To consider questions (if any) by members of the public of which the appropriate notice has been given to the Assistant Director (Legal and Democratic Services)
Minutes:
Mr Philip Aylett was introduced.
PAylett, Chair of Dacorum Health Action Group, commented that emergency care at a specialist hospital should be at a clear central site. Action group members have expertise in construction, finance, planning and in health services and PAylett noted that the group is pleased that the Health in Dacorum Committee is being retained. PAylett welcomed Cllr Tindall's pledge to press for fair health funding in Dacorum and for a new modern health facility in the centre of Hemel Hempstead. PAylett commented on Hemel Hospital, noting that many services are held, including bowel screening, MRI and cardiology, with 250,000 patient episodes at the hospital each year. PAylett advised that West Herts Trust's clinical strategy claims that Hemel Hospital will be the centre for planned medical services in the area and he stated that this was not true, noting that Watford General has many more planned medical appointments and that there are not plans to increase these at Hemel Hospital in the coming years, leaving no distinct role for it. PAylett stated that many vulnerable people in the area will instead have to travel to Watford and it is therefore vital that a good health facility be maintained. PAylett commented that he has heard from a number of sources regarding doubts that the current Hemel Hospital site will be retained, which raises a number of serious questions, such as if the suggested facility will be able to provide the same range of services, what will be the location of this facility, and how will it be funded? PAylett noted that West Herts Trust's plans will take money away from Hemel Hospital, though a vision has been put forward for Hemel Hempstead that looks at integrated services for social care, health care and voluntary organisations.
PAylett asked the Leader of the Council to give an update on his statement made on 30 May regarding hospital funding and what the Council will do to ensure that Dacorum has its fair share of funding.
The Leader of the Council advised that they have been working with partners, including the hospital trust, to discuss how hospital services can be provided in the borough and ensure that health inequalities are narrowed so they achieve the best services for Dacorum residents. In relation to funding, the Leader of the Council stated that the breakdown of the funding envelope has not been confirmed but that they recently met with the Chair and Chief Executive of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to discuss opportunities to co-create a model for health and wellbeing services that can meet the needs of the people of Dacorum now and into the future. It is hoped that the Chair and Chief Executive of the Integrated Care Board will also be met with soon for a similar conversation. The matter remains a priority and the Leader of the Council advised that they will continue to keep members and residents informed as plans progress and new funding information becomes available.
PAylett asked the Leader of the Council how he intends to make sure that West Herts Trust engages with the Council given that public engagement over the last year has been very limited and the Trust has been previously unwilling to see the Health in Dacorum Committee to discuss their plans publicly.
The Leader of the Council responded that they are a new administration with a different approach and that it's understood that the Trust also has a new administration. The Chair and Chief Executive were met with yesterday and the Leader of the Council advised that it was a positive meeting that took place over two hours but no agreement could be made as the government are yet to release funding details. The Leader of the Council confirmed that a further update would be made when more information was available.