Agenda item

(a)       That a motion be adopted as set out by the Leader in his statement with amendments to reflect the discussion by Council; and

(b)       That the Council calls on the Minister to direct Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to reinstate the local community services which had been changed or withdrawn in Flintshire by the Health Board prematurely.  The Minister needs to have decided whether changes are to take place once the Community Health Council has made its submission, and before any action is taken, and has to be assured of the safety of any transition plan before it is actioned.  

The Chair indicated that she had agreed to the consideration of an urgent additional item on Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Service Review. 

                        The Chief Executive explained that the Community Health Council (CHC) were statutory consultees and that the deadline for their response was 1 March 2013.  He provided details of the grounds upon which the CHC could object and explained that he had been in contact with the CHC to express the concerns raised by the Council of the decision by BCUHB to withdraw local community services before the closing date had passed and before the CHC had made any submission to the Minister. 

            The Leader of the Council, Councillor A.P. Shotton thanked the Chief Executive for the verbal update on the consultation on changes to health services in North Wales.  He said that much seemed to have happened before the CHC had had the opportunity to provide the public with their views and recommendations on the consultation.  He spoke of the commentary on the changes which had been provided by the medical profession and the divided views of the clinicians and health professionals.  Three surgeries in Flint were supporting the new Hub in Holywell whilst further to the West there was a totally different opinion being expressed in regard to the proposals.  He commended the actions of Flint Town Councillors, County Councillors and the Community in Flint in the manner they had evidenced their views on the proposals.  Councillor Shotton explained that no patients were occupying any of the wards in Flint Hospital as referrals ceased some time ago and front line and ancillary staff had either been transferred to other establishments or were being notified of changes to their work place.  

            He said that decisions had been taken by BCUHB ahead of due process and queried why BCUHB had failed in their duty to inform, explaining that Flint Town Councillors had been updating themselves of the changing position via the local media in the absence of any clear reporting lines from BCUHB.  He felt that this was unacceptable as they had a right to be informed, especially when the impact of these changes would have a profound effect on their community.  He also referred to guidance provided by the Minister.  

            Councillor Shotton, the Leader of the Council, moved the following proposal which he said had not been taken lightly or on the basis of political advantage or expediency:- 

“The Council had lost confidence in the way in which BCUHB had conducted its service reviews and was making service changes to local community services as a result.  The withdrawal of local community services without a clear transition plan, and before the CHC had made its submission to the Minister on the reviews as the statutory consultee representing the interests of patients, was both premature and unsafe.  He therefore submitted a resolution of no confidence in the proposals made upon the effected communities such as Flint by BCUHB.  He added that the Council called on the Minister to direct the Board to reinstate the local community services which had been changed or withdrawn in Flintshire by the Health Board prematurely.  The Minister needed to have decided whether changes were to take place once the CHC had made its submission, and before any action was taken, and had to be assured of the safety of any transition plan before it was actioned.”.

            The proposal was seconded by Councillor C.M. Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Services.  She said that she fully supported what the Leader of the Council had said and that the changes did not reflect public opinion.  The opinion of the CHC was key in the review but it appeared that the view of Flintshire residents was not being considered.  Councillor Jones said that Councillor C.A. Ellis had resigned from the CHC and that she had also submitted her resignation. 

            Councillor Ellis said that the decisions of BCUHB had not been thought through and that she had been told that patients being treated at Deeside Hospital were from outside Flintshire.  She supported the proposal to revisit the services which had been withdrawn but asked that the proposal be extended to include CHC in the no confidence motion.

            Councillor A. Aldridge thanked the Leader of the Council for his comments.  He referred to correspondence to Flint Town Council and referred to the Ministerial guidance which said that the CHC must be informed of the changes by the Health Board.  He added that changes could be put in place if there was a risk to patients or staff but that this had not been the case at Flint Hospital as it had been performing well.  He expressed his concern at the changes being put in place before the consultation period was over and before the CHC had made its submission. 

            Councillor H.J. McGuill thanked Councillor Ellis for her contribution to the CHC and spoke of the work that they had undertaken together.  She commented on the concern raised at the actions of BCUHB before the consultation period had been finalised and reminded Members that the Minister had the power to call in the decision.  She felt that a letter should be sent to the Minister to advise her of the Members’ disgust at the way the residents of Flintshire had been treated and that BCUHB had not taken any notice of what residents wanted.  The Chief Executive confirmed that a letter would be sent to the Minister and BCUHB following the meeting. 

            Councillor I.B. Roberts spoke of the process of the service review and those residents in Flint and Mold who had joined protest marches to show their concern.  The residents of Flint felt let down by BCUHB and in his opinion, the review had been a re-hash of the previous health board’s proposals.  He referred to an article in a local newspaper which said that GP surgeries had been advised not to send patients to Accident & Emergency (A&E) unless it was unavoidable.  Councillor Roberts felt that this was because of the reduction of 60 beds from the service without adequate provision for a replacement and he also commented on ambulances which had to queue outside A&E departments due to a lack of beds which he said was as a result of the actions of BCUHB.  He congratulated Councillor Ellis for her actions in resigning from the CHC and spoke of the implications of the review on residents of Flintshire.  He supported the Leader on his proposal and urged the Council to speak with one voice for the people of Flintshire and concurred with the comment of Councillor Aldridge that there had never been an issue of safety at Flint Hospital. 

            In response to a query from Councillor A.M. Halford, the Chief Executive said that the proposal had been that the Minister be advised of the concerns raised so that she could then decide whether to intervene. 

             Councillor H. Isherwood felt that the residents of Flintshire had been let down by the actions of BCUHB.  Councillor M.J. Peers said that it was evident that the proposals had been railroaded through by BCUHB.  He referred to the proposals for the health centre in Buckley and said that the Minister had also had to intervene in that decision to unblock the delays.  The consultation had been sporadic or non-existent and BCUHB were not listening to the Flint Town Councillors or the County Council; he believed that the decision should be called in. 

            Councillor R.J.T. Guest said that the CHC had not yet deliberated or made up its mind.  He referred to the support given on the proposals for Mold Hospital and said that this was an opportunity to show unity. 

            The Leader of the Council, Councillor Shotton read out his proposal again and the Chief Executive reminded Members of the additional suggestions that the motion include references to the CHC, and that the Minister be asked to call in the decision of BCUHB. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That a motion be adopted as set out by the Leader in his statement with amendments to reflect the discussion by Council; and

(b)       That the Council calls on the Minister to direct Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to reinstate the local community services which had been changed or withdrawn in Flintshire by the Health Board prematurely.  The Minister needs to have decided whether changes are to take place once the Community Health Council has made its submission, and before any action is taken, and has to be assured of the safety of any transition plan before it is actioned.