Council calls for halts in cuts
Written by Shaun Moore on February 24, 2010
Gloucestershire County Council today called on the NHS to suspend planned bed cuts to allow a full consultation to take place.
At a meeting of full council today, all 63 councillors voted unanimously to support a motion, proposed by council leader Cllr Barry Dare. It follows the announcement that the NHS proposes to close 200 bedsat Gloucester Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals.
Speaking at the meeting, Conservative leader Cllr Barry Dare said: “The way these cuts have been announced is a disgrace. I proposed this motion to send a strong message to the Hospitals Trust. We will not taketheir proposals lying down. ”
Lib-Dem leader Cllr Jeremy Hilton said: “The news of 95 beds being axed on 1st April and another 105 in the future has come as a shock to the people of Gloucestershire. Everyone is worried about the impact this will have on the health care of people who go to hospital. I urge the hospital trust to halt the planned closures until the Health, Community & Care Scrutiny Committee has fully investigated the bed closure programme. Wemust protect people’s health care.”
Labour leader Cllr Steve McHale said: “I welcome the motion. It’s disgraceful that the announcement about closing hospital wards can be taken without consulting MPs,councillors and, I understand, governors of the PCT. With a 5.2% increase to arecord £868.5 million budget, the citizens of Gloucestershire need to be consulted and listened to.”
The motion is as follows:
This council notes:
1) The announcement by Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Trust of over 200 bed closures at Gloucestershire hospitals
2) That this announcement was made with no consultation with Gloucestershire County Council, elected MPs or people in the county
3) That Health,Community & Care Scrutiny Committee has now called an emergency meeting toexamine these proposals
Therefore
This council calls on Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust to:
1) Suspend immediately the planned cuts
2) Engage in proper consultation with MPs, local councils,Gloucestershire NHS and people in this county before taking further action
3) Respond fully and frankly to the Scrutiny Committee investigation
