Help us keep the lights on Support us
The Bristol Cable

Award-winning Bristol novelist backs NHS children’s health services campaign

City

Award-winning Bristol novelist backs campaign to keep children’s health services within the NHS, as private firms Virgin Care and Sirona Care are announced as the short-listed candidates for interim contract.

Earlier this week a Bristol Cable investigation revealed evidence that these two companies were vying for the Community Children’s Health Partnership (CCHP) contract.

Nathan Filer, whose début novel The Shock of the Fall tackles childhood schizophrenia, and won several major awards including the 2013 Costa Book of the Year, has added his voice to those calling on the Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to halt the privatisation of children’s health services across Bristol.

Nathan, a former mental health nurse, told the Cable:

“the concern I share with many others is that the motives of private companies to turn a profit mightn’t be aligned with what is best for patients.”

As we have reported, there is a fear that services could be split up during this procurement process.

Nathan added: “A problem often highlighted by users of mental health services is a lack of continuity in care. It doesn’t take much to imagine how distressing it might be for a person who is already going through a very hard time to have to explain themselves over and over to different professionals across a fractured service. Or worse yet, to find themselves in a wilderness between services, with nobody to turn to for help.

“This is a concern across all mental health care, but is especially worrying where young people are involved. There is strong evidence that the earlier we are able to identify and begin to support people with conditions such as psychosis, the better the long term prognosis. I’m deeply concerned that any splitting of services, and the confusion this would inevitably bring, could result in vulnerable young people slipping through the net.”

Today’s statement by the CCG says: “Virgin Care Services; and a partnership involving Sirona care and health CIC, Bristol Community Health CIC and Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) NHS Trust” are the two short-listed candidates. One of whom will be award a one-year interim contract to run CCHP services in autumn 2015.

It continues: “The interim provider will continue to deliver the current funded services, including:

  • Health visiting
  • School Nursing
  • Community Paediatrics
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Child and Adolescent mental health
  • Specialist substance misuse services
  • Health services for Looked After Children and young offenders
  • Children’s Continence Service

Nathan concluded: “The future of our child and adolescent mental health services is of crucial importance to all of us living in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, not least our most poorly and vulnerable children. And so I add my voice to the campaign calling for these services to continue to be provided together and within the NHS.”

A campaign has been launched with Protect Our NHS who are holding a demonstration, to present a 38 degrees petition calling on CCG to keep Bristol’s children’s services integrated and within the NHS, at 12.30pm on Wednesday 26 August meeting at the Bearpit and walking to CCG offices at South Plaza, Marlborough Street.

>> Support exclusive reporting on issues the mainstream media ignore: join The Bristol Cable <<

Your NHS

Keep the Lights On

Investigative journalism strengthens democracy – it’s a necessity, not a luxury.

The Cable is Bristol’s independent, investigative newsroom. Owned and steered by more than 2,600 members, we produce award-winning journalism that digs deep into what’s happening in Bristol.

We are on a mission to become sustainable – will you help us get there?

Join now

What makes us different?

Related content

VIDEO: What We Want – Bristol’s frontline workers reveal their priorities for the next government

We're only a few days away from a general election. In a short video series, frontline workers explain how their sector has fared under the Tories – and what changes they want to see.

Deal to reopen crucial St Paul’s dentists could be ‘sorted soon’, campaigners say

Hopeful messages emerge at community event hosted by campaigners, with dental care provider in detailed contract discussions with local health bosses that could see services return.

Revealed: Private takeover of Bristol GP surgery ‘abandoned’ at last minute

One Medicare was due to take over Charlotte Keel Medical Practice in Easton at the start of July – before NHS bosses abruptly pulled the plug.

A history of Bristol’s healthcare for the working classes

It's a myth that there was little or no access to free medical care before the establishment of the NHS in 1948 – but progress was slow, unequal and sometimes grisly.

Social care crisis leaves healthy patients stuck in Bristol’s hospitals

The lack of carers in the city is down to poor pay, Brexit, competition from the likes of Amazon and increasingly unaffordable housing.

Bristol midwife: ‘The system is broken and is breaking us with it’

Staff shortages, increased pressure and mental health issues are threatening to cause a mass exodus from midwifery. A Bristol midwife explains why she and her colleagues are taking to the streets this weekend to call for urgent action.

Join our newsletter

Get the essential stories you won’t find anywhere else

Subscribe to the Cable newsletter to get our weekly round-up direct to your inbox every Saturday

Join our newsletter

Subscribe to the Cable newsletter

Get our latest stories & essential Bristol news
sent to your inbox every Saturday morning