On Saturday 16th April, Alec attended a packed meeting of concerned local residents who had turned out to express their anger over a decision by the independent Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust to close Garforth Clinic.
The public meeting was organised in conjunction with Friends of Garforth Clinic as a platform for residents to ask questions of local NHS organisations. However, the Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust and local Clinical Commissioning Groups later refused to attend citing ‘purdah’ guidelines on taxpayer-funded organisations involving themselves in political debates during an election period.
Despite Alec previously suggesting a way around this with a mutual non-attendance agreement between both Conservative and Labour local election candidates, some parties then published political statements which resulted in the NHS organisations withdrawing at the eleventh hour.
Alec said “I was deeply disappointed that my constituents were unable to ask questions of local NHS organisations. After a badly handled consultation services were withdrawn from Garforth with very little notice, leaving hundreds of people confused about future access to local health services.
“Given public concern over a lack of action to date, it seems right that I, as Garforth’s MP, should now raise this matter in the House of Commons. Friends of Garforth Clinic and I are now collecting signatures for a public petition, which I hope to present on the Floor on the House next week”.
Closure of Garforth Clinic
To the House of Commons.
The petition of residents of Elmet and Rothwell,
Declares that the decision of the Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust to close Garforth Clinic removes ease of access to local health services for elderly and disabled patients; further that it removes podiatry, adult dietetics, children’s speech and language therapy, psychological therapies, musculo-skeletal, cardiac and weight management services from Garforth; further that it removes access to a local warfarin clinic for those without personal transportation; further that it highlights a failure to comply with statutory functions of an NHS Trust; further that the Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust has failed to identify a sustainable alternative or detail how neighbouring health centres will cope with increased demand; further that the Trust has failed to reference pressure from Leeds City Council’s Core Strategy, which plans to build thousands of additional dwellings around the town; and further that the Trust withdrew from a pre-arranged public meeting with our Member of Parliament and City Councillors at which residents were hoping to explain their personal concerns over the removal of local health services.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Department of Health to encourage the independent Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust to review its decision to close Garforth Clinic; arrange a meeting with residents to answer concerns; and re-consult with patients on the impact that such a closure will have.
And the petitioners remain, etc.
To sign the petition, please contact Alec’s office at [email protected]