'Deeply disappointed': Telford council leader not allowed to speak at Future Fit decision meeting

Councillor Shaun Davies asked to speak at Tuesday's Future Fit meeting at Harper Adams University, but said his request was refused.

At the meeting, due to take place at 6.30pm, health bosses will decide where they want the county’s only full 24/7 A&E and consultant led Women and Children’s Centre to be.

The clinical commissioning groups making the decision are recommended to approve the preferred option of the Future Fit decision making process of siting those services in the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, moving planned care to Telford's Princess Royal Hospital.

But from the 18,742 responses received as part of the Future Fit survey, 65 per cent said they 'strongly disagreed' or 'disagreed' with the preferred option, with the majority being from the Telford and Wrekin area.

Councillor Davies said: "The CCGs are accountable to the public and they are not allowing me as a representative of the public of Telford and Wrekin to speak.

“They tried to ignore us and continued to plough on throughout the Future Fit process. During their consultation, the public overwhelmingly rejected the health bosses’ preferred option and backed ours but it looks like the will of the public will be ignored. Now, at this next meeting, they are trying to silence us again.

Accountable

“They chose Harper Adams University for this meeting, a location that will limit the ability of people with transport difficulties to attend. Earlier this month I wrote to both CCGs highlighting those concerns.

“It is important that health bosses are accountable to the public they serve, just like we are. We will be arranging transport from Telford to the university in Newport to take those who want to be there. The public must be heard and will be heard.”

It comes after health bosses came under fire for telling campaigners that Tuesday's meeting - which will be streamed live online - would not include time for questions from the public.

Bosses from Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Groups say the public's views on the plans were taken into consideration during the 15-week consultation period last year.

They say the CCGs are under no obligation to hold the meeting in public, however people are invited to observe 'in the interests of being open, transparent and honest'.

Organisers said they chose Harper Adams University as the last joint committee meeting in August 2017 was held in Shrewsbury.

Harper Adams, they said, proved to be the best venue to serve the meeting, after others were considered.

CCG reponse

Today David Evans, chief officer of Telford CCG and Dr Simon Freeman, accountable officer of Shropshire CCG said: “Telford & Wrekin Council has been very involved and engaged throughout the Future Fit programme, from the development of the options, to the decision on which options to consult on and during the 15-week consultation.

A council representative is a member of the Future Fit Programme Board and the co-chair of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) attends as an observer. We have held several meetings with local councillors, presented at town and parish council meetings and responded to many letters and emails.

“As part of our conscientious consideration phase, the CCGs have considered the council’s formal response to the consultation, along with the views and ideas that have been expressed by the thousands of people from Telford & Wrekin who responded to our survey, wrote letters and emails or provided feedback through meetings, focus groups and the public drop-in events.

Delegated

"Following this, we have now delegated authority to the Joint Committee of Shropshire and Telford CCGs to make a final decision on 29 January.

"We have agreed with the independent chair of the Joint Committee that this meeting is to discuss the feedback and understand the outcomes and mitigation plans from the work that has developed during and post the consultation.

"Much time has been provided for elected members, key stakeholders and individuals to ask their questions and for the CCGs, the hospital trust and clinicians to respond. Therefore, as a result of this extensive involvement, the decision has been taken to not take any further questions at this stage of the process and therefore the meeting of the Joint Committee of the two CCGs will not be open to questions from attendees.

“Anyone is invited to observe the meeting, either as a member of the audience or via a live webcast that will be available to view at www.nhsfuturefit.org

"Please note that, due to fire regulations, 300 is the maximum capacity for the audience. The venue will therefore not allow entry to people after this number has been reached.”