Unified WDC calls for county to take NHS to task (From Bucks Free Press)

Unified WDC calls for county to take NHS to task

4:14pm Wednesday 18th April 2012 in Bourne End & Wooburns By Simon Farr

COUNCILLORS put party politics to one side as they joined forces to tell NHS chiefs ‘we will fight for our hospital’.

In a sight rarely seen in Wycombe District Council’s Chamber, every member raised their hand to back a motion demanding their county colleagues hold health bosses to account.

NHS Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire PCT Cluster plan a major transfer of specialist services from Wycombe Hospital to Stoke Mandeville.

Its joint chairman Stewart George has come under fire after stating only clinical evidence - rather than public opinion - could force a U-turn on the proposals (see links).

At Full Council on Monday night, a unified WDC vowed to send a cross-party delegation to express their concerns directly to health ministers and urged the county council to take the PCT to task over the “sham” consultation.

The motion states: “This council calls upon the County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to hold the PCT to account for not taking into consideration non-clinical views.

“The council also recommends this matter is referred by the County Council’s Committee to the Minister for Health.

“This council also recommends the final outcome of the Better Healthcare in Bucks consultation is referred to the Secretary of State for Health, in the event the substantive service changes proposed do not meet the health needs of all residents in an accessible manner, as stated in their response to the consultation.”