Issue - meetings

(a)       That Appendix 1 be adopted as the formal response from Flintshire County Council to the BCUHB consultation and that the Council clearly state its position on the proposals for Community Hospitals and Local Health Services as follows:-

• That the Council was unconvinced by the case for change for Flint CommunityHospital. In the absence of any specific proposals for the retention of accessible local services within the town of Flint the Council rejects the proposal to close Flintshire CommunityHospital and its minor injuries unit;
• That the minor injuries and x-ray services at Mold Community Hospital be retained on the grounds that Mold services a large and expanding population with established public transport;
• That the Minor Injuries Clinic at Deeside Hospital facility be commissioned and opened as proposed, to provide an accessible service to the communities of Deeside; and
• That the retention of local minor injuries services across the county, and the opening of the facility at Deeside, would prevent minor injuries self-referrals to District General Hospitals which would make further demands on already stretched Accident and Emergency services.

(b)       That Flintshire County Council urge the BCUHB to withdraw the current proposals with immediate effect;

(c)        That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive and Director of Community Services following consultation with the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Chair of the Social and Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee to make amendments to the formal response taking into account Members views and suggestions;

(d)       That subject to the response from the BCUHB, the Leader of the Council meet with the Minister of Health and Social Services to outline the concerns of Flintshire County Council;

(e)       That copies of the formal response be circulated to all Members.

The Director of Community Services introduced a suggested formal response to the consultation on proposed health service changes in North Wales with a clear focus on how it would affect Flintshire residents.  The suggested formal response was shown at Appendix 1 of the report which had been circulated to all Members before the meeting.  The deadline for responses on the consultation document was the 28 October, 2012 and it had been suggested in the report that delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, Leader of the Council, himself, Cabinet Member for Social Services and the Chair of the Social and Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee to make any necessary amendment following the meeting.

            He commented on the formal response to specific proposals for change in different service areas as detailed in Appendix 1, explaining that Members comments made during the special Social and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 September, 2012 had been taken on board when formulating the response.  He said that these were welcome aspects of the proposals, but that significant concerns about the proposals remained and the draft response detailed these concerns.

            Councillor A.P. Shotton, Leader of the Council thanked all Members for their contribution which formed part of the formal response.  He said that there had not been sufficient detailed planning on the provision of robust service modelling for the Council to be reassured that the proposals were sustainable and in the best interest of Flintshire residents.  He proposed that Appendix 1 be adopted as the formal response from Flintshire County Council to the BCUHB consultation and in moving the response proposed that the Council clearly state its position on the proposals for Community Hospitals and Local Health Services as follows:-

• That the Council was unconvinced by the case for change for Flint CommunityHospital.  In the absence of any specific proposals for the retention of accessible local services within the town of Flint the Council rejects the proposal to close Flintshire CommunityHospital and its minor injuries unit;
• That the minor injuries and x-ray services at Mold Community Hospital be retained on the grounds that Mold services a large and expanding population with established public transport;
• That the Minor Injuries Clinic at Deeside Hospital facility be commissioned and opened as proposed, to provide an accessible service to the communities of Deeside; and
• That the retention of local minor injuries services across the county, and the opening of the facility at Deeside, would prevent minor injuries self-referrals to District General Hospitals which would make further demands on already stretched Accident and Emergency services.

It was for these reasons that Flintshire County Council would urge the BCUHB to withdraw the current proposals with immediate effect.

In seconding the proposals, Councillor C.M. Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Services spoke in support of the formal response which reflected the concerns of Members, officers and residents of Flintshire.

            Members raised a number of concerns around the proposals for the Neonatal Intensive Care Service, the proposals  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80