Commissioning support unit (CSU) employees were told on the afternoon of 27 June the news that their current jobs will be coming to an end. This communication came just in advance of the details breaking in a national newspaper the following day.
CSUs were established in April 2013 from the remains of the primary care trusts and strategic health authorities as part of the reorganisation of the National Health Service in England following the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This announcement is the latest in a series of decisions to reverse the 2012 Act and its consequences.
The PDA represents pharmacists wherever they practice or are employed, and that includes the CSUs. The PDA will support individuals impacted by this announcement and will enable them to understand and exercise their rights as employees.
A general briefing regarding redundancies, which PDA members at the CSUs may find helpful, is available to download for free here. PDA members who have already contacted the PDA for advice on this situation do not need to get in contact again unless there are developments with their specific situation.
PDA members can contact the PDA Member Support Centre in confidence to talk about any workplace concern or query. The PDA is also concerned for the general wellbeing of members affected by this announcement. In addition to the support and representation available from the PDA, pharmacists should consider the personal support provided by Pharmacist Support.
Other organisations to be closed
In the same announcement it was confirmed that Healthwatch England and its 150 local ‘branches’ would close. Media reports suggest the National Freedom to Speak Up Guardian’s Office will also be abolished while the Patient Safety Commissioner’s functions will be moved into the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the Health Services Safety Investigation Body’s role will be moved into the CQC.
While these latter changes are unlikely to directly impact pharmacists’ job security, these are further examples of changes to the structures in which all NHS staff operate. They also highlight the inevitable period of uncertainty which is to come as alternative arrangements come into force.
These decisions follow the review into patient safety by Dr Penny Dash, the Chair of NHS England. Further details are expected to be unveiled as part of the ten-year health plan, to be published later this week. It is believed that in total 201 organisations will be scrapped.
Learn more
- ICB restructure: Model blueprint
- PDA responds to announcement on future of NHS England
- PDA redundancy guide launched following events to support members
- Pharmacist Support
- PDA Member Support Centre
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