The recent closure of Birch Ward at St Cross by University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW) has again highlighted the cavalier attitude by the Coventry based management. This letter is to inform you of the recommendations made by the Adult Social Care & Healthy Scrutiny Committee which was held on 16^th December 2011 to discuss and consider the closure.

Recommendations from the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Committee, having considered all the points that had been raised, agreed on balance that the closure of Birch Ward did not constitute a substantial variation and it was Resolved that:

The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee recognises the extenuating circumstances around the disclosure of the proposal to close the Birch Ward, and accept the decision.

The Committee record their concern at the lack of involvement with Rugby residents and all stakeholders, and their concern at the possible impact on Rugby patients who may in the future be treated at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. In light of these concerns, there are key lessons to be learnt and the Committee makes the following recommendations:

1. Where the University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust plans to vary or develop services locally, the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and other stakeholder should be included at the earliest possible time in discussions to determine whether the proposal represents a substantial variation. If the outcome of that discussion is that a proposed change does represent a substantial variation, the Trust must consult the full Committee.

2. A decision on whether a formal public consultation is required should be made through involvement with the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

3. Any future decisions should take greater account of engaging communities, patients and the public.

4. The “Good Practice Guidelines – NHS Service Variations and Developments” agreed by Warwickshire stakeholders in 2009 should be refreshed.

5. Regular updates on bed occupancy and repatriation at a ward level for University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and Hospital of St Cross should be provided to the Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

6. The Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee will monitor the outcomes on the closure of Birch Ward, Hospital of St Cross, Rugby.

Subsequently, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council, joined forces with the Member of Parliament for Rugby and others in a cross party meeting with the Minister of State for Health. The meeting was held at the Department of Health offices. Also present was the Chief Executive of UHCW, who was told that UHCW management must involve local people much more when making decisions affecting them. He was left in no doubt about the strength of feeling over this matter.

We will continue to press for clear assurances over the future of St Cross and work for improved involvement for the public in the future of local health care.

Jerry Roodhouse Fighting for St Cross

DON’T CLOSE BIRCH WARD                   Make Your Views Known

Rugby Liberal Democrats are opposed to the decision by University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) Management Team to close Birch Ward without any consultation.

This 22 bed recovery unit at the Hospital of St Cross is a vital health resource. Its closure, especially during the winter months when traditionally hospital admissions rise, is ill-timed and unnecessary. Many of the staff at the hospital and members of the public share our views.

The decision to close Birch Ward has been made in haste with no consultation. If Birch ward is closed we believe that over the winter months a pressing demand will mean that it will have to be reopened, as University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire is nearly always full.

These are some of the likely consequences of the closure:-

• Patients recuperating after treatment or awaiting assessment for care in the community will have to be found beds elsewhere.
• Beds in other wards will then not be available for patients undergoing elective treatment.
• Patients may have to be transferred outside the local area.
• Emergency re-opening of the ward, presumably with agency nurses, will be at great cost.
• The skills and local knowledge of the existing staff will have been lost.

This is a purely financially driven decision.    The University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire Management Team have serious questions to answer.

The controlling Conservative group has voted in favour of knocking down the flats in Pettiver Crescent (30-76 & 2-28) despite the Liberal Democrats proposing an alternative. The vote saw Councillors that represent Hillmorton abstain from voting and speaking .

Dave Elson has been working with local residents with local residents over this matter. Following the decision Dave says “that in this instance the Council is wrong and is rushing to hit a deadline instead of thinking about the people that live there. I will be fighting for local people over this matter”.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, said “that the voices of the tenants needed to be heard and it did look like no one was going to speak. We will now want to make sure that we get a fair deal for those affected”

Tell us what you think is it right that elderly people should forced out of their homes?