Healthy profits

Published: 13 August, 2010

• I WAS disappointed to read that our not-for-profit, out-of-hours doctor service, Camidoc, has lost its contract with Islington Primary Care Trust following an increase in demand for its services (Fears for hundreds of NHS and GP jobs as Camidoc contract is torn up, August 6). A new contract has instead been awarded to a private firm based in Hertfordshire.

Since the only purpose of such firms is to increase shareholder value, this kind of contract simply takes money out of an already stretched public purse and hands it to a few wealthy investors.

Instead of ditching a local provider at the first sign of difficulty, a responsive commissioning service ought to be working to support and develop sustainable local social enterprises which have the dual benefit of providing better value for money while providing jobs for local people.

FRAN BURY
Islington Green Party