CAMPAIGNERS opposing the privatisation of the NHS have voiced concerns about ‘biased’ surveys.
South Warwickshire Keep Our NHS Public (SWKONP) say online surveys by South Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are ‘leading’ and cannot be used for a future consultation on blood taking services and a seven day NHS.
A survey on the CCG website asked whether people were happy with hospital and community based phlebotomy – blood taking services. The second survey asks for the public’s views on a seven day NHS.
But the campaign group claim the surveys – which were launched at the end of April – are full of leading questions and there is no way for residents to say if they were already happy with what was being provided.
Chairwoman Anna Pollert said: “Both surveys are flawed and biased, consequently they cannot be used as a justifications for public consultation regarding the two issues which are supposedly being examined.
“It is generally known the CCG plans to tender out phlebotomy services. If the survey is meant to find out if people want arrangements to remain as they are then it will not capture that.
“The seven day NHS survey is terribly badly written and biased, which cannot be used as a basis for patients’ views on a seven day NHS.
“This is because it does not allow for patients to say they are satisfied with the current provision of surgery hours and is based on questions assuming a desire for seven day appointments.”
The CCG say on the back of the complaints they will be reviewing the surveys.
A spokesman told the Observer: “The CCG is always keen to listen to the views of the public on whose behalf we commission services.
“We welcome the comments from Professor Pollert and will look to review the methodology of this and any other surveys undertaken in future.”
