Agenda item

7.58pm – Councillor Vivienne Lukey moved, seconded by Councillor Sharon Holder, the special motion standing in their names:

“This Council notes with alarm the government’s A&E crisis and its impact on our borough, with official NHS figures revealing that the trusts which run St. Mary's, Charing Cross, West Middlesex, Ealing and Northwick Park hospitals have all failed to meet A&E waiting time targets in the last three months of 2014.

The Council also notes the findings of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and is concerned about the failures identified at St. Mary’s Hospital A&E as opposed to the strengths identified at Charing Cross Hospital’s A&E.

This Council resolves to defend our local hospitals and A&E and to support the Independent Healthcare Commission’s urgent review of healthcare in West London.”

Speeches on the Special Motion were made by Councillors Vivienne Lukey, Sharon Holder, Guy Vincent, Rory Vaughan and PJ Murphy (for the Administration).

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

“After “This Council” delete all and insert:

1.    Notes with alarm the national pressures on Accident and Emergency services and the impact on our borough’s residents, with official NHS figures revealing that the trusts which run St. Mary's, Charing Cross, West Middlesex, Ealing and Northwick Park hospitals (despite the hard work of the incredible doctors, nurses and other staff and due to the increased pressures and demand at this time of year) have all failed to meet A&E waiting time targets in the last three months of 2014.

2.    Recognises the exceptional performance of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s A&E, which serves a significant proportion of the borough’s residents, one of the best performing trusts for the NHS 4 hour waiting time target this measure over the last year.

3.    Notes the findings of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and its inspection of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

4.    Is concerned about any services that are judged to be inadequate or requires improvement, but congratulates the trusts on services that are judged good or outstanding.

5.    Resolves to defend our local hospitals.

6.    Welcomes the confirmation that Charing Cross Hospital will continue to have a consultant led A&E.

7.    Looks forward to the publication of the Healthcare Commission’s urgent review of healthcare in West London and urges it and any other new proposals to be fully evidenced and supported by expert clinical consensus.

8.    Accepts that pressure on A&E services is due to interconnected factors throughout the health and social care system.

9.    Welcomes seven day GP access in the borough.

10. Further accepts that through its role with the Health & Wellbeing Board, and with its public health responsibility and budget, the Council has the opportunity to reduce demand on A&Es.

11. Will use the resources at its disposal to help reduce pressure on A&Es through public health and social care measures”.

Speeches on the amendment to the Special Motion were made by Councillors Andrew Brown and Joe Carlebach (for the Opposition) and by Councillor Vivienne Lukey (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 motion were made by Councillors Robert Largan and Andrew Brown (for the Opposition) and by Councillors Max Schmid, Stephen Cowan and Vivienne Lukey (for the Administration).  The substantive motion was put to the vote:

FOR                            25

AGAINST                   19

NOT VOTING            0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9.09pm – RESOLVED:

This Council notes with alarm the government’s A&E crisis and its impact on our borough, with official NHS figures revealing that the trusts which run St. Mary's, Charing Cross, West Middlesex, Ealing and Northwick Park hospitals have all failed to meet A&E waiting time targets in the last three months of 2014.

The Council also notes the findings of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and is concerned about the failures identified at St. Mary’s Hospital A&E as opposed to the strengths identified at Charing Cross Hospital’s A&E.

This Council resolves to defend our local hospitals and A&E and to support the Independent Healthcare Commission’s urgent review of healthcare in West London.