Agenda item

8.01pm – Councillor Stephen Cowan moved, seconded by Councillor Rory Vaughan, the special motion standing in their names:

“The Council notes that the former administration put out literature claiming that it had “saved” Charing Cross Hospital and “retained” the A&E. It regrets that misleading propaganda and calls for a vigorous defence of Charing Cross Hospital, the borough’s A&E’s and local health services.”

Speeches on the Special Motion were made by Councillors Stephen Cowan and Rory Vaughan (for the Administration) and Councillor Marcus Ginn (for the Opposition).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Andrew Brown moved, seconded by Councillor Marcus Ginn, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“Delete all after "This Council" and insert:

(1)      understands that there is widespread expert clinician support for changes to emergency healthcare services to ensure patients have access to the very best specialist consultant present care 24 hours a day 7 days a week which is supported by: Sir Bruce Keogh, National Medical Director; the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges; the College of Emergency Medicine; the Royal College of Physicians; the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; as well as the Royal College of Surgeons.

(2)      Accepts that locally, proposed changes to the NHS originated from Professor Lord Darzi, at the time a Labour Health Minister and a surgeon based at St Mary's Hospital, and his review, "High Quality Care for All", and that the “Shaping a Healthier Future” proposals in respect of emergency care are supported by the lead clinicians of all the NHS Trusts in North West London, as well as GPs and Clinical Commissioning Groups, including in Hammersmith and Fulham.

(3)      Recognises the need for reform of NHS services to address the challenges and opportunities of 21^st century medicine, but at the same time understands the public's concern about proposed changes to Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals and is determined to secure the best healthcare that it can for local residents.

(4)      Notes that the original 'Shaping a Healthier Future' proposal for the Charing Cross site was little more than an urgent care centre in one small corner of the site, with no facilities for Imperial College Faculty of Medicine and the loss of most of the specialist treatment and clinics currently available there.

(5)      Acknowledges the importance of the cross party opposition to these proposals coupled with the strong lobby from local residents in causing the NHS to rethink their proposals for the Charing Cross site.

(6)      Further notes that the former administration negotiated a greatly improved proposal for the Charing Cross site, which included retention of an A&E for all except the most serious cases; augmented consultant led care of the elderly medicine; retention of consultant led oncology services including full diagnostics, chemotherapy and increased radiotherapy provision; retention of outpatient facilities; retention of full general diagnostic services including MRI scanners and ultrasound; retention of medical school facilities; and creation of a world class centre for elective medicine.

(7)      Notes that it was the enhanced proposal for the Charing Cross site that was formally approved by the JCPCT in February 2013 and that the JCPCT refused to approve the original 'Shaping a Healthier Future' proposal without the enhancements.

(8)      Regrets that there has not been greater involvement in the public debate from local leading clinicians and the NHS and calls on those healthcare experts to convince the public of the evidence behind, and the need for, their proposals.

(9)      Calls on the new administration to work with the NHS and Imperial College Healthcare Trust to further develop the enhanced Shaping a Healthier Future proposals  for the Charing Cross site programme which is supported by evidence and expert local clinicians, and further calls on them to conduct the debate on local healthcare with honesty and integrity and without scaremongering.”

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Andrew Brown, Lucy Ivimy and Greg Smith (for the Opposition) and Councillors Stephen Cowan and Max Schmid (for the Administration) before it was put to the vote:

FOR                            19

AGAINST                   25

NOT VOTING            0

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive amendment were made by Councillors Adam Connell, Vivienne Lukey, Hannah Barlow and Stephen Cowan (for the Administration) and Councillors Joe Carlebach and Andrew Brown (for the Opposition)before it was put to the vote:

FOR                            25

AGAINST                   19

NOT VOTING            0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9.09pm – RESOLVED:

The Council notes that the former administration put out literature claiming that it had “saved” Charing Cross Hospital and “retained” the A&E. It regrets that misleading propaganda and calls for a vigorous defence of Charing Cross Hospital, the borough’s A&E’s and local health services.

9.09pm – Under Standing Order 15(e) iii, Councillor Colin Aherne moved a motion that Special Motion 3 Homes for Residents and not Overseas Investors takes precedence on the agenda and be considered. This was agreed.