My e-mail to my Councillor by Kay Ecclestone

​I am writing to you in the hope that you can answer my queries.
 
I have been following the plans for the roll-out of Accountable Care in Cornwall with dismay. 
 
My concerns are:

• that Accountable Care Organisations (ACOs) are being introduced without adequate public involvement or consultation; and implemented beyond any legal framework, creating problems of governance and accountability
• that there is no robust evidence base to support their use in the context of the English NHS
• that there is at least one judicial review proceeding and it seems premature to take action in Cornwall until the results of this are known

 
My questions to the Inquiry Committee are:

• Can the committee guarantee that experienced clinicians would not be replaced with new lower-skilled and lower-paid roles, and that the NHS terms and conditions of employment would not be undermined?
• What checks will be put in place to ensure that this cannot happen?
• What are the benefits of existing multiple procurements being replaced by a single, major, long-term contract to provide health and social care services for Cornwall?
• Is it true that the draft model contract for ACOs published by NHSE allows for, and is likely to attract, bids from multinational corporations?
• What will stop private companies from asset-stripping the NHS land and buildings?

 
Therefore,  I was pleased to read that Sarah Wollaston had asked Jeremy Hunt to delay the introduction of Accountable Care and that he is re-considering the timing in light of both the Health Select Committee's Inquiry and the judicial reviews.   However, I now have further questions that I would like you to respond to:
 

• How will this affect Cornwall Council's plans?
• Will they stop the roll-out?
• Will they have a full public consultation now?
• Will they continue working on the plan (given that they have appointed a CEO for Cornwall Accountable Care already)?

 
This is our NHS, paid for with taxpayers money, we deserve to know what is planned for it.