Doctors sign petition in support of Camidoc's ‘illegal’ pension raid
Published: 09 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT
MORE than 250 doctors have signed a petition arguing that a decision by the former out-of-hours doctors provider Camidoc to use their pension payments “illegally” was “made in good faith”.
The letter, delivered to the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley last Thursday, protests against NHS bosses’ decision to transfer the out-of-hours care contract to a private firm.
NHS Camden axed its contract with Camidoc after a business review found the non-profit making company was “technically insolvent” and had withheld pension payments for more than a year.
The doctors petition said: “Withholding some pensions contributions was indeed illegal. However, it was done in good faith, with no attempt to conceal it either from auditors or the Primary Care Trust, both of whom we understand knew about the problem in late 2009, well before the contract was awarded.”
The letter said assurances had been made that the funds would be recovered, adding: “Camidoc paying NHSP [NHS Pensions] on our earnings is expensive but we feel it is an important principal. Harmoni, being a private provider will not pay [contributions] to clinicians.”
Camidoc bosses took the decision to use pension money to prop up the service after demand for the out-of-hours service rocketed in 2008. Pleas for more funding were repeatedly “ignored”, a meeting heard last week.
The petition requests the contract transfer, which came into effect last Wednesday, be “put on hold until proper consultation with interested parties occurs”.
But an NHS Camden spokesman said: “Legal advice has confirmed that there is no obligation to consult under section 242 of the NHS Act as there is no change in service provision between Camidoc and Harmoni.”