The Chairman will consider the admission of any reports (listed on the agenda but circulated late) which have not been circulated in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution and the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information and Meetings) (England) Regulations 2012.
Note: The above requirements state that agendas and reports should be circulated at least 5 clear working days in advance of meetings.
Minutes:
NOTED, that the reports listed on the agenda had been circulated in accordance with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution and the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information and Meetings) (England) Regulations 2012, with the exception of the reports listed below. These requirements state that agendas and reports should be circulated at least 5 clear working days in advance of meetings.
Report Nos. 13 and 14 – Acquisition of Land (Minute Nos. 11 and 18 below refer).
Councillor Alev Cazimoglu (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) took this opportunity to raise an urgent item for Cabinet’s attention and endorsement. Councillor Cazimoglu made the following statement:
Statement to Cabinet from Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care
As Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care I wish to comment on the recent worrying media coverage about ongoing concerns at North Middlesex Hospital.
Following the publication of the CQC warning notice, The Leader and I wrote to the Secretary of State for Health – Jeremy Hunt to express our very significant concerns regarding the challenges that North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust are facing and seek his personal intervention to ensure that all support and resources are made available to bring an immediate and sustainable solution to this situation.
The North Middlesex A&E is one of the busiest Emergency Departments in London and serves a very deprived area with significant health needs in the local population. The Trust has been under considerable strain not least as a result of a lack of emergency department Consultants, resulting in performance and quality issues. North Middlesex University NHS Trust has been given until 26 August 2016 by CQC to make the improvements.
The Council has continually engaged with North Middlesex University NHS Trust, NHS commissioners, regulators and neighbouring trusts to encourage a whole system response that ensures the support required to the Hospital is provided. A Programme Oversight Group has been established by the NHS to take forward the required support to the Trust at which the London Borough of Enfield will be represented.
I have no doubt the issues with North Middlesex University NHS Trust are compounded by the financial underfunding of Enfield CCG, which has to find an additional £7 million in savings on top of £14 million already planned this year, which is in addition to an underlying £49 million structural deficit. This must be an impediment to supporting North Middlesex University NHS Trust and I will continue to raise this issue with the NHS.
Finally, we must not forget that when Chase Farm Hospital lost it’s A&E, local people were repeatedly assured that there would be a safer and better service available to them, like me they will be gravely concerned to hear such worrying reports about the service on the North Middlesex site. On their behalf we will continue to do all we can to support the hard working front line staff at North Middlesex Hospital and to press the Secretary of State to ensure that he makes sure local NHS services have the resources and support they need to provide local people with safe, high quality services in the emergency department at North Middlesex Hospital and beyond.
In conclusion Councillor Achilleas Georgiou (Deputy Leader) moved that the statement be endorsed by the Cabinet and this was seconded by Councillor Alan Sitkin (Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Business Development).
AGREED, that the above statement and actions outlined be fully supported by the Cabinet.