Agenda item

(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 for Mold CommunityHospital and FlintCommunity Hospital, the current shortage of beds at Glan ClwydHospital, cross-border issues and dementia care.   

Councillor C.A. Ellis commented that residents in Buckley were unaware of the proposed changes to the local health services and proposed an amendment to the proposals that concern on the lack of consultation for residents in Buckley be included in the response.  She also commented on Appendix 2 of the report detailing the summary of issues raised during the consultation events, and said that the concerns around current waiting times at A&E had not been adequately reflected.

The Chief Executive said that the formal response would be amended accordingly to provide examples where the consultation process had not been inclusive.

Councillor M.J. Peers welcomed the formal response and proposals put forward by the Leader of the Council.  He asked that reference be made to the affect the changes to MoldCommunity Hospital would have on residents of Buckley.  He also asked that the words ‘referrals/self-referrals be removed from section 4.4.6 of the formal response and that more emphasis was needed on cross-border issues to ensure that all North West England hospitals were included in the report.  He also asked that the word ‘Flintshire’ shown in section 7.2 of the formal response be amended to read ‘Wales’.

The Chief Executive explained that the health services commissioned from England health providers within the NHS would not be affected by the consultation but said that reference could be made to ensuing that cross-border relationships and contractual arrangements continue.

Councillor R.B. Jones asked that the section of the formal response dealing with transport be expanded to reflect the Transport Strategy which had not been taken into account when proposing changes to the local health service.  He said that BCUHB should have consulted with transport providers prior to formally submitting their proposals.

Councillor H.T. Isherwood asked the Leader of the Council for an assurance that if the BCUHB did not take on board the concerns of Flintshire County Council that he would meet with the Minister for Health and Social Services.  Councillor I.B. Roberts raised concerns around the proposals to close Flint CommunityHospital and commented on the campaign of Flint residents to maintain this service.  He thanked all Members of the Council for listening to the concerns of the residents of Flint.     

Councillor M. Bateman asked that section 4.4.5 of the formal response be amended to reflect the current x-ray service provided at Mold CommunityHospital and also that the Mold League of Friends had also offered to fund any upgrade of necessary equipment at the hospital.  She also asked if details on the number of x-rays carried out at MoldCommunity Hospital could be provided.

Councillor M.G. Wright raised concerns on General Practitioners (GPs) reluctance to transfer patients across the border to England as they were unsure whether payment for treatment provided would be received and asked whether GPs were being pressured not to refer patient across the border.  The Chief Executive said that it was expected that GPs would make appropriate referrals with the emphasis on individual choice.

Councillor V. Gay raised concerns on cross border issues and said that clarification was needed on how residents in Wales accessing their prescriptions in England would be reimbursed.  The Chief Executive said that the formal response could be amended to reflect the day to day issues in cross-border patient movement.    

In response to comments on care for dementia patients, the Director of Community Services said that this was a potential pressure and that the formal response would be strengthened to seek clarification on the term informal carers for dementia patients.  

In response to a question on discussions over land at Flint for a future health centre, the Chief Executive confirmed that there had been general discussions between the BCUHB and Flintshire County Council on possible land for a new primary health facility but no specific request or offer for land dedication.   

Councillor G. Banks suggested that section 3.2 of the formal response be amended to remove reference to the proposals for neonatal intensive care services being understood.  The Chief Executive said that the formal response would be amended.   

In summing up, Councillor Shotton thanked Members for the comments and suggestions and confirmed that the necessary amendments would be made to the formal response following the meeting.  He raised concerns that the proposed changes were a cost saving exercise and gave an assurance that if the BCHUB did not withdraw their proposals he would seek a meeting with the Minister for Health and Social Services to outline Flintshire County Council’s concerns.

Councillor I.B. Roberts asked that a copy of the revised formal response be circulated to all Members.       

RESOLVED:

(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.