HEALTH chiefs have refuted trade union claims that they want to privatise pharmacies in North Wales hospitals.

UNISON has accused Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board of attempting to undermine the public service ethos of the Welsh National Health Service by introducing “companies focused on generating a profit”.

The health board, which is responsible for the entire North Wales area, has admitted that it is exploring opportunities to work in partnership with community pharmacies, but rejects the claims made that this is a proposal to privatise their hospital pharmacies.

A spokesman for UNISON said: “Betsi Cadwaladr, and Cardiff and Vale, health boards plan to privatise pharmacies in their hospitals.

"Healthcare workers have spoken of their shock at the attempt to undermine the public service ethos of the Welsh NHS.

“UNISON has accused executives of rushing into privatisation without considering alternatives and how NHS privatisations in England have caused chaos for patients and staff.

“Betsi Cadwaladr says it wishes to reduce costs and save on tax and claims it does not have enough staff to dispense medication to the standard it would like.

"UNISON has questioned how the private sector will be able to improve the quality of service with less money.”

Paul Summers, UNISON Cymru Wales head of health, added: “Private companies have no place in the Welsh NHS.

“Patient needs will not be the first priority for private companies focused on generating a profit and privatising pharmacies could open the way to wholesale privatisations of other NHS Wales services.

"This has never been the way healthcare workers, the public or the Welsh government want our health service to be run.

“Taxpayers will be paying for a service, yet money will be going into private shareholders pockets and won’t be reinvested in the NHS.

“UNISON wants to work with health boards to see how patient services can be improved.

"The sensible way forward is for pharmacies to be retained in-house and to recruit more dispensing staff.

“If health boards say they need more money to prevent privatisation of pharmacies, we will work together with them and the Welsh health secretary to jointly lobby the UK government.”

A Betsi Cadwaladr spokesman said: “This is not a proposal to privatise our hospital pharmacies.

“We are in the early stages of exploring opportunities to work in partnership with community pharmacies to provide outpatient prescription dispensing services within our main hospitals.

“Community pharmacies are a key part of the NHS providing services to patients in all of our communities, every day.

“Outpatient dispensing services are currently provided by staff working in our hospital pharmacies.

"By working in partnership with a community pharmacy we could free up staff to carry out other duties, including improving dispensing services on wards, and supporting patients in clinical areas such as emergency departments and mental health services.

“Currently, patients may have to wait a significant length of time for outpatient prescriptions.

"A dedicated outpatient dispensary, run by a partner who specialises in community pharmacy services, would significantly reduce waiting times and provide outpatients with a better overall experience.

“Any outpatient dispensing services provided by a community pharmacy would work in a similar way as our existing arrangements with high street pharmacies.”