The Inverclyde Council

Thursday 23 September 2004 at 4.00 pm

Present:   Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Forbes, Gallacher, Hunter, McCabe, McCormick (M), McCormick (P), Mitchell, Moran, Nimmo, Roach, Robertson, Snoddy, Stewart, Tucker and White.

Chair:  Provost Rebecchi presided. 

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community Services, Mr G Douglas (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Mr A MacDonald (for Director of Education Services) and Director of Social Work Services.

Apologies:  Councillors Blair, Fyfe, Hill and McKenzie.

670

NHS Argyll & Clyde Clinical Strategy

670

There was submitted a report by the Director of Social Work Services on the Clinical Strategy for NHS Argyll & Clyde (1) outlining the seven key principles contained in the consultation paper, (2) setting out the challenges identified within the Clinical Strategy, (3) advising of the vision of NHS Argyll & Clyde contained within the consultation paper, (4) summarising and making observations on the findings of the work commissioned from York Health Economics Consultants on behalf of the Council, (5) highlighting the economic impact of the proposed Strategy on Inverclyde and (6) advising of the progress of the Health Working Group.

(Councillor Hunter entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

The meeting adjourned at 4.30pm to allow Elected Members to meet with NHS Argyll & Clyde Board Members to discuss the Strategy and reconvened thereafter at 6.50pm.

(Councillors Forbes, Hunter, Moran, Stewart and White did not return to the meeting).

Decided:

(1)      that the Council grant delegated powers to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Health Working Group to submit a response to NHS Argyll & Clyde setting out the Council’s serious concerns regarding the NHS Argyll & Clyde Clinical Strategy, advising that significant additional work to look at continuing current provision along with a range of other options is required;

(2)      that the Council request NHS Argyll & Clyde to carry out transparent options appraisals of alternative models, including costs and timescales, which could deliver improved health care for the community of NHS Argyll & Clyde taking into account the regional health dimension for acute service provision;  and

(3)      that the Director of Social Work Services circulate copies of York Health Economics Consultants’ final report on the NHS Argyll & Clyde Clinical Strategy to Elected Members and to NHS Argyll & Clyde Board Members as part of the Council’s response to the consultation.