This council remains deeply concerned about the scale of change proposed in the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill and the potential impact on NHS patients and their families in Leeds of a massive reorganisation coupled with current funding cuts.
Council further notes the prolonged anxiety and instability these proposals have already caused NHS staff, patients and stakeholders. This Council believes that implementing the proposed reforms risks diminishing access to locally and regionally-based services, reducing accountability and increasing bureaucracy.
The reduction in weighting of health inequalities in the NHS funding formula presents a worrying reflection of national priorities and a very real concern in a city where life expectancy is 12 years higher in our wealthiest suburbs than it is in the most deprived areas.
This Council believes access to health services free at the point of need should be a right not a privilege and therefore commits to doing all it can to protect NHS services in Leeds.
Council further believes that patients receive the best care when services integrate and staff work effectively together. Proposals to introduce significant competition and fragmentation into the service threaten to undermine this principle and risk patient care.
Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Health and Leeds MPs on Council’s behalf urging them to prioritise the protection of vital regional health services and to reducing persistent health inequalities. Council further requests that within that Letter the Prime Minister is asked to fulfil his promise to enhance NHS funding in real terms, to maintain waiting time targets and to stop top down reorganisations.
L YEADON
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor Yeadon, seconded by Councillor Mulherin, that this Council remains deeply concerned about the scale of change proposed in the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill and the potential impact on NHS patients and their families in Leeds of a massive reorganisation coupled with current funding cuts.
Council further notes the prolonged anxiety and instability these proposals have already caused NHS staff, patients and stakeholders. This Council believes that implementing the proposed reforms risks diminishing access to locally and regionally-based services, reducing accountability and increasing bureaucracy.
The reduction in weighting of health inequalities in the NHS funding formula presents a worrying reflection of national priorities and a very real concern in a city where life expectancy is 12 years higher in our wealthiest suburbs than it is in the most deprived areas.
This Council believes access to health services free at the point of need should be a right not a privilege and therefore commits to doing all it can to protect NHS services in Leeds.
Council further believes that patients receive the best care when services integrate and staff work effectively together. Proposals to introduce significant competition and fragmentation into the service threaten to undermine this principle and risk patient care.
Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Health and Leeds MPs on Council’s behalf urging them to prioritise the protection of vital regional health services and to reducing persistent health inequalities. Council further requests that within that Letter the Prime Minister is asked to fulfil his promise to enhance NHS funding in real terms, to maintain waiting time targets and to stop top down reorganisations.
An amendment was moved by Councillor Hamilton, seconded by Councillor Chapman, to delete all after ‘This Council’ and replace with:-
‘welcomes the changes to the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill following the listening exercise and Future Forum report earlier this year, and welcomes a number of improvements to the bill.
However, this Council remains concerned about a number of other issues and calls on the Government to continue to listen to the concerns of patients, doctors, NHS staff and the general public.
This Council believes access to health services free at the point of need should be a right not a privilege and welcomes the Government’s commitment to this. It also welcomes the fact that the government is fulfilling its promises to enhance NHS funding in real terms, and reduce bureaucracy, thus releasing a further £4.5 billion for front line clinical services over the life of this Parliament. It calls on Her Majesty's Official Opposition to support the government's policy of ring-fencing the NHS budget.
This Council therefore requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State supporting the thrust of the NHS reforms, but asking that he continues to listen and respond to the remaining concerns being expressed in particular by health professionals as the bill passes through parliament. The letter should also stress the importance of addressing regional inequalities in the healthcare system throughout the UK, as well as the Council's determination to use its enhanced role in the scrutiny of health to ensure that the founding values of the NHS are upheld.’
A second amendment was moved by Councillor G Latty, seconded by Councillor Lamb, to Delete all after ‘This Council’ and insert the following:-
‘commits to doing all it can to support NHS services in Leeds.
Council recognises that health inequalities and differences in life expectancy in Leeds were not tackled effectively by the previous Government in over a decade of running the NHS, and that during this time services suffered from repeated meddling and micromanagement that did not result in improved outcomes for patients. Council views these failures as both a damning indictment of the status quo and an argument in favour of reform. Council notes that the Health and Social Care Bill aims to build the NHS around the patient, integrate services more fully, hold decision-makers to account, reduce bureaucracy and get better value for money in a climate where the cost of care and the demand for services are both increasing.
Council acknowledges the scale of the proposed reforms and notes that the Government paused to listen to concerns and consult on the best way forward. Council believes that this process will result in improved health services for the people of Leeds.’
Motion would read:-
‘This Council commits to doing all it can to support NHS services in Leeds.
Council recognises that health inequalities and differences in life expectancy in Leeds were not tackled effectively by the previous Government in over a decade of running the NHS, and that during this time services suffered from repeated meddling and micromanagement that did not result in improved outcomes for patients. Council views these failures as both a damning indictment of the status quo and an argument in favour of reform. Council notes that the Health and Social Care Bill aims to build the NHS around the patient, integrate services more fully, hold decision-makers to account, reduce bureaucracy and get better value for money in a climate where the cost of care and the demand for services are both increasing.
Council acknowledges the scale of the proposed reforms and notes that the Government paused to listen to concerns and consult on the best way forward. Council believes that this process will result in improved health services for the people of Leeds.’
The amendments were declared lost and, upon the motion being put to the vote, it was
RESOLVED – That this Council remains deeply concerned about the scale of change proposed in the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill and the potential impact on NHS patients and their families in Leeds of a massive reorganisation coupled with current funding cuts.
Council further notes the prolonged anxiety and instability these proposals have already caused NHS staff, patients and stakeholders. This Council believes that implementing the proposed reforms risks diminishing access to locally and regionally-based services, reducing accountability and increasing bureaucracy.
The reduction in weighting of health inequalities in the NHS funding formula presents a worrying reflection of national priorities and a very real concern in a city where life expectancy is 12 years higher in our wealthiest suburbs than it is in the most deprived areas.
This Council believes access to health services free at the point of need should be a right not a privilege and therefore commits to doing all it can to protect NHS services in Leeds.
Council further believes that patients receive the best care when services integrate and staff work effectively together. Proposals to introduce significant competition and fragmentation into the service threaten to undermine this principle and risk patient care.
Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Health and Leeds MPs on Council’s behalf urging them to prioritise the protection of vital regional health services and to reducing persistent health inequalities. Council further requests that within that Letter the Prime Minister is asked to fulfil his promise to enhance NHS funding in real terms, to maintain waiting time targets and to stop top down reorganisations.
(The provision of Council Procedure Rule 3.1(d) was applied following the debate on this motion.)