Agenda item

8.26pm – Councillor Marcus Ginn moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew Johnson, the special motion standing in their names:

“This Council notes that:

1.      NHS North West London is proposing as options the closure of Charing Cross, Hammersmith or Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Accident & Emergency departments.

2.      Residents in Hammersmith and Fulham value these hospitals and would not support any proposal that downgrades their status from that of major hospitals.

3.      Hammersmith and Fulham is a high density inner-London borough in need of quick access to high quality accident and emergency services. The option of closing  Charing Cross, Hammersmith or Chelsea and Westminster Hospital A&E departments will result in H&F residents having to travel further to obtain this critical service.

This Council resolves to oppose the closure or downgrading of Charing Cross, Hammersmith or Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Accident & Emergency departments”.

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Marcus Ginn and Andrew Johnson (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Lisa Homan moved, seconded by Councillor PJ Murphy, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“Delete all after “This Council” in the first line and insert the following:

“is deeply concerned that the Conservative-led government is looking to cut A&E and other essential services from Charing Cross, Chelsea and Westminster and Hammersmith hospitals.  NHS managers have now confirmed that local NHS services will definitely be cut – it is just in the process of deciding exactly where the axe will fall.

The Council notes the Government’s shambolic leadership on NHS reform and resolves to campaign against these potentially disastrous cuts to local NHS services.”

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Lisa Homan, PJ Murphy  and Dame Sally Powell (for the Opposition) and Councillor Mark Loveday (for the Administration) before it was put to the vote:

FOR                            10

AGAINST                   25

NOT VOTING0

The motion was declared LOST.

Councillor Marcus Ginn (for the Administration) made a speech winding up the debate before the substantive motion was put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9.05pm – RESOLVED:

“This Council notes that:

1.      NHS North West London is proposing as options the closure of Charing Cross, Hammersmith or Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Accident & Emergency departments.

2.      Residents in Hammersmith and Fulham value these hospitals and would not support any proposal that downgrades their status from that of major hospitals.

3.      Hammersmith and Fulham is a high density inner-London borough in need of quick access to high quality accident and emergency services. The option of closing  Charing Cross, Hammersmith or Chelsea and Westminster Hospital A&E departments will result in H&F residents having to travel further to obtain this critical service.

This Council resolves to oppose the closure or downgrading of Charing Cross, Hammersmith or Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Accident & Emergency departments”.

(Councillors Cowan, Ivimy, Vaughan and Tobias declared prejudicial interests in this item. They left the room during the debate and did not vote on the item. Councillor Dame Sally Powell declared a personal interest in the item and participated in the debate accordingly).