Cherie's Place

Myth 6 “Back-office” functions can be outsourced without impacting on front-line services
REALITY Support functions are just as important as the front-line
In a recent document called “Doing More with Less” the CBI claims that ’sharing back office functions can improve efficiency” and that ‘non-core activities are best provided by the private and third sectors unless [...]

MYTH 4 The private sector is more responsive to service users’ individual needs
REALITY Only the public sector can respond to society’s collective needs
Public sector reforms are often based on the idea that public service users should be treated as consumers. In many cases, this focus is both appropriate and necessary. For instance, the [...]

MYTH 3 Competition is the best way to improve public services
REALITY Public Services are too important to compete on price
The imposition of competition and markets in the public sector means driving a wedge between client and contractor roles and usually results in the restriction of in-house delivery. Local authorities, NHS Trusts and other public [...]

MYTH 2 The private sector costs less than the public sector to deliver services and is more efficient
REALITY There is no evidence to show that the private sector is more efficient than the public sector
In the pursuit to do ‘more for less’ the argument is often heard that the private sector can run services better [...]

MYTH  1  During the economic downturn, the best way to save money is to privatise public services
REALITY During the downturn, public money is best kept within the public sector
As the public sector faces pressure to squeeze spending, politicians, commentators and contractors have called for more public services to be transferred to the private and voluntary [...]