Resolved:  That all items on the agenda be web-cast.

There were no apologies.

There were no substitute Members.

It was noted that Councillors Beerling, Field, Mrs Gooch, Naghi, Paine, Mrs Ring, Vizzard, Warner and Garland were visiting Members for Agenda Item 7, “Councillor Call for Action – Maternity Services in Maidstone”.  Councillor Fran Wilson was in attendance to present her Councillor Call for Action.

a)  Disclosures of interest.

b)  Disclosures of lobbying.

c)  Disclosures of whipping.

Councillor Field declared that he had a personal interest in Agenda Item 7, “Councillor Call for Action – Maternity Services in Maidstone” by virtue of his employment by NHS Medway.  He stated that any opinions stated were his as a ward councillor and were not representative of his employer.

Councillors Batt, Hotson and Paterson declared that they had been lobbied with regard to Agenda Item 7.

Resolved:  That all items be taken in public as proposed.

Councillor Call for Action raised by Councillor Fran Wilson.

Interview with:

·  Steve Phoenix, Chief Executive, NHS West Kent;

·  Glenn Douglas, Chief Executive, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust;

·  Mr Alan Pentecost, Retired Obstetrician; and

·  A Maidstone GP and representative of the British Medical Association (to be confirmed).

The Chairman introduced a range of witnesses who were in attendance to discuss the Councillor Call for Action that had been raised by Councillor Fran Wilson:

·  Steve Phoenix, Chief Executive, NHS West Kent;

·  Glenn Douglas, Chief Executive, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW Trust);

·  Dr Wilson Bolsover, Divisional Director for Women and Children’s Services, MTW NHS Trust;

·  Gillian Duffey, Associate Director of Nursing/ Head of Midwifery, MTW NHS Trust;

·  Mr Alan Pentecost, Retired Obstetrician;

·  Dr Helen Terrell, Maidstone GP and representative of the Maidstone Division of the British Medical Association; and

·  Sue Eve, Trust Community Midwifery Manager from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

Councillor Fran Wilson gave a statement to the Committee and the witnesses outlining her reasons for calling the Councillor Call for Action, focussing on three key themes:

1.  The original consultation: was this appropriate, were the views of the people that the council and the PCT represent properly sought and were any matters arising from that consultation satisfactorily answered;

2.  The issue of accessibility between Maidstone and Pembury; and

3.  The statistical evidence underpinning the decision.

Councillor Wilson’s statement is attached at Appendix A.

Mr Douglas stated that the MTW Trust had faced problems with getting the message about the proposed changes to maternity services across to the public and the opportunity to explain the facts was therefore welcomed.  He suggested that as it had been five years since the consultation, the clinical reasons for change had been forgotten.  He emphasised that there was a significant investment programme for Maidstone Hospital that ensured its future in the town.

Dr Bolsover stated that he had been a consultant for 17 years. Dr Bolsover said colleagues started thinking about these changes 10 years ago when changes in working practices began to be introduced. When he had started it had not been uncommon for a junior doctor to begin work on a Friday morning and leave on a Monday evening.  The European Working Time Directive now meant that they could work a maximum of 48 hours a week, which was far safer but meant that the number of doctors needed at each level had increased from 3 to 8.  Since the suggestion of creating one unit had first been raised in 2000, there was no longer a problem with just employing the best doctors, but with filling vacancies at all.  Currently, vacancies were being filled on a shift-by-shift basis by temporary staff, which was unsafe.  By combining the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells paediatrics and obstetrics units at Pembury, the best doctors could be employed.

Ms Duffey stated that the proposals would increase women’s choice over where to give birth, which was in line with the 2007 Department of Health “Maternity Matters” document, and emphasised that the changes only related to delivery, not antenatal care.  Women were already being transferred between hospitals in the MTW Trust area to cope with variations in demand, and having one designated unit would tackle this.  Ms Duffey stated that a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

6:30 p.m. to 10:05 p.m.