this process is to formally register the company, and this has now been done. The company needed to be established before we can begin formal consultation with all affected staff. The next step is to develop a detailed plan, which will include timeframes for this consultation.

“The LLP will be wholly owned by the NHS, as staff have told us that this is important to them. In recognition of this, the company name will be York Teaching Hospital Facilities Management to mirror the name of the trust and to underline the importance of keeping estates and facilities staff as part of the NHS and part of the trust family.”