Council
Welcomes
Joint Response
To Controversial
Health
Proposals
Bexley
Councillors
have welcomed
the publication
of the
joint local
authority
response
to 'A Picture
of Health',
the proposals
by local
trusts
for major
changes
to health
services
in outer
south-east
London.
Cllr
Teresa
O'Neill,
the Leader
of the
Council,
said the
conclusion
of the
report
was clear: "The
Committee
was not
convinced
of the
merits
of any
of the
options
put forward
during
the recent
public
consultation
exercise.
We support
all its
recommendations,
but particularly
its call
for more
information
about the
promised
changes
and service
improvements."
"The
review
confirmed
our fears
that the
reconfiguration
of services
has been
driven
more by
finance
and the
position
of the
local PFI
hospitals
than by
the needs
of patients," added
Cllr
David Hurt, one
of Bexley's
representatives
on the
Joint Overview & Scrutiny
Committee
responsible
for the
report. "We
have real
concerns
about the
future
of children's
and maternity
services
for our
residents
- and whether
any of
the planned
services
will be
adequate
to meet
future
demands."
Cllr Graham
D'Amiral - the Council's
other representative
on the
Joint Committee
- highlighted
the concerns
about the
conduct
of the
public
consultation
on the
plans. "It
is clear
that the
consultation
process
itself
was flawed.
Problems
with the
delivery
of consultation
materials
and confusion
about the
simultaneous
consultation
on the
Heathcare
for London
proposals
means there
must be
serious
doubts
about the
validity
of the
results."
The report,
which includes
a list
of 34 recommendations,
has been
submitted
to the
Joint Committee
of Primary
Care Trusts,
which was
responsible
for the
original
Picture
of Health
proposals
and which
must respond
within
28 days.
The Joint
Overview & Scrutiny
Committee
will meet
again on
24 July
to consider
its response
and decisions.
"There
is considerable
opposition
to the
current
proposals
from our
residents
and I hope
the Trusts
will consider
the review
and recommendations
carefully
and understand
they reflect
the very
real concerns
of local
people," said
Cllr Teresa
O'Neill. "If
the public
are not
supportive
of any
of the
options
put forward,
I believe
the Trusts
should
look again
at all
the alternatives
and consult
people
again.
"We
accept
the need
for change,
but it's
vital that
the changes
result
in improvements
to local
health
services
that benefit
people
across
the whole
of outer
south-east
London.
The changes
will affect
everyone
who lives
in outer
south-east
London
now and
for years
to come:
it's vital
we get
them right."
Cllr O'Neill
paid tribute
to the
members
of the
Joint Health
Overview
and Scrutiny
Committee
for all
the hard
work they
had put
into their
investigation
and report,
particularly
Cllr Hurt
and Cllr
D'Amiral,
who represented
the London
Borough
of Bexley.
The Statutory
Joint Health
Overview
and Scrutiny
Committee
was made
up of representatives
from the
London
boroughs
of Bexley,
Bromley,
Greenwich,
Lambeth,
Lewisham
and Southwark
and Kent
County
Council.
