Agenda item
Northwick Park Hospital
Minutes:
Councillor Daly read out the proposed motion. She referred to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) visit to Northwick Park Hospital in May 2014 which found that 24,568 patients were re-admitted within one week of being discharged by A&E, which was much higher than the national average, no Medical Director was in post, there was no consultant in the department at night time, an overly dependent reliance on poorly inducted locum doctors, patients sitting in ambulances because A&E was full and patients not being properly provided with food and drink. Councillor Daly added that surgery, critical care, maternity and family planning, services for children and young people and outpatient services had all been found to be either inadequate or required improvement. She asked the Council to demand from NHS England, the CQC and the North West London Hospitals Trust an apology to the people of Brent. She felt the least that could be done was to keep the A&E at Central Middlesex hospital open until the failings were addressed. Councillor Daly also asked the Council to pass on its thanks to the staff at Northwick Park hospital for the professionalism and passion they displayed despite the circumstances within which they worked.
Councillor Warren spoke in support of the opening paragraph of the motion because there were clearly concerns arising from the inspection. However he pointed out that the CQC report concluded that improvements were needed and not that the services were unsafe. He did not think the majority of residents were affected by the situation at Northwick Park hospital. Councillor Warren questioned how the motion could call for performance at Northwick Park hospital to vastly improve, which he said would take time, but also say that if it was agreed that all the improvements would be carried out then delay to the closure of the A&E at Central Middlesex hospital would not be sought. He therefore moved an amendment to the circulated motion to delete all after paragraph 1. He felt the Council had a responsibility to be a critical friend of Northwick Park hospital and pointed out the outstanding stroke unit and short term assessment team there.
Councillor Kansagra supported the motion and referred to discussion at Scrutiny Committee on 6 August 2014 when Members were assured by health managers that everything was in place for the closure of the A&E at Central Middlesex Hospital. However the CQC report had clearly shown this not to be the case and a clear message needed to be sent out from the Council that this was not acceptable.
Councillor Hirani welcomed the support for the motion and agreed that a clear message was needed to express the concerns of the people of Brent given that the A&E at Northwick Park hospital would be the only A&E facility serving people within the boundaries of Brent.
The amendment moved by Councillor Warren was put to the vote and declared LOST.
The motion as circulated was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
(i) this Council places on record its deep concern about the findings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection of Northwick Park Hospital – which is set to become the main A&E hub when the Central Middlesex unit closes;
(ii) this Council places on record its concern at the quality of health provision for the majority of Brent residents that depend on Northwick Park;
(iii) that North West London Hospital Trust be called upon to delay the closure of its A&E facility at Central Middlesex until the performance of Northwick Park Hospital is vastly improved;
(iv) that urgent assurances be demanded from The North West London Hospital Trust that they will implement the recommendations as set out in the CQC report to improve Northwick Park Hospital as a matter of urgency or else delay the closure of the A&E unit.