South Kesteven District Council supports a fully functioned, 24/7 Accident and Emergency Department for Grantham Hospital.
Minutes:
Motion on Grantham Hospital
South Kesteven District Council supports a fully functioned 24/7 Accident and Emergency Department for Grantham Hospital.
Members were circulated with an amended motion at the meeting:
“It is vital that the residents of the Grantham area have access to Emergency Healthcare which is accessible 24/7. Grantham Hospital is a vital facility for our community and I would like the Chairman to write to the Chief Executive of the United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust, saying that South Kesteven District Council wishes to thank all the staff at this hospital for their continued hard work and service, especially over the last 2 years.
The motion highlighted the concern over the continued reduction in services at Grantham Hospital and the current consultation being undertaken by NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commission Group, which, it was felt, was not a meaningful consultation but a tick box exercise with a bias against Grantham Hospital”.
In presenting the motion, Councillor Selby made the following points:
· The former consultation undertaken by the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) had recognised that Grantham was a strategic location and had changed their proposals accordingly.
· The services that Grantham hospital offered affected every single resident, no-one was immune to accidents and the need for urgent treatment as provided by an Accident and Emergency service or an Urgent Treatment Centre.
· A massive housing growth was happening in Grantham and health provision was a material planning consideration.
· Climate change implications when patients had to travel to and from hospitals.
· Tourists were encouraged to come to the district but the lack of local hospital facilities may impact their plans.
· Thanks were given to the work of the ambulance service, paramedics and first responders and the work of the NHS staff and all Key Workers.
· Credit was given to the campaigners and those that had attended the Wednesday vigils to try and help save Grantham’s A & E department.
The motion was seconded by the Leader of the Council.
Further discussion ensued on how the services at Grantham Hospital had been reduced over the last five years and the levels of services downgraded. Reference was made to the closure of the hospital in June 2020 and the Judicial Review that had been brought in connection with the closure of the acute care services for a period of time and how the level of services had been downgraded and eroded over the last five years. Elected Members and members of the public were urged to complete the NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Groups consultation questionnaire on urgent and emergency care which closed on 23 December 2021.
It was noted that the information that the ULHT had given during the closure period due to Covid was flawed as they had failed to mention that 33,000 residents had signed a petition for the 24/7 restoration of emergency services at Grantham Hospital under the Healthy Conversation consultation.
Further discussion on the motion followed with Members thanking the NHS Staff for all their hard work following the impact of Covid-19 and the campaigners over the last five years in keeping the closure of services at Grantham Hospital in the public domain.
The Chairman referred to the extraordinary meeting of Council that had taken place 1 July 2020 on Grantham Hospital services.
On being put to the vote the motion circulated by Councillor Selby was unanimously AGREED.
DECISION
That the Chairman of the Council writes to the Chief Executive of the United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust, saying that South Kesteven District Council wishes to thank all the staff at this hospital for their continued hard work and service, especially over the last two years.
Following determination of this item it was proposed and seconded that Members speaking time for the remainder of the meeting be reduced to three minutes rather than five minutes. On being put to the vote it was AGREED.
DECISION
That Members speaking time be reduced to three minutes rather than five for the remainder of the meeting.