Agenda item

NOTICE OF MOTION - HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

This Council recognises:-

 

-               The significant impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on the country and the world.

-               The excellent work of health and social care workers, especially during these unprecedent times.

 

This Council notes:-

 

-               The under-funding of the NHS.

-               The failure to train enough doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals for future careers in the NHS, and increased pressures pushing large numbers of experienced senior healthcare workers into early retirement.

-               That in the context of a pandemic, the latest nationwide wholesale introduction of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) is poorly timed.

-               The latest plans revert to a structure that was in place over a decade ago.

-               That a postcode lottery on specialised services (such as IVF treatment) has sadly emerged throughout the country.

-               That regular reorganisation of NHS services at the whim of the Health Secretary of the day harms good patient care.

-               That arbitrary Government target-setting, diktats, and regulatory changes create a culture of instability, which can result in worse outcomes for patients.

-               That a progressive reduction in inpatient beds has left the country ill-equipped to deal with current pressures and this has resulted in record waiting times to access essential services, including Emergency Departments across the region.

-               That it can make improvements to the commissioning and delivery of high-quality social care.

-               The systematic undervaluing and underpaying of social care workers and that there are no new funding proposals for existing pressures.

-               That the Government’s new health and social care levy proposes no new funding towards existing funding pressures, demographic growth or inflation, with the expectation that these will be funded by council tax, social care precept and efficiencies.

-               That the Government has failed to take account of the impact of their social care proposals on employee and provider costs.

 

Therefore this Council resolves:-

 

-               To review the commissioning of social care services within the Borough at the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Board within three months, placing particular focus on its intermediate care, respite care and locality-based providers of home care.

-               To review the working conditions of social care providers in the Borough, with the aspiration that all social care staff in the Borough are paid a fair wage.

-               To improve communication and collaboration with health and social care providers and focus on providing a comprehensive community hospital that focuses on rehabilitation and easing hospital bed pressures.

 

This Council also resolves to request that the Government:-

 

-               Delays the proposed introduction of the ICS by two years, given the current pressures of the pandemic.

-               Better addresses existing funding pressures, demographic growth and inflation within the new health and social care levy.

-               Remove the punitive tax structures which force experienced health professionals into early retirement, to incentivise these health professionals to remain within the service.

-               Removes immigration barriers from healthcare professionals from the European Union.

-               Increase the number of healthcare professionals being trained within the country.

-               Incentivise those taking healthcare degrees by improving the grant and bursary packages to make studying these courses more affordable.

-               Better recognises comparative qualifications from abroad with established healthcare education, such as Australia, Singapore, and Canada.

 

Mover:- Councillor Miro                                      Seconder:- Councillor Tarmey

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Miro and seconded by Councillor Tarmey that:-

 

This Council recognises:-

 

-                 The significant impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on the country and the world.

-                 The excellent work of health and social care workers, especially during these unprecedent times.

 

This Council notes:-

 

-                 The under-funding of the NHS.

-                 The failure to train enough doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals for future careers in the NHS, and increased pressures pushing large numbers of experienced senior healthcare workers into early retirement.

-                 That in the context of a pandemic, the latest nationwide wholesale introduction of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) is poorly timed.

-                 The latest plans revert to a structure that was in place over a decade ago.

-                 That a postcode lottery on specialised services (such as IVF treatment) has sadly emerged throughout the country.

-                 That regular reorganisation of NHS services at the whim of the Health Secretary of the day harms good patient care.

-                 That arbitrary Government target-setting, diktats, and regulatory changes create a culture of instability, which can result in worse outcomes for patients.

-                 That a progressive reduction in inpatient beds has left the country ill-equipped to deal with current pressures and this has resulted in record waiting times to access essential services, including Emergency Departments across the region.

-                 That it can make improvements to the commissioning and delivery of high-quality social care.

-                 The systematic undervaluing and underpaying of social care workers and that there are no new funding proposals for existing pressures.

-                 That the Government’s new health and social care levy proposes no new funding towards existing funding pressures, demographic growth or inflation, with the expectation that these will be funded by council tax, social care precept and efficiencies.

-                 That the Government has failed to take account of the impact of their social care proposals on employee and provider costs.

 

Therefore this Council resolves:-

 

-                 To review the commissioning of social care services within the Borough at the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Board within 3months, placing particular focus on its intermediate care, respite care and locality-based providers of home care.

-                 To review the working conditions of social care providers in the Borough, with the aspiration that all social care staff in the Borough are paid a fair wage.

-                 To improve communication and collaboration with health and social care providers and focus on providing a comprehensive community hospital that focuses on rehabilitation and easing hospital bed pressures.

 

This Council also resolves to request that the Government:-

 

-                 Delays the proposed introduction of the ICS by 2 years, given the current pressures of the pandemic.

-                 Better addresses existing funding pressures, demographic growth and inflation within the new health and social care levy.

-                 Remove the punitive tax structures which force experienced health professionals into early retirement, to incentivise these health professionals to remain within the service.

-                 Removes immigration barriers from healthcare professionals from the European Union.

-                 Increase the number of healthcare professionals being trained within the country.

-                 Incentivise those taking healthcare degrees by improving the grant and bursary packages to make studying these courses more affordable.

-                 Better recognises comparative qualifications from abroad with established healthcare education, such as Australia, Singapore, and Canada.

 

At this point it was moved by Councillor Roche and seconded by Councillor Cusworth that the motion be amended as follows:-

 

The amendment was put and carried and became the substantive motion.

 

The substantive motion now read:-

 

This Council recognises:-

 

-                 The significant impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on the country and the world.

-                 The excellent work of health and social care workers, especially during these unprecedent times.

 

This Council notes:-

 

-                 The under-funding of the NHS.

-                 The failure to train enough doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals for future careers in the NHS, and increased pressures pushing large numbers of experienced senior healthcare workers into early retirement.

-                 That in the context of a pandemic, the latest nationwide wholesale introduction of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) is poorly timed.

-                 The latest plans revert to a structure that was in place over a decade ago.

-                 That a postcode lottery on specialised services (such as IVF treatment) has sadly emerged throughout the country.

-                 That regular reorganisation of NHS services at the whim of the Health Secretary of the day harms good patient care.

-                 That arbitrary Government target-setting, diktats, and regulatory changes create a culture of instability, which can result in worse outcomes for patients.

-                 That a progressive reduction in inpatient beds has left the country ill-equipped to deal with current pressures and this has resulted in record waiting times to access essential services, including Emergency Departments across the region.

-                 That it can make improvements to the commissioning and delivery of high-quality social care.

-                 The systematic undervaluing and underpaying of social care workers and that there are no new funding proposals for existing pressures.

-                 That the Government’s new health and social care levy proposes no new funding towards existing funding pressures, demographic growth or inflation, with the expectation that these will be funded by council tax, social care precept and efficiencies.

-                 That the Government has failed to take account of the impact of their social care proposals on employee and provider costs.

 

Therefore this Council resolves: -

 

-                 To request the relevant Scrutiny Commissions give consideration as part of their regular work programme planning review the commissioning of social care services within the Borough placing particular focus on its intermediate care, respite care and locality-based providers of home care.

-                 That such a review would consider the working conditions of social care providers in the Borough, with the aspiration that all social care staff in the Borough are paid at least the Real Living Wage.

-                 To continue to improve communication and collaboration with health and social care providers.

 

This Council also resolves to request that the Government:-

 

-                 Better addresses existing funding pressures, demographic growth and inflation within the new health and social care levy.

-                 Seek to incentivise experienced health professionals to remain within the service.

-                 Removes immigration barriers from healthcare professionals from the European Union.

-                 Increase the number of healthcare professionals being trained within the country.

-                 Incentivise those taking healthcare degrees by improving the grant and bursary packages to make studying these courses more affordable.

-                 Better recognises comparative qualifications from abroad with established healthcare education, such as Australia, Singapore, and Canada.

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried by majority.