Council to “take the lead” on Infirmary fight

Councillor Ashworth with the petition folder

Rochdale Council has acknowledged a petition signed by around 8,000 people regarding hospital services in the borough and Councillors have agreed to “take the reins and move forward” with the fight to save services at the Infirmary.

The petition – a combination of paper and online petitions – was compiled by Councillor Jean Ashworth and presented to a meeting of full council in October.

On Thursday night (15 December) at an extraordinary meeting of full council, action taken so far by the council was outlined. This action includes correspondence with the PCT and the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust.

The latest correspondence came in November, when the Council sought a public apology from the PCT/PAHT  in respect of cardiology services being transferred in April 2011 without consultation and therefore in breach of section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001.

Speaking in the Council Chamber, Councillor Jean Ashworth, said: “I am really pleased that the council has given full support to the petition I submitted on behalf of the public’s concerns regarding the premature removal of services from the Rochdale Infirmary.

“From all the evidence of a flawed consultation, the removal of cardiology and A&E was unlawful and ask that the council takes all appropriate action against the Pennine Acute and consider a judicial review into this matter, to be decided in a court of law, on leaving our borough without adequate safe access to hospital care, causing a lot of suffering to patients and visitors within this and surrounding areas of our borough. It has had a massive effect on other hospitals and ambulance services that have had to deal with these pressure moves”

Councillors at the meeting expressed views that more needs to be done.

The Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Colin Lambert said: “There are very few issues that unite all 60 members – but health is one of them.

“At the end of this process we will hopefully get an apology from Pennine Acute and Healthy Futures but we need to take control of our own destiny. This is our NHS not theirs, this is our hospital, not theirs – we need to take the lead.

Councillor Lambert spoke briefly on discussions he has been having with GPs over the future of the Infirmary and said: “In March we will produce our shopping list, not produced by us in here because we are amateurs, but produced by GPs because they know what is deliverable and what is achievable.

“I have faith in this council and in the GPs. I have no faith in the board or the management of the Trust.

“They are an unelected body who take notice of nobody and we need to make them take notice.”

Councillor Irene Davidson suggested that the “legal department take the reins and move forward and take them to task.” Adding that whatever it takes should be done.

Councillor Wera Hobhouse echoed the thoughts and said: “We have got to keep fighting.”

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, said that theories, such as splitting up the hospitals in the Pennine Acute Trust, need to be tested.

He said: “Once and for all the council has got to take a grip on the different scenarios suggested for the Infirmary and find out which one will deliver.”

Councillors concurred that all possible action – legal or otherwise – should be taken.

Councillors also said that the 'Friends and Family' should comment on the latest Healthy Future’s consultation regarding heart and stroke services with Councillor Jean Hornby saying it is “vitally important” that more people give feedback.