A HIGH Court ruling means that 10 primary care trusts in the south west, including Dorset, can press ahead with plans to part-privatise family health services.

The trade union Unison was seeking a full judicial review over proposals to transfer the services to NHS Shared Business Services Limited (SBS). But Mr Justice Eady ruled against the union.

SBS is a joint venture between the Department of Health and private sector operator Steria. It will take over running areas such as patient registration, payments to contractors, managing breast and cervical screening and medical records for NHS Dorset, NHS Bournemouth and Poole and eight other PCTs.

Supporters say the move, which will see sites specialising in certain functions, could save the NHS in the south west up to £10 million in six years.

Some registration work will take place abroad, but medical records and telephone work will remain in the UK.

A spokesman for the project said: “Arrangements will now be made to sign the contracts.”

Mike Cracknell, Unison’s organiser for Dorset, said: “Naturally it’s very disappointing. The judge has ruled that consultation did take place, but from our point of view it wasn’t enough.

“It’s an extremely contentious issue – any measures taken that result in private enterprise within the NHS increase the marketisation of a public service.

“The original proposal was for some of the resources to be outsourced to India.”