Agenda item

14.45

The Chairman will update the Committee on meetings attended since the last Committee.

Prior to discussion, the Committee were addressed by local member, Cllr Jenny Hannaby, in relation to the report of the confidential meeting held with representatives from Oxford Health with regard to Wantage Community Hospital on 14 April. The report informed the Committee of a briefing meeting attended by 10 members of the Committee regarding the imminent closure of Wantage Community Hospital on safety grounds, given the persistent recurrence of legionella in the hot water system of the hospital. This was being treated and there was no immediate risk to health. However, the treatment was not a long term solution and the whole system required re-plumbing in order to permanently eradicate the risk. The purpose of the confidential meeting was for Oxford Health to ask this Committee whether the proposed extension of the temporary closure of Wantage Hospital (to allow public consultation outcomes to shape the nature of capital works undertaken) constituted a substantial variation or not.  The outcome of the meeting was that HOSC members recognised the closure of Wantage Hospital as a substantial change in service and noted the commitment by OCCG, OH and other organisations to a full Transformation consultation later this year.

Cllr Jenny Hannaby

Cllr Jenny Hannaby began her address by regretting that local members had not been invited to the confidential meeting with HOSC members. However, she had attended a briefing yesterday, in her capacity as local member. She stated that on making inquiries about the issues prior to the briefing, she had been informed that the hospital would close for 2 weeks, and later told it would be closed for 3 months. The staff had been very shocked when given the full facts. She added that this was the third time in 10 years that she had attended meetings to defend the hospital against closure. She informed the Committee that the problem had been prevalent for 4 years. It had been flushed out in the past and maintenance work had taken place. Friends of Wantage Hospital had given donations for some of this work. She reported that there had been 63 babies born this year at hospital, adding her view that OH should have corrected the problem permanently if it was a danger to patients. She further commented that purdah prevented a consultation on the closure which would have enabled members of the public to have their say. She requested the Committee to encourage OH to do a temporary closure of the hospital until a consultation was held – and to support the fight against permanent closure.

The Chairman responded to Cllr Hannaby on behalf of the Committee stating that, following their meeting with OH on 14 April, members were of the view that a proposal to close the Hospital permanently would constitute a substantial change of service and would require a full public consultation. Members had recognised the Legionella made it unsafe for the health of patients and therefore needed to be flushed out. She added that they were informed that the temporary closure would take place at the end of June.

Cllr Hannaby disputed that it was a temporary closure, informing the Committee that staff had been informed that the outcome of the consultation could be permanent closure. Hannah Iqbal responded that the HOSC members who had attended the meeting had been told that the outcome would not be decided until the consultation outcome.

Hannah Iqbal agreed that clarification on these issues would be sought in the form of a letter, adding that it was her understanding that Oxford Health had wanted to close it temporarily in a planned, gradual manner and did not wish to be in a position where it would have to be closed as a sudden emergency closure.

Dr McWilliam advised that the Committee needed to make a judgement about whether they had been put fully in the picture. He suggested that the Committee should write a follow-up briefing to the Trust asking the appropriate questions.

It was AGREED:

(a)  that the Policy Officer should write to the Trust seeking clarification of the issues raised; and

(b)  to note the remainder of the Chairman’s report.