Due to the diligence of London Amicus activists a privatisation crisis has been averted. At a meeting with London MPs held 27 June, London health activists blew the whistle on an advert in the European Journal that gave details of a 'Contract Notice' that appeared to set out proposals for the privatisation of PCT's management and service delivery.

Yesterday Amicus, with support from 13 other health unions, advised the Secretary of State for Health and Minister of State that this 'Contract Notice' would be responded to by a united campaign to keep our NHS public. Only hours after this meeting Patricia Hewitt issued the attached statement saying that the ad was being immediately withdrawn

Amicus Assistant General Secretary Gail Cartmail commented:

"Amicus raised this shocking proposal with London MPs earlier this week. We also reported our concerns to the TUC's General Council meeting. No one knew about this advert. At face value it read as the fragmentation and privatisation of NHS. It is good we were able to convince government to pull the advert but we hope it does not resurface in a sanitised form. The union's White Paper Briefing points to the very serious danger of fragmentation arising from contestability and privatisation. Our concerns have not been fully addressed."