Agenda item

The public open forum will commence at 2.00 p.m. and the following formal business of the Council will commence at 2.30 p.m. or whenever the public open forum ends, if earlier.

Three questions had been submitted for the public open forum.

Question 1

The first question was asked by County Councillor Mark Whittington and put to Councillor Ray Wootten, who was a member of both Fight for Grantham Hospital and SOS Grantham Hospital campaigns.

“Can Councillor Wootten tell me what are the latest figures for patients attending Grantham Hospital A&E and what are the numbers being seen within four hours compared to Lincoln Hospital and how has the overnight closure affected the residents of Grantham who need treatment at A&E.”

Councillor Wootten stated that the figures between April 2016 and the week commencing 9 January 2017 indicated that 20,908 had attended Grantham A&E, 97.39% of those were seen within 4 hours which was a higher proportion than that achieved by Lincoln County Hospital and Boston Pilgrim Hospital. He added that increased admissions had been experienced by Peterborough and Nottingham hospitals since the introduction of the overnight closure. He referred to the impact of the overnight closure on patients and the speed with which they could access help and the financial impacts for patients and their families because they had to travel further.

County Councillor Whittington asked a supplementary question about recruitment by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust. Councillor Wootten stated that progress on recruitment had been made. There were three more permanent middle-grade doctors working with the Trust than there had been in August 2016, one at Lincoln County Hospital and two at Boston Pilgrim. The commitment of five locum doctors had also been secured taking the total to 19.6 middle-grade doctors. The Trust was continuing to advertise in the UK and abroad, with interviews lined up; if successful it would take the new doctors several months to arrive and settle in.

Question 2

The second question was put by Sarah Stock to the Leader of the Council:

“With reference to the Sustainability and Transformation Document which was unanimously voted against in "it's current form" prior to Christmas by the entire County Council and the subsequent Extraordinary Health Scrutiny Committee meeting last week, my question to you is, what will happen if the revised, and re-written Sustainability and Transformation Plan remains unacceptable to the Council and still leaves the public in Lincolnshire unsafe and at risk in particular reference to Grantham Hospital downgrading of services? That is the question I would like to submit to District Council. Thank you.”

The Leader thanked Ms. Stock for attending the meeting and the work she had done in support of the Grantham Hospital campaigns. He stated that the Council would give full consideration to the proposals arising from the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) document when they were issued for consultation. Elected Members would have the opportunity to scrutinise and respond to issues and understand the impact of the STP on residents in South Kesteven. If the proposals continued to reduce the quality of service provision, he added that every opportunity would be taken by the Council to make clear its objection in the strongest terms.

Question 3

The final question, which was also addressed to the Leader, was put by John Morgan:

“Given the public concern regarding Grantham Hospital Accident and Emergency Department closure at night and proposal to downgrade acute services in the Lincolnshire STP can you advise if SKDC will continue to oppose any downgrade of Grantham A&E services?”

The Leader thanked Mr. Morgan for his work in support of the Grantham Hospital campaigns. The Leader reassured Mr. Morgan that the Council would continue to oppose the downgrade of A&E services at Grantham Hospital. As part of his supplementary question, Mr. Morgan stated that SOS Grantham Hospital were appreciative of the support, but asked what action the Council had taken and to whom, with specific reference to health authorities, the Council had made representations .

The Leader responded, stating that Members had heard first-hand about the challenges that were being faced and the proposed solutions of ULHT on three occasions in the previous two years. Councillors had the opportunity to hear the information, challenge proposals and put forward their own views. All Members of the Council would have the opportunity to consider the formal proposals when they were made available for public consultation.