Accessibility settings

In order to remember your preferences as you navigate through the site, a cookie will be set.

Color preference

Text size

Agenda item

Notice of Motion: Accident and Emergency Service at Cheltenham General Hospital

Councillor Gore will propose and Councillor Hollaway will second that:

On 23 January 2018 a motion of this Council stated clear opposition to any proposed closure or downgrading of Accident & Emergency (A&E) facilities at Cheltenham General Hospital and called for any proposals relating to the future service to be the subject of wide consultation, to include the Council and its residents.

This Council now notes the launch of the discussion booklet 'Fit for the Future', but:

1)    is concerned at the lack of transparency in the 'Fit for the Future' proposals by OneGloucestershire for the reconfiguration of A&E provision and other affected services (oncology, general surgery, radiology and vascular treatment) in Gloucestershire;

2)    opposes OneGloucestershire's proposals for further downgrading of A&E services at Cheltenham General Hospital to an Urgent Treatment Centre; and

3)    supports the calls by Tewkesbury MP, Laurence Robertson, and others for a fully functioning, fully staffed A&E department operating 24/7 to be reinstated at Cheltenham General Hospital in line with this Council's previously agreed position.

This Council therefore instructs the Leader of the Council to:

1)    write to OneGloucestershire calling on it to withdraw and revise its current proposals and commit to retaining long-term A&E services at both Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucester Royal Hospital; and

2)    write to the Health Secretary asking him to investigate the widespread concerns over the OneGloucestershire's 'Fit for the Future' proposals and the lack of public clarity about the local NHS Trust's intentions for the future of NHS provision in Gloucestershire.

Minutes:

43.1           The Worshipful the Mayor referred to the Notice of Motion set out on the Agenda and indicated that, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, it was necessary for the Council firstly to decide whether it wished to debate and determine the Motion at this evening’s meeting, or whether it wished to refer the Motion, without debate, to a Committee for consideration with authority either to make a decision on the matter or to bring a recommendation back to Council. Upon being put to the vote it was agreed that the Motion would be considered at the current meeting.

43.2           The Motion, as set out on the Agenda, was proposed and seconded.

43.3           During the discussion which ensued, a Member noted that the Clinical Commissioning Group had kindly made a presentation to all Members on 16 April 2019 and it seemed sensible that the Council should invite them to return and present their latest proposals at an all-Member event; he proposed this as an amendment to the Motion and requested that Democratic Services be asked to arrange the event. The amendment was seconded and accepted by the proposer of the original Motion.

43.4           A Member indicated that OneGloucestershire had said it had no proposals at this time in relation to Cheltenham Accident and Emergency service and he questioned what the proposer of the Motion knew that others did not. In response, he was advised that the Motion gave an instruction to the Leader of the Council to write to OneGloucestershire in response to the proposals that had been put forward and were subject to consultation. Whatever the current proposals might be, it was felt important that the Council clearly set out its concerns and what it expected to happen in future. He felt it would be helpful for representatives to provide a briefing so that Members could voice their concerns, have their questions answered and better understand what the current situation was and he welcomed that amendment. In addition, a Member agreed that the amendment added value to the Motion. He indicated that rumours had circulated about the future of Accident and Emergency Services at Cheltenham General Hospital for a number of years and there was genuine concern about any possible closure. He felt it was important that specialist clinicians were kept at both sites and considered that clarification was required on that.

43.5           The Council’s representative on the Gloucestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee advised that the ‘Fit for the Future’ consultation booklet contained a response form and she encouraged all Members to submit their own responses to the consultation either by completing that form or going online. Another Member echoed that sentiment and advised that the ‘Reach’ Guide was also well worth reading before a consultation response was submitted.

43.6           A Member indicated that he was happy to support the Motion but noted that there had previously been aspirations for a new state of the art hospital between Cheltenham and Gloucester and, whilst there was not any funding for that currently, he questioned whether the government’s recent announcement to build 40 new hospitals might include a hospital for this area. The Leader of the Council undertook to make this point in his letter to the Health Secretary and suggested this was also something that could be asked of OneGloucestershire when the presentation was made to Councillors.

43.7           Upon the amended Motion being put to the vote, it was

                  RESOLVED          1. That the Leader of the Council write to:

·      OneGloucestershire calling on it to withdraw and revise its current proposals and commit to retaining long-term A&E services at both Cheltenham General and Gloucester Royal Hospitals; and

·      the Health Secretary asking him to investigate the widespread concerns over the OneGloucestershire’s ‘Fit for the Future’ proposals and the lack of public clarity about the local NHS Trust’s intentions for the future of NHS provision in Gloucestershire.

2. That Democratic Services invite the Clinical Commissioning Group to present its latest proposals at a suitable all-Member event.