Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Alistair Bradley
Chorley Council recognises the huge difficulties being faced by the NHS. The shortage of doctors required has been highlighted in a Health Select Committee Report which warned that A&E departments need at least 8,000 doctors – 50% more than currently employed – to keep pace with the rise in emergency admissions in the last five years. The extent of the staffing shortage was underlined by Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, who stated last week that the prime minister’s insistence that the service was getting more money than it asked for was not true and asked why under current plans real-terms spending on health would actually fall in 2018-19. In light of this the Council has no faith in the government’s ability to protect our NHS and invest to ensure it provides a first class service in the future. The Council is also concerned about the future plans for the configuration of the NHS in our locality, currently being developed through the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), which appears to be the government’s answer to reorganising NHS services to meet the huge deficit in funding. We are concerned that this process may result in the loss of NHS services in our immediate locality with little public engagement or accountability. The Council has attempted to take an active role in public service reform in order to improve and protect services rather than manage decline. With the huge crisis in funding and staffing we do not believe the current STP’s can deliver improvements within the health service. We therefore propose to write to the Secretary of State for Health to ask that the current STP process is remodelled so that it seeks to protect health and social care services, ensure they retain their local identity and strengthen local democratic accountability.
Minutes:
Councillor Alistair Bradley submitted the following notice of motion under Council Procedure Rule 10:
“Chorley Council recognises the huge difficulties being faced by the NHS. The shortage of doctors required has been highlighted in a Health Select Committee Report which warned that A&E departments need at least 8,000 doctors – 50% more than currently employed – to keep pace with the rise in emergency admissions in the last five years. The extent of the staffing shortage was underlined by Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, who stated last week that the prime minister’s insistence that the service was getting more money than it asked for was not true and asked why under current plans real-terms spending on health would actually fall in 2018-19. In light of this the Council has no faith in the government’s ability to protect our NHS and invest to ensure it provides a first class service in the future. The Council is also concerned about the future plans for the configuration of the NHS in our locality, currently being developed through the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), which appears to be the government’s answer to reorganising NHS services to meet the huge deficit in funding. We are concerned that this process may result in the loss of NHS services in our immediate locality with little public engagement or accountability. The Council has attempted to take an active role in public service reform in order to improve and protect services rather than manage decline. With the huge crisis in funding and staffing we do not believe the current STP’s can deliver improvements within the health service. We therefore propose to write to the Secretary of State for Health to ask that the current STP process is remodelled so that it seeks to protect health and social care services, ensure they retain their local identity and strengthen local democratic accountability.”
In presenting the motion, Councillor Bradley referred to his concerns about the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) proposed by the Government as the basis for the reorganisation of the NHS. He had sympathy for those delivering NHS services, with major cuts to funding services but he did not feel a further reorganisation was the solution.
Councillor Hasina Khan seconded the motion, referring to the many meetings she attended in her role as lead member for health and wellbeing and the need for current NHS systems to work effectively rather than to move to new systems.
As a member of LCC’s Health Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Alan Cullens reported that he had seen the STP, but as yet, many councillors and the public had not. He asked that the motion be withdrawn and brought back when everyone had had the opportunity to see the STP and to consider the issues it raises.
Councillors Richard Toon, Mark Jarnell, Charlie Bromilow, Margaret France, Adrian Lowe, Zara Khan and Jane Fitzsimons spoke in support of the motion. In summary, they referred to:
· the need for the Government to increase funding for the NHS
· the increased privatisation and fragmentation of services
· the tremendous pressure on hospitals and staff; and problems in recruiting qualified staff
· the need to meet the health needs of an increasing elderly population
· the limited availability of local out of hours GP services following a recent tender process
· praise for the work of the campaign group for their commitment and work towards getting the partial restoration of A & E services at Chorley
· that the STP was not in the best interests of the local community
Councillor Bradley indicated that he did not wish to withdraw the motion. He had lost confidence in the process and there was a need for the Government to resolve the issues and ensure appropriate funding of the NHS.
On request, the vote was recorded as follows:
For (the motion)
Councillors Beaver, Bradley, Bromilow, Brown, Clark, Cronshaw, Fitzsimons, C France, G France, M France, A Gee, D Gee, Gray, Jarnell, H Khan, Z Khan, M Lees, R Lees, A Lowe, M Lowe, Lynch, Molyneaux, Morwood, Murfitt, Murray, K Snape, Toon, Walmsley, Whittaker and Wilson.
Against (the motion) - None
Abstained
Councillors Bell, Boardman, Caunce, Cullens, Dalton, Iddon, Leadbetter, Long, Morgan, Muncaster, Perks, Platt, and Walker.
The motion was CARRIED.