Agenda item

Notices of Motion

Minutes:

Motion A: Proposed by Councillor Clucas, seconded by Councillor Horwood

Gloucestershire County Council’s Health & Overview Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) meeting on 15.09.20 approved the Hospital Trust’s proposal to extend the three-month closure of Cheltenham’s Type 1 A&E Department for a further six months. 

Council appreciates the work the NHS Trust has done, particularly during the current pandemic, and understands the original three-month closure was to help keep Cheltenham General ‘COVID Free’, during the height of the COVID transmission, so elective surgery - such as orthopaedic and cancer surgery could be resumed. 

Council is concerned that A&E at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital does not have the capacity to cope with all A&E patients from the whole County.  It is also less accessible from large parts of the county and does not have the Emergency Ambulance capacity. Council is also concerned the additional six-month extension could become a long term or permanent change. 

Council  appreciates the Hospital Trust is committed to re-opening the A&E Department at Cheltenham General “when it is safe to do so”, but should like to hear more about what plans the Trust has to re-open the Department when it is possible.  Council also seeks assurance the new plans for redevelopment of Cheltenham General will include the existing Type 1 A&E Department, or a new Type 1 A&E Department. Cabinet welcomes their promise to HOSC that a further downgrade of Cheltenham A&E to a Minor Injuries Unit would not be included in their permanent change proposals.

Cheltenham Council urges the Trust not to downgrade our Type 1 A&E at all (i.e. to an Urgent Treatment Centre) and to present local councils with a long-term plan for the full restoration of a 24 hour Type 1 A&E at Cheltenham. 

For the avoidance of doubt, Council remains opposed to permanent closure or downgrading of Accident and Emergency (A&E) facilities at Cheltenham General Hospital. This follows decisions formerly taken by Cheltenham Council. 

Council is pleased to see Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and Gloucestershire Hospitals' Trust are presenting their latest proposals at an all-member event, to which all Cheltenham Members have been invited.

Further, Council recognises that the Trust’s permanent change consultation are under way. Proposals may yet include another permanent move of general surgery to Gloucester Royal Hospital. Council is requested to prepare a consultation submission reflecting the observations and direction in this motion. Council can formally agree such submission prior to submission.

In proposing the motion, Councillor Clucas recognised and thanked those who worked in the health service. She stressed that the consultation on the future of the hospital was poorly timed and should be deferred to a later date, but that it was still important to respond properly to the consultation despite objecting to how it was being run. She added that some of the questions in the consultation were, in her view, inadequate and clearly sought to lead respondents towards a particular answer. The consultation period was due to end shortly after the next Council meeting on December 7th, so this was an urgent issue.

In seconding the motion, Councillor Horwood echoed her words about NHS frontline and support staff, criticised the timing of the consultation and stressed the importance of restating the commitment to restoring Cheltenham’s A&E. He added that Cheltenham Hospital must not become a satellite of Gloucester Royal.

One Member emphasised that there were no borough or county councillors who did not want reinstatement of the full A&E, and suggested that all concerned parties demonstrate unity by signing a letter on the subject. Councillor Clucas responded that this would not be enough, as the issue affected everyone in Cheltenham and the surrounding areas.

Several Members criticised the Gloucestershire NHS Trust for not giving weight to public concerns and failing to provide an adequate service for residents. One Member warned that the loss of staff was a serious issue, and would continue if not directly addressed. Members agreed that NHS hospitals must be run in a way that delivered for the people of the town. One Member noted that transferring patients from Cheltenham to Gloucester and vice versa without providing adequate transport back could pose problems for vulnerable people.

Members agreed that honest conversations were needed about the delivery of healthcare services in the long term. One Member stressed the importance of maintaining a constructive relationship with the Trust and being a critical friend.

In summing up, Councillor Clucas thanked Members for their comments and stressed that the question was not political, but rather what the council could say as a united body. She emphasised the importance of the public feeling that they were being treated at a centre of excellence, and the need for hospital staff to feel valued and looked after. She hoped that residents would come forward based on what they had seen in the consultation, and that officers would take advice from senior medical professionals when producing their response.

Upon a vote the motion was carried.


 

Motion B:

Given the swiftness of the announcement of a second lockdown and its immediate impact on families, particularly children, locally;

 

Recognising that many local organisations, voluntary and church groups have been instrumental in providing essential supplies and food to those most affected by the pandemic;

 

Recognising that such groups require support financial support to continue their work;

 

Recognising that Cheltenham Borough Council has a Social Value Policy;

 

The Chief Executive is requested to contact all of its suppliers and contractors to request support, either financial or in kind, for the food network, so that residents badly affected by the pandemic, immediate lockdown and its consequences, can be helped.

 

Further, Council requests County Councillors representing Cheltenham divisions to advise the Chief Executive if they are able, once again, to support the network financially as some have already done during this last year. 

In proposing the motion, Councillor Clucas thanked local groups, partners, suppliers and contractors for their support during a hugely difficult time, and explained that the motion asked for any further support they could give. She acknowledged that no solution would be a quick fix, and that Members needed to understand that they were in for the long haul.

In seconding the motion, Councillor Jeffries noted that the first lockdown had been a real shock to the system, but that he had seen real empathy between communities, neighbours and friends. He stressed that those who needed help needed to ask for it, and that there was no shame in that. The borough council was asking for help and would try to direct it straight into the communities that need it the most. Members agreed that tough times often brought the best out of people by bringing them together.

One Member praised the generous support received from all around the town, particularly the innovative solutions put together by local groups. He acknowledged that some businesses were on their knees, but others were in a better situation and were able to give. One Member agreed with this, stressing the need to consider the wide range of experiences during Covid, and the tough choices people were forced to make. Another Member stressed that although Cheltenham was a relatively prosperous town, not everyone was able to share in that. There was a major wealth discrepancy in the town, and it was not right to think in binary terms of ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’.

One Member echoed the praise for local groups, singling out the Big Local as an example of this good work. They advised talking to supermarkets to suggest that they donate foodstuffs with a short lifespan that would otherwise go to waste. One Member expressed their sadness that this kind of charity was necessary in such a wealthy country, and suggested that basic human rights like food should be provided unconditionally in the first place.

One Member stressed that all donations had to be entirely voluntary, and that it should be made clear to partners that not donating would not have any negative influence on their future relationship with the council. Councillor Clucas agreed that this would be emphasised in the correspondence.

In summing up, Councillor Clucas added that the food network were working towards giving people more choice over what kind of food they received. She expressed her sadness that people were falling through the regulatory cracks and ending up with next to nothing. She stressed that even the smallest amount of support could be invaluable, especially in the lead up to Christmas. She requested the Mayor and Chief Executive to write a joint letter to local groups as well, to demonstrate that it was not just a bureaucratic exercise.

Upon a vote the motion was carried.

Supporting documents: