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.

              (2.00 p.m. – 2.10 p.m.)

              Prior notice in accordance with Council Procedure rule 10.3 had been given of the following questions put by a member of the public:-

Question: Mrs. Mary Patrick, 119 Essex Road, Stamford

I notice that you have a motion that you are moving before the Council at Agenda item 6.  May I assume that you extend this scope to include both Stamford Hospital and, as importantly, provision for Mental Health services that appear to be being cut.  For example – 8 beds at the Stamford Resource Centre are being transferred to Grantham without increasing the provision at Grantham.  This leaves Stamford, Bourne and Deepings without direct cover at night putting very vulnerable people in the community with other vulnerable people.

Response: Councillor John Kirkman, Chairman of the Council

Can I thank Mrs Patrick for taking the time and trouble to raise some very important issues concerning health provision in the District. The concerns over acute provision at both Grantham and Stamford are quite rightly, at the forefront of all our minds and feature prominently on today’s agenda. Mrs Patrick is right to remind us that the provision of mental health services may not enjoy the same profile, but is just as vital for our residents.

Her question refers to the motion before Council, which was written and submitted several days ago. At that time the events to which Mrs Patrick refers were not known to me and therefore not included in the motion. As members will know there are different providers of health services in Stamford and Grantham and although it is tempting to seek a composite motion dealing with both towns, there is a danger that such an approach has the effect of diluting the message. The situation faced by each community is different and important enough to be dealt with separately. I have therefore spoken to the Chairman of the Healthy Environment DSP and asked him to consider discussing the issues raised by Mrs Patrick at a future meeting.  

Supplementary question: Mrs Patrick

The reason I brought this question is that Mrs King has said she can give an assurance that the Stamford centre will be open from eight in the morning to six in the evening, but where is the cover for these most vulnerable people between six and eight when they need the most care?  Also, it is proposed that Grantham will only take these people for a very short time – they are overloaded now at Grantham and cannot manage the mental health and also you will be losing that service and it is going to be in the community.  It has come to my knowledge that the three PCTs are amalgamating.  I was at a meeting when they said they are going to do this in the community.  They do damm all in the community now because there is no money.  So how can three amalgamate into one to give you a service in the community that is not there now?  The carers do not do the job they are paid to do to look after these poor people.  I’m having to deal with a case at the moment where they are being bullied – then they end up in prison where they are drugged up.  They used to be able to go to Rauceby that had a thousand plus beds.  This is not good enough.  We pay all this money – we the taxpayer pay this money.  We’ve got to stop and stand our ground.

Response: Councillor Kirkman

Mrs Patrick I think you really answered your own question.  As I said earlier, the whole matter will be discussed at the Healthy Environment DSP.  That DSP has the authority to seek anyone to attend the meeting and give evidence if they so wish.