Agenda item

To consider a motion (copy enclosed) submitted by Councillor Brian Jones in respect of a petition by the ‘Alex Angels’, and associated issues.

Councillor Brian Jones presented a motion (previously circulated) on behalf of the Conservative Group. Councillor Jones advised that the motion had been inspired by the ‘Alex Angels’ and outlined the background to the Alex Angels group. He paid tribute to the group’s understanding of the issues facing the Health Board, and the potential for solutions to deliver increased bed capacity and help relieve pressure on other areas of the Health Board’s services.

The motion having been duly seconded, the lead member, Councillor Elen Heaton, thanked the Alex Angels for their valuable contribution to the community and advised that she and the Council’s Corporate Director were keen to meet with them and listen to their views regarding the development of health and social care in the county. In addressing the motion, Councillor Heaton reported that in-patient beds had been removed from the Royal Alex hospital owing to fire safety concerns, but a range of out-patient services continued to be delivered from the site.

Councillor Heaton stated that the motion would not resolve bed-blocking problems, which were complex and multi-faceted. Councillor Heaton reported that most people were waiting for, and preferred, community-based services, and she reported on the risks of hospital-based deconditioning, where frail patients’ capacity to care for themselves was further diminished.

Councillor Heaton argued that the aim must be for more comprehensive solutions; namely the full business case proposal for the redevelopment of the Royal Alexander hospital in its entirety (known as the North Denbighshire Community Hospital Project).

Councillor Heaton proposed an amendment to the motion as follows:

·       That all Denbighshire councillors pledge their support to the full business case currently awaiting a decision from the Welsh Government.

·       That Councillor Heaton, as lead member, with the Corporate Director for Social Services and Education, meet with the Alex Angels to engage in meaningful consultation regarding the development of health and social care in the county.

·       That the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee continue to scrutinise the North Denbighshire Community Hospital Project.

In responding to the lead member, the proposer of the original motion Councillor Brian Jones conveyed the serious doubts he held about the Welsh Government’s commitment to deliver the North Denbighshire Community Hospital Project; citing the long-standing and continuing delays to the project, and his understanding that no funding had been allocated to deliver the project. He rejected the lead members’ position and endorsed the Royal Alexander Angels’ petition for a feasibility study to reinstate bed capacity as being a viable and practical short to medium term solution.

On being put to the vote Council resolved to amend the motion as proposed by the lead member.

Councillor Ann Davies raised her concerns about the closure of community hospitals, bed-blocking problems and the delays in building a new hospital, and she endorsed having extra bed capacity in the Royal Alex. Councillor Chamberlain-Jones endorsed these comments, with her own recent experiences of the problems that the Health Board was experiencing in terms of capacity to deliver its services in the county.

Councillor Clewett, citing her experience as a senior health care professional (and on seeking advice from the Monitoring Officer regarding her employment, declaring a personal but non-prejudicial interest), with knowledge of community hospitals and the Royal Alex, reported that the existing Royal Alex hospital could not deliver the in-patient care that was needed, though she agreed that there were serious problems and concerns in respect of health service provision in the county.

RESOLVED – That Council approves the amended motion as follows:

(i)              All Denbighshire councillors pledge their support to the full business case currently awaiting a decision from the Welsh Government.

(ii)             That Councillor Heaton, as lead member, with the Corporate Director for Social Services and Education, meet with the Alex Angels to engage in meaningful consultation regarding the development of health and social care in the county.

(iii)           That the Partnerships Scrutiny Committee continue to scrutinise the North Denbighshire Community Hospital Project.