Meeting documents

Public Speaking – Clinical Services Review and Referral to Secretary of State for Health

Three public questions were received from Deborah Monkhouse, Chris Bradey and David Holman at the meeting in accordance with Host Authority Standing Order 21(1). The questions are attached as an annexure to these minutes.  The response to the questions were addressed within the discussion outlined below.

Three public statements were received from Philip Jordan, Steve Clark and Margaret O’Neill in accordance with Standing Order 21(2). The statements are attached as an annexure to these minutes.

Councillor Bill Trite addressed the Committee as the Local Member for Swanage.  He endorsed the concerns expressed by the public speakers and referred to a local petition signed by 8000 people which reflected the serious concern in relation to this proposal.  He stated that it would take significantly longer for patients from Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck to travel to Bournemouth Hospital leading to an increase in fatalities due to the longer journey time.  Swanage had a high proportion of elderly and vulnerable people as well as the worst traffic congestion during the Summer and the ambulance service had a poor record of responding to emergencies in this area. 

He informed the Committee that Swanage Town Council submitted its views to the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on 27 February and 18 September 2017.  The response by the CCG had not been received in time for consideration at a recent Town Council meeting, however, it failed to answer the points that had been made. He therefore asked the Committee to consider referring the matter to the Secretary of State for Health on the basis that the plans were insufficient to meet the needs of the area.

Cllr Ros Kayes stated that the matter should be referred to the Secretary of State by the Dorset Health Scrutiny Committee (DHSC) at this stage and that there were sufficient reasons to inform a referral such as the lack of an equalities impact assessment, no clear financial plan and the reduction in numbers of beds.  She considered that it would be inappropriate to wait until the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee meeting in February 2018 on the basis that implementation and funding of the existing plan would be underway.

The Chairman stated that Dorset was a member of a Joint Health Scrutiny Committee that had been set up to consider the proposals within the Clinical Services Review and any concerns related to those proposals and the associated consultation process.  However, the individual authorities, including Dorset, had reserved the right to refer the proposals to the Secretary of State.

In light of the concerns raised, the DHSC could invite the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee (JHSC) to further scrutinise the proposals regarding the reduction in the number of acute hospital beds and the travel and transport implications and provide a view on whether Dorset should make a referral to the Secretary of State.  This approach would fit with the governance arrangements as the scrutiny of the proposals and the way in which the consultation was conducted had been delegated to the Joint Committee.  However, the ultimate decision to make a referral to the Secretary of State was retained locally with the DHSC in this instance.

Members of the Committee endorsed the concerns made by members of the public at the meeting and made further comments on travel times and the performance data in relation to the ambulance service.

The meeting adjourned in order that officers could obtain further legal advice to inform the decision making process and the Committee reconvened at 11.05am.

The Chairman confirmed that a referral to the Secretary of State could be made by the Committee pending a meeting of the JHSC to consider whether a referral could be made jointly.  However, if the JHSC did not agree on this way forward, there remained the right for the DHSC to continue with a referral.

Cllr Ros Kayes proposed that the matter be referred by the DHSC to the Secretary of State on the basis of the reduction in number of acute beds, insufficient planning for travel times, an insufficient Equalities Impact Assessment, lack of a clear finance plan, lack of integration with the ambulance service and a reduction in the provision of A&E services at Poole Hospital.

This was seconded by Cllr Tim Morris and supported unanimously by the Committee.

Cllr Kayes further amended the proposal by requesting that a meeting of the Joint Committee was convened by Friday 15 December 2017 that was also supported by the Committee.

The Chairman thanked members of the public for attending the meeting and assured those who had submitted questions that they would receive a written response.

Resolved (unanimous)

1.      That the Dorset Health Scrutiny Committee make a referral to the Secretary of State for Health regarding the outcome of the Clinical Services Review, pending a meeting of the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee by 15 December 2017; and,

2.      That the referral is made based on concerns about the proposed reduction in the number of acute hospital beds, the reduction in Accident and Emergency services at Poole Hospital, concerns about travel times, confidence in the ambulance service data, and the lack of a clear Equality Impact Assessment or financial plan.