Agenda item

The Healthy Conversation closed on the 31st October 2019. It is now over three years since Grantham Hospital was closed overnight as a temporary measure. Councillors, campaign groups and residents across the district have marched on several rallies, delivered petitions to Downing Street and, have attended board meetings to call on ULHT and the South West Lincolnshire CCG to re-open Grantham A&E 24/7.

Councillors call on the Leader of South Kesteven District Council, Councillor Kelham Cooke to write to John Turner, Accountable Officer (joint role with South West Lincolnshire CCG) and Andrew Morgan Chief Executive United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust to:

1.    Call on them to publish the results of the Healthy Conversation as soon as possible.

2.    Go out to public consultation with their preferred options for the future of Grantham Hospital

3.    Re-open Grantham A & E 24/7

Councillor Wootten proposed his motion:

The Healthy Conversation closed on the 31st October 2019. It is now over three years since Grantham Hospital was closed overnight as a temporary measure.

Councillors, campaign groups and residents across the district have marched on several rallies, delivered petitions to Downing Street and, have attended board meetings to call on ULHT and the South West Lincolnshire CCG to re-open Grantham A&E 24/7.

Councillors call on the Leader of South Kesteven District Council, Councillor Kelham Cooke to write to John Turner, Accountable Officer (joint role with South West Lincolnshire CCG) and Andrew Morgan Chief Executive United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust to:

1.    Call on them to publish the results of the Healthy Conversation as soon as possible.

2.    Go out to public consultation with their preferred options for the future of Grantham Hospital

3.    Re-open Grantham A & E 24/7

In proposing the motion, Councillor Wootten referred to the treatment that he had received in Grantham Hospital and thanked the doctors and nurses who had looked after him. Reference was made to the number of days since Grantham hospital’s accident and emergency department was closed as a temporary measure. He referred to the public reaction to the closure, the formation of campaign groups and local rallies and the presentation of petition at Downing Street. Reference was also made to cross-party support from both South Kesteven District Council and Lincolnshire County Council for the reinstatement of services. The department had been closed pending the recruitment of additional middle-grade doctors, however the unit did not re-open. United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Group were being called on to publish their plans for the hospital. This was supported by local MPs and the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council. He referred to historic meetings where plans for the future of the hospital had been discussed, including provision of a bespoke solution and creating a centre for excellence for day surgery. Reference was also made to the Healthy Conversation consultation, which came to Grantham to seek the views of residents, when the plan appeared to be turning the accident and emergency department into an urgent care centre with 24-hour access by dialling 111; this was not considered to be acceptable. Councillor Wootten asked that the views of residents to leave the hospital alone be taken heed of and asked all Councillors to support the motion.

The motion was seconded when reference was made to the range of personal testimonies about the service that had been provided by Grantham’s accident and emergency department through the years. He felt that it was important for the results of the Healthy Conversation to be published as soon as possible. Concerns were expressed as there had been an indication that no plans would be subject to consultation until funding issues had been resolved and, given that the approximate capital shortfall of £80 million, when that would realistically be. Reference was also made to an anticipated £250 million backlog in maintenance at the three hospital sites in the county and whether, given so much maintenance was required, the facilities would be in a fit state to provide services. The seconder also called for genuine consultation and suggested that the only way this could be achieved is delivering a hardcopy questionnaire to all properties in the district and providing a pre-paid return envelope.

A number of speakers during the debate expressed their gratitude to the groups who had campaigned for the restoration of hospital services and commended their efforts.

An amendment was proposed, which added a further sentence to the end of the motion proposed by Councillor Wootten:

“Council also calls on the Leader of SKDC to write to the current Prime Minister and the current Secretary of State for Health urging the newly elected government to urgently take whatever steps are necessary to restore 24/7 A&E services at Grantham Hospital without delay.”

In proposing the amendment, reference was made about the rurality of the area, the waiting times for ambulances and the impact extended journey times to hospitals in other towns. The proposer of the amendment said that in addition to lobbying locally, he felt the Council ought to lobby those responsible for health services nationally.

The amendment seconded and a vote was taken and carried, incorporating it within the substantive motion.

Debate continued on the substantive motion, during which the following points were raised:

·         Members wanted compliance with the healthy conversation and a firm decision about future provision

·         Coverage on national media stating that the Council would be debating the ongoing closure at the meeting

·         Growth plans for the town and the need for the health infrastructure to support that growth

·         Meetings that had taken place with representatives from United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust

·         The Leader indicated that he would also write to the Prime Minister and speak with Local MPs and the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council

·         The impact caused by the removal of other services from Grantham Hospital

·         The fact that health chiefs were not elected and there was no recourse for the public to remove them

A further amendment was proposed so that the second paragraph would read:

Councillors, campaign groups and residents across the district have marched on several rallies, delivered petitions to Downing Street and, have attended board meetings to call on ULHT and the South West Lincolnshire CCG to re-open Grantham A&E 24/7 to at least the same level of service as it was prior to being taken away from us.”

The amendment was seconded and further debate ensued when reference was made to the petition that was presented at Downing Street containing 80,000 signatures, the loss of the death in transit measure and the maximum amount of time life could be sustained by ambulance crews through resuscitation. Reference was made to the level of debt and borrowing, together with the impact of the Trust being in special measures. One Member referred to his belief that the closure was a consequence of the reorganisation of the NHS by the Conservative and Coalition governments.

A vote was taken on the amendment, which was carried and became a part of the substantive motion.

Members concluded their debate on the substantive motion, with the following points being raised:

·         The need for meaningful consultation in favour of engagement

·         The cost implications of accessing services out of hours and how this could prevent people seeking treatment

·         Information disclosed through the Freedom of Information Act about the types of cases that were dealt with at Grantham Hospital

·         The removal of elected member representation from health decisions

·         The proximity of the town to the A1 and the east coast mainline

The motion was put to the vote and it was unanimously AGREED:

The Healthy Conversation closed on the 31st October 2019. It is now over three years since Grantham Hospital was closed overnight as a temporary measure.

Councillors, campaign groups and residents across the district have marched on several rallies, delivered petitions to Downing Street and, have attended board meetings to call on ULHT and the South West Lincolnshire CCG to re-open Grantham A&E 24/7 to at least the same level of service as it was prior to being taken away from us.

Councillors call on the Leader of South Kesteven District Council, Councillor Kelham Cooke to write to John Turner, Accountable Officer (joint role with South West Lincolnshire CCG) and Andrew Morgan Chief Executive United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust to:

1.    Call on them to publish the results of the Healthy Conversation as soon as possible.

2.    Go out to public consultation with their preferred options for the future of Grantham Hospital

3.    Re-open Grantham A & E 24/7

Council also calls on the Leader of SKDC to write to the current Prime Minister and the current Secretary of State for Health urging the newly elected government to urgently take whatever steps are necessary to restore 24/7 A&E services at Grantham Hospital without delay.

16:00 – as the meeting had been in progress for 3 hours, it was proposed, seconded and agreed that the meeting be extended by one hour