A protest over the proposed transfer of York NHS Trust facilities staff to a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) was supported by all three trade unions involved and attended by groups resisting privatisation of the NHS and by patients whose lives had been saved by NHS local care.

Facilities staff include porters, cleaning and catering staff and concern for their future employment demonstrates how the NHS works successfully as a team.

A threat for one section threatens the team success and patient care will suffer if this proposal is supported.

Cleaning staff contribute to reducing infection risk for example and hospital acquired infection is a risk to the recovery of patients.

The trade unions are right to concentrate on what happens after the transfer to the LLP to maintain the continued NHS employment of the facilities staff should the LLP company fail. The only way the LLP company can survive is by competing for facilities services in nearby health and public services sectors, a race to the bottom. If such companies fail to be profitable then employment terms and conditions including pensions will be further undermined.

The York NHS facilities staff realise that without reassurances about continuation of employment, other NHS staff may be at risk.

We remain unconvinced by the need for this move if, as reported by the York Trust spokesperson (“NHS pledge to hospital staff”, May 26), the LLP will remain completely within the NHS.

Several NHS Trusts including Bristol Southmead and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Trusts felt the same way and have ceased to go down this totally unnecessary LLP route.

Gwen Vardigans,

Defend our NHS (York),

Carron Crescent,

Woodthorpe, York