NHS KIRKLEES will allow the next stage in a process which could see a string of community services come under the remit of a “social enterprise.”

Unions say the plan would move Kirklees Community Healthcare Services (KCHS) out of the NHS and be the effective privatisation of services like district nursing, school nursing, stop smoking advice and community dental services.

At a meeting yesterday the board of NHS Kirklees allowed the expression of interest in forming the social enterprise to go forward to the formulation of a business plan.

There is currently a deadline for the expressions which KCHS says necessitated prompt action.

Despite a series of roadshows to advise NHS staff about the plans, unions say they are deeply concerned about the prospect that years down the line competition in the private sector could leave employees’ jobs insecure.

Despite the board’s approval of the next stage, NHS Kirklees chairman Rob Napier said more work had to be done at KCHS to measure staff opinion about the change.

He said: “The views of staff are paramount in this exercise and we know a lot of work is being done to engage them and deal with their concerns.

“To make sure we have the support we think we’ve got I would be looking for more external validation of that – much more than we’ve had today.”

Earlier, KCHS director Robert Flack had been called to present the views of staff.

He said he did not want to say a lot but instead opted to show a video of monologues by four staff. Two expressed nerves about the social enterprise move but the general consensus was positive.

After the video, however, he was asked whether the people had been selected especially for the video.

Mr Flack replied: “Yes and no”. He said the invitation to appear was made to some staff at an information roadshow.

Asked how many people attended the roadshow, Mr Flack confessed he had failed to keep attendance sheets until the fourth of the meetings, which he said had been a “boo boo”.

He estimated the overall attendance was currently over 600.

Throughout the debate concerns were raised that the option to pursue foundation trust status for KCHS was being sidelined and it was one that merited more investigation.

Paul Cooney from Unison addressed the board after their decision saying: “As you might expect, I’m not pleased with the result.

“Robert Flack has made great sway in recent weeks about the importance of the timetable of events.

“For the last 14 to 18 months we have been trying to force the issue about what KCHS was going to do to comply with the government’s ‘Transforming Community Services’ programme.

“In every single meeting we have heard that it was extremely unlikely we would follow the social enterprise route.

“We were astounded by the sudden volte-face.

“The timetable means that we now get the plan in December which leaves you just three months to take forward any alternative routes.

“Technically, every other option has been parked.

“My members and I have great concerns about the direction of the NHS.”