A UNION is campaigning against plans to outsource NHS occupational health and nursery services to private companies.

The GMB union fears proposals could mean a large amount of non-clinical support services and staff could be contracted out of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust this year.

In June 2013 the trust’s board agreed to review the efficiency of non-clinical support services such as administrational support in a market testing strategy and to consider if external providers could help to run occupational health and nursery services.

The union claims the trust has invited external providers to tender for occupational health services in conjunction with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, as well as requesting bids for another to operate nursery services at both the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards and Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Gary Palmer, GMB organiser said: “GMB has been aware the trust has been planning cuts and outsourcing since creating a new role for market testing director. But it has now become clear 2015 is the year management look to press ahead with large scale outsourcing and give away large sections of non–clinical NHS services to the lowest bidders.

“GMB oppose all forms of privatisation and outsourcing of NHS services. We will consult members working in any of the threatened areas within the trust immediately. “We will assess how to protect against threats to jobs and services resulting from this program of market testing and private procurements.”

A spokesman for East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: “The trust, like all NHS organisations, needs to be as efficient as possible to ensure it provides best value for money for the taxpayer. It is particularly important that all our non-clinical support services are as efficient and effective as possible so we can prioritise investment in clinical care.

He said looking at the options was prudent and would not predetermine a decision made in June this year and added: “The decision on the way in which these services will be provided in the future will be done in line with transparent criteria which will include the quality and cost of the future service.”

Any decision about market testing facilities management has yet to be taken and no clinical services are affected by the market testing programme, the trust said.