Councillors have been invited to raise any issues within their ward
Minutes:
Cllr Ritchie addressed the committee regarding the closure, last October, of twenty intermediate care beds in Gossoms End, Berkhamsted. The reason given for the closure at that time was patient safety and that it was a temporary arrangement while the service provision was assessed. This has now been confirmed as a permanent decision by D Law,the Chief Exec of the CCG.
Cllr Ritchie informed the committee that Berkhamsted Town Council feel that the staff from Gossoms End have been deployed to other units and Gossoms End seems to have been sacrificed in favour of services outside Dacorum borough.
Cllr Ritchie added that the beds are to be replaced by Quantum care and that their intention is that only two beds will be provided in the borough. The borough is being poorly served by the NHS and Cllr Ritchie gave figures to back up his view that the provision now is half of 20 years ago. He added that in the same period Luton and Dunstable Hospital have increased their beds – the UK average for bed provision is 2 beds per 1000 population: in the Luton & Dunstable it is 2.1.
The committee then heard that Watford General is grossly overcrowded and that booking is difficult and stressful for staff, patients and relatives. Cllr Ritchie suggested that the Borough Council ought to take a lead in making an issue of this.
Cllr Maddern suggested that the local health authority’s behaviour is reminiscent of that towards the SCUBU unit in the 2000s – the aim appears to be to close down services, for example taking away the few 'step-down' beds in Dacorum.
Cllr Timmis agreed that she felt the Health authority is getting rid of staff. She added that the Step-down beds are a great intermediate phase between the home and a hospital stay: Berkhamsted demographics would suggest this resource is particularly necessary there.
Cllr Hicks returned to the difficulties experienced by relatives who can’t get to see their relatives resulting in slower recovery times.
Cllr Taylor said in his opinion Gossoms End is a 'constructive closure'. He added that this is the first he has heard of Quantum Care being involved in possibly running Gossoms End. Dr Fernandes added that the 20 beds at Gossoms End did not fall in to the “beds per 1000 of the population” equation. Cllr Taylor added that as far as Hospital facilities are concerned that the approach is ‘divide and conquer’; on a variety of fronts at the same time and that this is part of a larger problem.
Dr Fernandes then gave the facts as he understands them. He pointed out that those
examining the issue need to separate acute and re-hab beds: patients are handled
differently now and there is more efficient control over the length of peoples stay in hospital. The evidence as he understands it goes against lengthy stays in a bed based scenario. He went on to say he cannot comment on the detail of proportions of staff re-deployment. He is aware that some went to St Peter’s Ward in Hemel. He agreed that recruitment is a serious issue in this area and Gossoms end is evidence of the difficult choices that must be made.
He believes that the intention is to commission new 'flexible' beds in this part of the county.
Cllr Timmis responded that the position seems to be to have only acute care and home care, and she asked how we cope with the community aspects of care; acute care does not appear able to cope. Cllr Maddern added that she feels frustrated by the attitude that all patients are better off at home; for some of the elderly and infirm that is far from true!
Cllr Hicks was of the opinion that the value of the real estate is the driving factor in the Gossoms end decision.
Cllr Taylor agreed that the Borough Council should be more proactive in supporting the hospitals in Hemel: over the past 30 years we have gone from a population of 65,000 (approx.) with 3 hospitals in and around Hemel to a population of 120,000 (approx.) and being almost “hospital-less”. He informed the committee that the Dacorum Hospital Action Group and the MP, Mike Penning have a paper going to the head of the NHS in England outlining their concerns.
Cllr Taylor expressed an opinion that DBC has been far from proactive in supporting hospital services in Hemel Hempstead, the Borough and West Herts in general. He moved a proposal that, “This Council should show greater overt support of maintaining a hospital presence in West Herts in general and the borough in particular”. Expanding on this he asked for a seconder on the basis that he would seek agreement from The Leader of the Council to present the case for so doing at the next available Group meeting ahead of presenting the case in full council. Seconded by Cllr Maddern and supported by Cllrs Timmis and Hicks together with Cllr Ritchie who all expressed their support that DBC should focus on improving Acute Care, Recuperative care and the services beyond. Carried unanimously with Cllrs Maddern, Timmis and Ritchie all wishing to be involved with him in the presentation. RMT to action.