At yesterday’s Health Scrutiny Committee Tories supported a Labour proposal which will greatly delay planned improvements to outpatients’ facilities, or even risk losing them altogether. They voted together to refer the whole matter to the Secretary of State – a move which is likely to delay the improvement plans for months, probably into the pre-Election period in 2015 when decisions are put on hold. A new government could then scrap all the plans including the promised 68 Intermediate Bed Unit at Frenchay

The NHS Clinical commission Group (CCG) intended to expand outpatient facilities in Yate and Cossham, and add them to those at Southmead and Emerson’s Green, so putting them within reach of the vast majority of South Gloucestershire residents. The downside was that current outpatient services would be withdrawn from Frenchay, which would be without any health facilities until the 68 bed hospital is opened there.

Liberal Democrat councillors sympathised with the fears about the 68 bed unit, which they made clear must remain in future plans. But the Lib Dems warned that by not allowing the CCG to proceed with their expansion plans now, and passing the issue over to the Secretary of State, there was a real risk that South Gloucestershire residents would lose everything including even the 68 bed Unit. “This delay may get the Labour Party and the Tories some short term headlines,“ said Councillor Sue Hope (Lib Dem Health spokesperson), “but this issue is far too important to local people to be a political football . I want to see our services expanded now in Yate and across the patch and I am furious that the other two parties have joined forces to stop this happening.”

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