'A disgrace': Labour accused of watering down health motion

A "WATERED-down motion" declaring "a health emergency" in Denbighshire was voted through by councillors but only after members were told to "hang their heads" in shame.

- By RICHARD EVANS Local Democracy Reporter

At the council meeting at Denbighshire Council's Ruthin County Hall HQ, several councillors gave accounts of seriously ill patients lying on A&E department floors, without being given a pillow, with some being sent home to die.

Leader of the Conservatives Cllr Brian Jones had tabled the motion at the full council meeting on Tuesday, declaring a health emergency, due to Betsi Cadwaladr University (BCU) Health Board's long list of failings.

These included the health board, which remains in special measures, having "the highest number of preventable deaths recorded in Wales", many of which, the Tory party claimed, were the "direct result of prolonged waits in North Wales A&E departments".

The original motion called for all "planned closures of community hospitals to be halted".

The motion suggested such facilities should be instead "repurposed to provide cost-effective step-down/ rehabilitation care" for patients medically discharged from hospital but not ready to go home.

The paper also argued the case for 300 new community beds, the improvement of triage arrangements at A&E departments, and that the health board worked in a "timely fashion" with the council’s social services department on care assessment packages.

But cabinet members, including Labour's lead member for social care, Cllr Elen Heaton, said the proposals weren't within the council's role and remit; instead, she said, these decisions lay with Welsh Government.

"They are not within the legal or operational powers of Denbighshire County Council," she said.

This led to Labour amending the Conservative's original motion, which was voted through 23-17 in favour; however, the recorded vote wasn't fully audible.