Agenda item

Acute Hospital Care In West Hertfordshire:

That Dacorum Borough Council shows its proactive support of maintaining a hospital presence in West Herts in general and Dacorum in particular in the most appropriate location to give the people of Dacorum the best possible care.

Acute Hospital Care In West Hertfordshire:

That Dacorum Borough Council shows its proactive support of maintaining a hospital presence in West Herts in general and Dacorum in particular in the most appropriate location to give the people of Dacorum the best possible care.

Councillor Taylor introduced the proposal:

At our Health in Dacorum (HiD) Committee meeting on 14 September 2016 we agreed to a proposal that we would seek to obtain sanction from the leader of the Council to heighten our overt support of our aim to achieve a Hospital facility for Hemel Hempstead.

I was tasked to research the possibility of bringing the matter to the attention of our group and subsequently presenting a proposal at the next full Council meeting.

I contacted the Leader of the Council, Cllr Andrew Williams to ask if we could present our case at the next Group meeting on 27 September and at the following day’s Full Council meeting, make our proposal that DBC shows greater overt support of proposals for hospital services in West Herts in general and DBC in particular.

I had researched a number of issues both ahead of that HiD meeting and also following it, due to what I had perceived to be something of a predetermined outcome.

The Watford Campus project was well underway with the new access road to Watford hospital due to be completed before the end of this year. Also, Underground railway access had been authorised and Watford Council was included as one of a number of “partners” in the much-heralded Watford scheme.

Dacorum Hospital Action Group had enlisted support for its plan, based on the Northumbrian example and already operating successfully, from the Hemel Hempstead MP, Rt Hon Mike Penning which I had been involved with.  Other groups were also holding campaign meetings for their proposals.

DBC have never, in my opinion, been overtly supportive any of the schemes in such a way as Watford Council are to retain their hospital next door to Watford football ground. My proposal was for DBC to actually openly commit to “our” hospital provision.

Unfortunately, the leader advised me that the agenda for the group meeting following September’s HiD meeting was full and as I felt we needed more than a few minutes asked if we could have an opportunity at November’s Group and Council meetings.

The postponement was fortuitous as much public activity occurred soon after, confirming my fear that Watford was a “done deal”.

I still felt that we MUST show commitment and an additional HiD meeting was held on 7^th November, which the leader of the Council attended and to which he contributed. The issue was then added to last night’s Group meeting and tonight’s agenda, thus being the reason I now stand before you.

The HiD meeting on 7 November was attended by the three senior NHS executives for our area;

David Evans                            Programme Director - Your Care, Your Future

David Law                               Chief Executive Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

Helen Brown                           Director of Strategy & Corporate Services, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

together with other outside representatives, Councillors and officers.

After much debate Cllr Williams affirmed this Council’s understanding of the huge challenge in funding and providing healthcare in Hertfordshire. That DBC has always opposed the downgrading of the Hemel Hempstead site and held fast to the view that a new facility – one not on the Watford site - is required as the proposals being put forward by The NHS do not serve either the interest of, nor suit the needs of, our community.

I therefore beg to propose:-

Regarding Acute Hospital Care in West Hertfordshire:

That Dacorum Borough Council shows its proactive support of maintaining a hospital presence in West Herts in general and Dacorum in particular in the most appropriate locations to give the people of Dacorum access to the best possible care.

I so move.

Councillor Timmis seconded the proposal:

We welcome an upgrading of the acute hospital facilities, but not at Watford. In the light of the people we represent here in Dacorum, remembering that we are not just talking about Hemel Hempstead, but also Berkhamsted, Tring, Kings Langley and surrounding villages, the Watford decision is unfair and discriminates against Dacorum residents. This is a population of approximately 150,000 people, and is expanding, while at the same time the West Herts Hospitals Trust (WHHT) is reducing health facilities in the Borough, such as closing Gossoms End and Tring Health Centre. The problem for our residents is the distance and access to Watford Hospital. And why pour more money into a hospital that was described as inadequate by the Care and Quality Commission?

Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) supports the proposal of a new hospital on a Greenfield site equidistant from Watford, St Albans and Dacorum. But instead the WHHT has chosen to upgrade Watford Hospital which will take 10 years and will inevitably lead to disrupted services during that time.

So therefore I am seconding the motion ‘That DBC shows support for maintaining a hospital presence in West Herts in general and Dacorum in particular’ (in the appropriate location to give people of Dacorum access to the best possible care.)

Questions and Answers

Councillor Williams did not feel that the motion fully reflected the discussion at the Health Committee meeting on the 7^th of November. He accepted in part that DBC had been less proactive because the situation had been the same for the past 10-15 years. He acknowledged that the healthcare situation had moved on and we accepted a large acute hospital would be the solution for West Herts. He understood the NHS funding issues but believed it was the wrong decision to have Watford as the sole provider without providing a proper health solution.

He felt that Watford were unable to provide the facilities Dacorum residents needed. He would ensure that the council continue to support the Hospital Action group and local MP and would never give up.

Councillor Tindall would support the proposal. He recognised the need for a new hospital in the area but felt it would be better located around junction 20 of the M25 motorway. He asked if the implication of asking for money for a Greenfield site would mean no monies would be allocated, was a threat to Hemel Hempstead.

Councillor Anderson spoke on behalf of the kings Langley ward and assured members that they supported the proposal too. They were far happier with a hospital on the site near the motorway rather than having a service station. He felt the whole idea of acute services was to be providing ‘local’ services. He said that the clinical and access nonsense needed to be abolished as the claims were untrue. He said the council needed to fight its corner.

Councillor Maddern explained that she had represented DBC at the HCC Health Committee. A letter had been sent to NHS England suggesting the favoured option of a new green field site and that they would be happy to support renovations at the Watford site. The committee had taken a vote on this and some had preferred a more central site rather than develop the Watford site.

Councillor Taylor appreciated Council’s input.

The recommendation was put to vote:

For: 41

Abstained: 1

The motion was carried.