Council and democracy

Agenda item

Motion submitted by Councillor V Holloway

Minutes:

The Motion, as printed in the Agenda was proposed by Councillor V Holloway and seconded by Councillor Gerrish. The Motion read as follows:

 

Thurrock Council stands opposed to the closure of Orsett Hospital because of the valuable services delivered to Thurrock residents and urges that Council resist attempts to move any resources or capacity from Orsett Hospital out of Thurrock.

 

Councillor Holloway introduced the Motion and in doing so stated that the National Health Service was failing too many people and the back drop to this was that Orsett Hospital was to be closed. That the Integrated Medical Centres were welcomed but plans were still at an early stage and whether they would offer a like-for-like service and had concerns that the centres would not be in place before Orsett Hospital closed.

 

A proposed amendment to the Motion had been submitted by Councillor Halden and seconded by Councillor Hebb. The amended Motion read as follows:

 

Thurrock Council would oppose any closure of Orsett Hospital until new and modern facilities are put in place first to ensure that clinical services are maintained and improved in Thurrock and urges that Council resist attempts to move clinical resources or capacity from Orsett Hospital out of Thurrock.

 

Councillor Halden introduced his amendment and stated that the National Health Service needed to be funded properly and the amended motion addressed this local provision. Councillor Halden stated that Orsett Hospital was owned by Basildon Hospital and that consultations to co locate acute and primary care services were being undertaken by the Clinical Commissioning Group.

 

The outcomes would be that no changes would be made until these Centres were up and running in modern purpose built buildings with some services being migrated into General Practitioners surgeries. The Consultation would concentrate on how services would be delivered to residents and how these services will remain in the borough.

 

Councillor Halden stated that he and Tom Abel, Managing Director, from Basildon Hospital will be attending the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday 3 July. At the request of the Chair, Councillor Snell, they would be more than happy to comment further.

 

Councillor Snell thanked the Portfolio Holder for his report and welcomed him and Tom Abel to the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 3 July.

 

Councillor Snell stated he supported the amended motion and that the Portfolio Holder was right that plans had to change to move the services forward. The proposed first centre was scheduled to open soon but residents would still need to be convinced that services would not be lost and should see these before Orsett Hospital was closed.

 

Councillor Gledhill supported the amended motion and agreed that residents would need convincing first and how these services would be accessible as and when required.

 

Councillor Gledhill stated that times had changed and that changes were due to how the National Health Service was run. Councillor Gledhill agreed that a hospital in Thurrock would help move the borough into the 21st century.

 

Councillor Maney felt the original motion was presumptive and stated it would be common sense for Councillor V Holloway to withdraw her motion and support the amendment.

 

Councillor Hebb stated the overview and scrutiny would be the appropriate mechanism to interview and challenge the leadership and governance group of Basildon University Trust Hospital and the Clinical Commissioning Group as this would be articulated in the correct way where the committee could be critical but constructive at the same time. Councillor Hebb referenced that residents would not worry where they go for the right clinical treatment and attention especially if these services were in their local domains.

 

Councillor Halden requested that the amended Motion went to the vote.

 

Councillor Gerrish thanked Councillor Halden for his amended motion but stood opposed to the closure of Orsett Hospital and the loss of services that this would create. Not sufficient information was available or debate had occurred and that Councillor Gerrish was not satisfied that all services would be available. This required clarification and should be scrutinised more by the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor V Holloway summed up by questioning whether Councillor Halden would actually get the centres up and running before Orsett Hospital closed and that decisions were being made on the financial elements instead of the residents. Councillor V Holloway also stated that Health Centres should be built alongside hospitals not instead of.

 

The Mayor called a vote on the amended Motion.

 

Upon being put to the vote, 32 Members voted in favour of the Amendment with 12 Members abstaining whereupon the Mayor declared the Amendment carried.

 

The Mayor called a vote on the Motion as amended.

 

Following a clear majority in favour, the Mayor declared the Amended Motion carried.

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