The right of NHS staff in England to request to set up their own social enterprise is being taken up by nurses, with at least ten social enterprises in various stages of development.
The ‘right to request', which was recommended in Lord Darzi's Next Stage Review of the NHS, will be combined in 2009 with the splitting of primary care trusts (PCTs) into ‘purchaser' and ‘provider' branches. One aim of these moves is to create stronger internal markets in the NHS.
NHS North East Essex is just one PCT that is looking to set up a social enterprise.
A spokesperson from NHS North East Essex said: ‘A report concluded that services would be best offered by a social enterprise and we are in the process of putting together a detailed business case.'
Other options that the trust considered included combining with another trust, such as the North Essex Mental Health Partnership, setting up a profit-making organisation or establishing a Community Foundation Trust.
An investigation by the Nursing Times found that the creation of purchaser and provider arms would offer new nursing job opportunities, as well as giving nurses more of a say in the services they provide.
The extension of NHS pensions to nurses transferring to social enterprises was identified as a key to encouraging the process.
The Social Enterprise Coalition has worked with the Department of Health to develop a guide to the ‘right to request' for NHS staff, which sets out the benefits, but also the risks and challenges of setting up a social enterprise.
The guide is available at www.socialenterprise.org.uk
