Agenda item

Motion Submitted by County Councillor Kim Snape

Lancashire County Council notes the recent proposals published by Our Health, Our Care regarding the future of Accident & Emergency services in the Chorley and South Ribble and Hospital. The report indicates that any A&E provision at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital would not be viable. The Council strongly opposes any proposal to close Chorley & South Ribble Accident and Emergency department.

 

The Council believes such a proposal would have a detrimental impact on the quality of local health care for the local population and health care for our residents Lancashire wide and even further. This was evidenced when Chorley and South Ribble A&E closed in 2016. Lancashire County Council believes that Chorley & South Ribble Hospital needs a 24 hour Accident & Emergency department.

 

This Council resolves:

 

(i)  To oppose any closure or downgrading of A&E services across the County of Lancashire.

(ii)  To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health asking for them to intervene and invest in strengthening and enhancing all current A&E provision across Lancashire.

(iii)To write to the Chief Executive and Board of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust asking them to address the reasons why the A&E at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital is not deemed viable rather than simply propose to close the unit.

 

Minutes:

It was moved by County Councillor Kim Snape and seconded by County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson that:

 

Lancashire County Council notes the recent proposals published by Our Health, Our Care regarding the future of Accident & Emergency services in the Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. The report indicates that any A&E provision at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital would not be viable. The Council strongly opposes any proposal to close Chorley & South Ribble Accident and Emergency department.

 

The Council believes such a proposal would have a detrimental impact on the quality of local health care for the local population and health care for our residents Lancashire wide and even further. This was evidenced when Chorley and South Ribble A&E closed in 2016. Lancashire County Council believes that Chorley & South Ribble Hospital needs a 24 hour Accident & Emergency department.

 

This Council resolves:

 

(i)  To oppose any closure or downgrading of A&E services across the County of Lancashire.

(ii)  To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health asking for them to intervene and invest in strengthening and enhancing all current A&E provision across Lancashire.

(iii)To write to the Chief Executive and Board of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust asking them to address the reasons why the A&E at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital is not deemed viable rather than simply propose to close the unit.

The following friendly amendment was proposed by County Councillor Aidy Riggott in accordance with Standing Order B42:

 

Lancashire County Council notes the recent statement published by Our Health, Our Care regarding the future of Accident & Emergency services at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital. The report indicates that A&E provision at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital would not be viable in the long term. The Council is concerned by any proposal to close Chorley & South Ribble Hospital's Accident and Emergency department.

 

The Council is concerned such a proposal could have a detrimental impact on the quality of health care for the local population and health care for our residents Lancashire wide and even further. Lancashire County Council believes that patients who previously used the A&E Department at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital need access to a sustainable and viable 24 hour Accident & Emergency department.

 

This Council resolves:

 

(i)  To oppose any closure or downgrading of A&E services across the County of Lancashire without clear clinical justification and a thorough public consultation.

(ii)  To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health asking for them to commit to, and invest in, strengthening and enhancing all current A&E provision across Lancashire.

(iii) To write to the Chief Executive and Board of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust asking them to exhaust all possible avenues in evaluating and addressing the reasons why the A&E at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital is not deemed viable rather than simply propose to close the unit.

 

Following a brief adjournment, and the insertion of additional text as highlighted in (i) below, the friendly amendment was accepted by County Councillor Snape as follows:

 

Lancashire County Council notes the recent statement published by Our Health, Our Care regarding the future of Accident & Emergency services at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital. The report indicates that A&E provision at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital would not be viable in the long term. The Council is concerned by any proposal to close Chorley & South Ribble Hospital's Accident and Emergency department.

 

The Council is concerned such a proposal could have a detrimental impact on the quality of health care for the local population and health care for our residents Lancashire wide and even further. Lancashire County Council believes that patients who previously used the A&E Department at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital need access to a sustainable and viable 24 hour Accident & Emergency department.

 

This Council resolves:

 

(i)  To oppose any closure or downgrading of Chorley and South Ribble Hospital A&E services and A&E services across the County of Lancashire without clear truly independent clinical justification and a thorough public consultation.

(ii)  To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health asking for them to commit to, and invest in, strengthening and enhancing all current A&E provision across Lancashire.

(iii)  To write to the Chief Executive and Board of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust asking them to exhaust all possible avenues in evaluating and addressing the reasons why the A&E at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital is not deemed viable rather than simply propose to close the unit.

 

The substantive motion, as amended by County Councillor Riggott's friendly amendment, was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Lancashire County Council notes the recent statement published by Our Health, Our Care regarding the future of Accident & Emergency services at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital. The report indicates that A&E provision at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital would not be viable in the long term. The Council is concerned by any proposal to close Chorley & South Ribble Hospital's Accident and Emergency department.

 

The Council is concerned such a proposal could have a detrimental impact on the quality of health care for the local population and health care for our residents Lancashire wide and even further. Lancashire County Council believes that patients who previously used the A&E Department at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital need access to a sustainable and viable 24 hour Accident & Emergency department.

 

This Council resolves:

 

(i)  To oppose any closure or downgrading of Chorley and South Ribble Hospital A&E services and A&E services across the County of Lancashire without clear truly independent clinical justification and a thorough public consultation.

(ii)  To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Health asking for them to commit to, and invest in, strengthening and enhancing all current A&E provision across Lancashire.

(iii)  To write to the Chief Executive and Board of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust asking them to exhaust all possible avenues in evaluating and addressing the reasons why the A&E at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital is not deemed viable rather than simply propose to close the unit.