Agenda item

6.1

It was moved by Councillor Steve Ayris, and seconded by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, that this Council:-

(a)       is committed to good access to our local NHS services for all our citizens;

(b)       notes the progress update report to the Healthier Communities and Adult Social Care Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee on 15th November 2017, “Reviewing Urgent Primary Care across Sheffield”;

(c)        is concerned that the proposals involve the closure of the Walk-In Centre at Broad Lane and the Minor Injuries Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital;

(d)       also notes:-

(i)         that the majority of consultation respondents in the report feel that the proposed changes will not make it simpler to know where to go if they need urgent care (treatment for minor injuries or illnesses within 24 hours); and

(ii)        public concerns about the possible impact on emergency services (A&E/Ambulances) and lack of availability for those living in large parts of the City;

(e)       therefore calls on the Clinical Commissioning Group to abandon any plans to close the Walk-In Centre at Broad Lane or the Minor Injuries Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital and revise their plans accordingly; and

(f)        will mount a campaign to prevent closure of these facilities, and in order to achieve this, calls upon the Leader of the Council to set up a group of Party Leaders on the Council to co-ordinate the Council’s opposition to the closure of the Walk-In Centre on Broad Lane and the Minor Injuries Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

6.1.1

(NOTE: With the agreement of the Council and at the request of the mover of the Motion (Councillor Steve Ayris), the Motion as published on the agenda was altered by the substitution, in paragraphs (c) and (e), of the word “Lane” for the word “Street”.)

6.2

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Lewis Dagnall, and seconded by Councillor Kieran Harpham, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraph (f) and the addition of new paragraphs (f) to (i) as follows:-

(f)         notes the sustained damage which has been inflicted on NHS services since the formation of the Coalition government in 2010, and the beginning of austerity;

(g)        further notes that since Labour created the NHS in 1948, spending on health had increased every year by over 4%, rising to almost 7% per year during the Labour governments of 1997-2010; since 2010, however, the Department of Health’s budget has grown by just 1% per year in real terms, far below what would be required in any decade - let alone in one in which the country faces new health challenges such as an ageing population;

(h)       will, in partnership with the “Save Our NHS Group”, which was set-up as a response to austerity, call on NHS England and the Department of Health to work with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to avoid the proposed closure of the Broad Lane Walk-in-Centre and the Minor Injuries Unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital; and

(i)         agrees to submit a copy of this motion, as signed by all political parties on the Council, to the Head of NHS England and the Secretary of State for Health.

6.3

It was then moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson, and seconded by Councillor Magid Magid, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (d) to (f) as follows, and the re-lettering of original paragraphs (d) to (f) as new paragraphs (g) to (i):-

(d)        is disappointed that the consultation does not include options, or invite public comments, on the closure of the Minor Injuries Unit and Walk-in Centre;

(e)        is further disappointed that NHS officials declined to share the draft consultation paper with the cross-party Healthier Communities and Adult Social Care Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee at its meeting on 20 September 2017, despite the consultation going live on 25 September;

(f)         believes that, in any consultation, it is vital to be open and clear about the most significant practical changes being proposed;

6.4

After contributions from other Members, and following a right of reply from Councillor Steve Ayris, the amendment moved by Councillor Lewis Dagnall was put to the vote and carried.

6.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Douglas Johnson was then put to the vote and was carried, with the exception of the proposed new paragraph (e), which was negatived.

6.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

6.6.1

(NOTE: Councillors Andy Nash, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Joe Otten, Colin Ross, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Ian Auckland, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, David Baker, Penny Baker and Vickie Priestley voted for paragraphs (a) to (g) and (k) of the Substantive Motion, voted against paragraphs (h) and (i) of the Motion and abstained from voting on paragraph (j) of the Motion, and asked for this to be recorded.)