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Peterborough City Council slams report on health centre cut
The gathering in the Town Hall last night. Picture: Ben Davis
CONCERNED councillors asked NHS Peterborough bosses to postpone debate on the future of a primary care centre after criticising their consultation document.
NHS Peterborough had said closing the Alma Road Care Centre would save it £800,000.
According to its Turnaround Plan the primary care trust (PCT) has to save £20.2 million this year.
A scrutiny commission for health was last night given a document to present options available for public debate over the next month.
However, all six city councillors sitting on the committee recommended that debate is postponed until the document is redrafted because they did not feel it was detailed enough for the intricacies of the issue.
Councillor John Peach lead the criticism against the 12 page document, which he claimed failed to acknowledge what the knock-on effect of the centre closing would be.
Cllr Peach said: “Any consultations based on this document would be flawed – it is not detailed enough and demonstrates the contempt the PCT has for the people of Peterborough it is meant to serve.
“The PCT should not go ahead with the consultation but rather come back to us at our next meeting with more detailed information on what this would do to other surgeries and people in this location.
“The consultation period is far too short, there is no venue for a public discussion and it is over a holiday period when a lot of people will be away.”
The document was discussed with members of the committee and the public by NHS Peterborough director of strategic change Paul Whiteside and GP Harshad Mistry.
After the meeting, Mr Whiteside said: “We will consider the recommendations quickly.”
During the meeting, Mr Whiteside repeatedly stated that he hoped to hear ideas from the public not only over the two options the PCT presented, but of any alternative solutions that they had not previously considered.
The options were to either close the services of the Alma Road centre or, alternatively, keep it open but find a way to generate the £800,000 that would be saved by closing the centre.
He said: “If there are other things we can do practically we would be happy to hear them. We have to look at ways to sort out our financial issues and still give local people the services they need – that is the driving rationale for us.”
However, Cllr Nick Sandford claimed that the document lacked the information needed for a member of the public to come up with alternative solutions.
Cllr Sandford said: “I do not understand how a member of the public can put forward suggestions without the basic information.
“It is the PCT’s role to put forward suggestions.”
No deadline has been made for the PCT to announce its reaction to the meeting’s recommendation but it is expected in the near future.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
dcmat
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 01:18 PMBrian – I am more concerned with the two huge moths beneath them! It’s good to see it was standing room only with so many people opposing the decision.
Kevin
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 01:04 PMMaggie On the contrary? Where have I suggested that it is not a vital role of councillors. I suggest that you try and read what I have written not what you wish to read. (And perhaps look up what "those who live in glass houses should not start throwing stones" means.)
Brian Gascoyne
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 12:32 PMIncidentally in the picture of the Council Chambers, I notice that both the Union Flag and the English Flag of St George seen to be at half mast!! is this a symbolic way of stating and accepting that true democracy in this city is now dead? Or as Monty Python would declare that we have an autominous collective in power?
Maggie
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 12:30 PMKevin - on the contrary, it is a vital role of councillors to hold public services to account, and holding the PCT and others to account bodes well for more challenge by councillors - on behalf of the people of Peterborough - to the services provided by the council itself. May all stone-throwing be well targetted and smash some barriers!
Brian Gascoyne
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 12:26 PMThe logic of stating that the closure of the centre would save £800,000 is not a reason for closure. We may as well say that we could scrap the police and save millions, or do away with councillors altogether and save a few more. We pay taxes and rates and for that we expect service, Where are the savings for the population in the area? Nowhere! To close the centre will mean that you're still going to pay the same in taxes and rates and you will have to pay more to go somewhere else. So your now paying more to get less. £8m on football clubs and £11.2m on Cathedral Square. What a great use of public resources. People count and when you lforget that, you have no business being in politis at all.
Kevin
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 09:17 AMWhilst not wishing to demean such a serious issue I find it rather rich that a member of PCC should say "Any consultations based on this document would be flawed – it is not detailed enough and demonstrates the contempt the PCT has for the people of Peterborough it is meant to serve." I would suggest John that those who live in glass houses should not start throwing stones.
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