Councillor Pat Hackett moved and Councillor Steve Foulkes seconded the following Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 –

(1)  This Council notes the public consultation on urgent care which Wirral CCG launched on 20th September.

(2)  Council is totally opposed to any outcome which would see the closure of existing walk-in facilities and minor injury and illness facilities at current urgent care locations in Wirral.

(3)  Council believes that any new model of urgent care should enhance existing facilities rather than result in closures or reductions in services.

(4)  Council supports the objectives of enhancing patient safety, improving patient outcomes, making services more accessible and relieving pressure on Accident and Emergency Departments, but not with the introduction of any private healthcare provider or any of their shell companies to provide any type of service within Wirral, including walk-in provision.

(5)  Council encourages residents to have their say on the model proposed by the CCG and welcomes the CCG’s offer to attend relevant Council scrutiny committees during the consultation period to allow detailed scrutiny of their proposals by members.

(6)  Any funding bids need to be scrutinised within the scrutiny process. Council also notes that on page 75 of the case for change document that a capital funding bid has commenced for an Urgent Treatment Centre. Council rejects this approach as it undermines the consultation process and believes it would have been better to have waited until the consultation is finished and the results known.

(7)  This Council is opposed to all forms of privatisation in the NHS and totally opposes the introduction of any privateers into our local health service be they based in the UK, America or domiciled elsewhere.

(8)  This Council is opposed to NHS staff being transferred to the private sector and will work to ensure that all NHS workers are employed by the NHS with their wages and conditions negotiated through collective bargaining with their employer, the NHS, and the trade unions. No contract should be signed with the CCG that leads to private, none-NHS organisations running NHS services or leads to a reduction in services at each current location.

(9)  Council believes that all health care should be free at the point of need and all services should be delivered and administered by the NHS.

Following the moving of the motion, the Civic Mayor informed the meeting that the guillotine had now come into effect.

It was then moved by Councillor Phil Gilchrist and seconded by Councillor Phil Davies, “That the guillotine be suspended, to allow debate on this motion”.

The motion was put and carried (61:1) (One abstention).

Councillor Phil Gilchrist moved and Councillor Dave Mitchell seconded the following amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(9) such that the motion be approved subject to –

Insert at end of point (2) - after " ... locations in Wirral.”

“Council recognises that the existing provision was developed to meet the specific needs in local communities and fill recognised and identified gaps in services. In the case of Eastham Walk-In Centre and Clinic, following the reinstatement of the opening hours, the average monthly attendance rose to 1070 visits between May and July 2018. Prior to the restoration of the hours, the average monthly attendance was 732 between January and April 2018.  Council, therefore, wishes to know how any planned replacement services can genuinely meet the pattern of local usage, especially as the services assist people from Cheshire.”

Insert at end of point (3) - after " ... reductions in services."

“Council notes the geographical distribution of the GPs' weekend and extended hours services established in September 2018. Council believes that new services have to be fully accessible to residents, that public transport links are a major concern, especially as weekend and evening services may not match daytime services and calls for the locations of services to be genuinely convenient and accessible throughout the hours of provision.”

Councillor Pat Cleary moved and Councillor Mike Sullivan seconded the following amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12(9) such that the motion be approved subject to –

Insert new paragraph 9

“As such, the proposals to sign a legally binding agreement between Wirral Council and the Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group on 16/10/2018 are against the public interest. They would lead to an accountable care system and then an accountable care organisation. This would set in concrete new “care models” that would only provide limited health care for people who can’t afford private health insurance. The proposals therefore represent a clear route to privatisation within the NHS.”

(existing paragraph 9 will then become paragraph 10)

Following a debate conducted in accordance with Standing Order 12, and Councillor Hackett having replied and having accepted the amendment moved by Councillor Gilchrist, the amendment of Councillor Cleary was put and lost (7:54) (One abstention).

Prior to the substantive motion, as amended, being put to the vote a number of Members rose to request a ‘card’ vote.

A recorded vote was then taken and the Council divided as follows:

For the motion (62) – Councillors T Anderson, B Berry, J Bird, C Blakeley, A Brame, P Brightmore, D Burgess-Joyce, K Cannon, C Carubia, P Cleary, W Clements, T Cottier, T Cox, A Davies, G Davies, P Davies, W Davies, P Doughty, D Elderton, G Ellis, S Foulkes, S Frost, A Gardner, P Gilchrist, J Green, E Grey, P Hackett, P Hayes, A Hodson, K Hodson, AER Jones, C Jones, S Jones, T Jones, M Jordan, S Kelly, B Kenny, I Lewis, J McManus, C Meaden, D Mitchell,  B Mooney, C Muspratt, T Norbury, C Povall, L Rennie, L Rowlands, PA Smith, C Spriggs, J Stapleton, P Stuart, M Sullivan, A Sykes, T Usher, J Walsh, G Watt, S Whittingham, I Williams, KJ Williams, S Williams, J Williamson and G Wood.

Resolved (62:0) –

(1)  This Council notes the public consultation on urgent care which Wirral CCG launched on 20th September.

(2)  Council is totally opposed to any outcome which would see the closure of existing walk-in facilities and minor injury and illness facilities at current urgent care locations in Wirral. Council recognises that the existing provision was developed to meet the specific needs in local communities and fill recognised and identified gaps in services. In the case of Eastham Walk-In Centre and Clinic, following the reinstatement of the opening hours, the average monthly attendance rose to 1070 visits between May and July 2018. Prior to the restoration of the hours, the average monthly attendance was 732 between January and April 2018.  Council, therefore, wishes to know how any planned replacement services can genuinely meet the pattern of local usage, especially as the services assist people from Cheshire.

(3)  Council believes that any new model of urgent care should enhance existing facilities rather than result in closures or reductions in services. Council notes the geographical distribution of the GPs' weekend and extended hours services established in September 2018. Council believes that new services have to be fully accessible to residents, that public transport links are a major concern, especially as weekend and evening services may not match daytime services and calls for the locations of services to be genuinely convenient and accessible throughout the hours of provision.

(4)  Council supports the objectives of enhancing patient safety, improving patient outcomes, making services more accessible and relieving pressure on Accident and Emergency Departments, but not with the introduction of any private healthcare provider or any of their shell companies to provide any type of service within Wirral, including walk-in provision.

(5)  Council encourages residents to have their say on the model proposed by the CCG and welcomes the CCG’s offer to attend relevant Council scrutiny committees during the consultation period to allow detailed scrutiny of their proposals by members.

(6)  Any funding bids need to be scrutinised within the scrutiny process. Council also notes that on page 75 of the case for change document that a capital funding bid has commenced for an Urgent Treatment Centre. Council rejects this approach as it undermines the consultation process and believes it would have been better to have waited until the consultation is finished and the results known.

(7)  This Council is opposed to all forms of privatisation in the NHS and totally opposes the introduction of any privateers into our local health service be they based in the UK, America or domiciled elsewhere.

(8)  This Council is opposed to NHS staff being transferred to the private sector and will work to ensure that all NHS workers are employed by the NHS with their wages and conditions negotiated through collective bargaining with their employer, the NHS, and the trade unions. No contract should be signed with the CCG that leads to private, none-NHS organisations running NHS services or leads to a reduction in services at each current location.

(9)  Council believes that all health care should be free at the point of need and all services should be delivered and administered by the NHS.