Select Committee on Health Written Evidence


Supplementary letter from Partnership Health Group (ISTC 52B)

  We have noted Unison's submission to the select committee and thought the committee might be interested in our response in advance of the session on 23 March.

  In respect of some of the general issues they have raised, I have enclosed a copy of our letter to Ken Anderson dated 6 February 2006.[8] You will see that it is our view that Unison's allegations are exaggerated or historical issues that have long been dealt with.

  In response to their comments in section 11.2 on page 151, I thought it appropriate to add the following:

    PHG's HR Director commenced in post on 2 November 2005. A letter was received from Unison dated 25 November, addressed to PHG's Acting Managing Director, raising what they perceived to be a number of workforce concerns. The HR Director contacted Unison by telephone (Adam Geldman) to introduce herself, explain her people management approach and to offer some reassurance about her early intentions to look into and address, where appropriate, the concerns they had raised. In relation to their request for formal recognition, the HR Director requested more time, reminding them that she had only been in post three weeks at that stage.

  On 12 December the HR Director wrote to Mr Geldman providing an outline of progress made on some of the issues they had raised, including details of some of the early plans in place to improve employee relations. This included an update on new HR policies (that are ACAS, CIPD and best practice compliant); details of a new management development programme to ensure middle managers were fully trained in people management practices to support staff at the ISTCs; early indication of PHG's plans in relation to partnership and involvement, including Staff Forums at each ISTC; clarification on confusion around overtime payments and issues to do with staff working at PHG's satellite clinics. The letter also sought to open up discussions about union recognition for the whole of PHG, rather than dealing with issues on an ISTC by ISTC basis which was not seen to be the most effective model. The HR Director closed the letter by saying that she would be very happy to meet and discuss.

  Since late January the HR Director has been attempting to set up a meeting between Mr Geldman, herself, and Mr Rex (PHG's Managing Director). Due to repeated problems in contacting Mr Geldman (who works part-time) and non-response to email and voicemail messages made by PHG, the meeting date was only agreed on Friday 10 March for the meeting to take place on 13 April (date finally offered by Unison).

  PHG's HR Director is professionally qualified, has twenty years experience and a strong track record in best practice people management. Unison's view that they have "sought on several occasions to raise the issues with PHG, but sadly they have declined at every stage" is clearly not true. We have made, and continue to make positive strides in respect of employee relations within the organisation. PHG would welcome support from Unison in doing this, but are concerned about their negative approach to date and the inaccuracies conveyed about PHG by them to third parties.

  I trust this information is useful when considering Unison's submission. Please do not hesitate to contact myself or Joanne Clifton, Director of Human Resources should you require any further information.

Grant Rex

Managing Director, Partnership Health Group

20 March 2006







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