SONIK campaigners outside County Hall on May 21st.
Save Our NHS in Kent Press Release
5/7/2019
Campaign group Save Our NHS in Kent (SONiK) have branded the actions of a senior NHS manager “an affront to accountability” and “underhand”, and have called for her resignation.
The row erupted as the KCC HOSC (Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee) voted narrowly to approve the Kent and Medway stroke plans that will see QEQM’s stroke unit closed, resulting in all Thanet patients being taken to Ashford in cases of a stroke emergency. The vote took place on May 21st, with 6 councillors voting not to approve the plans, and 7 voting in favour of the plans proceeding.
During the meeting, two councillors who voted to let the closures go ahead admitted that they had previously been of the opposite opinion. The two councillors (Cllr Daley of Maidstone and Cllr Hamilton of Tunbridge Wells) stated that their minds had been changed during a meeting where public witnesses were not allowed.
Rachel Jones at the KCC HOSC meeting on May 21st
Rachel Jones is the Senior Responsible Officer for Kent’s & Medway NHS’s stroke reconfiguration, and as such is responsible for how the stroke review process is conducted. Cllr Sue Chandler is the chair of the council’s scrutiny committee (known as the HOSC or Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee).
Cllr Dan Daley at the KCC HOSC meeting on May 21st
Carly Jeffrey of Save Our NHS in Kent said: “The scrutiny function of KCC and of all councils is there to hold public bodies to account, and gives councillors a chance to thoroughly inspect plans in the interests of the public. The meetings are always held in public and minutes are taken. KCC meetings are also filmed. However, this secret meeting set up by Rachel Jones on May 7th was conducted in secret, and despite repeated requests, no minutes or a recording of the meeting has emerged. We do not know what was claimed or promised during that meeting. It is the polar opposite of accountability in public office, and has compromised the scrutiny process.”
“We question the validity of the May 21st vote, and we are calling for the resignation of Rachel Jones unless she can produce full minutes and a recording of the meeting, as well as answering other questions, such as who was in attendance. Cllr Sue Chandler should also be removed from the scrutiny committee”.
“We are particularly concerned because SONIK’s very well informed campaign argues precisely that the stroke services are badly thought out and will lead to poorer outcomes in Kent. They have made this case in public. Why couldn’t NHS England do the same? This appears to be part of a series of undemocratic attempts to push through its agenda even in the face of poor evidence and regrettably it is part of a pattern, not an isolated incident.” – Policy Analysts Public Matters
An email from Carly Jeffrey of Save Our NHS in Kent to Rachel Jones.
Public Policy Analysts Deborah Harrington and Jessica Ormerod for the organisation Public Matters* had this to say:
“We have serious concerns about the ‘informal’ meeting between the NHS and the HOSC which took place on 7 May. Far from being informal it is clear from Rachel Jones’ response to SONIK campaigner Carly Jeffrey on 24 May that this was a full briefing. It would appear that the meeting took the form of ‘more experienced’ participants ‘correcting’ the mistaken views of the others and influenced two members of the HOSC to reverse their previous decision on the Kent stroke services.”
“We are particularly concerned because SONIK’s very well informed campaign argues precisely that the stroke services are badly thought out and will lead to poorer outcomes in Kent. They have made this case in public. Why couldn’t NHS England do the same? This appears to be part of a series of undemocratic attempts to push through its agenda even in the face of poor evidence and regrettably it is part of a pattern, not an isolated incident.”
SONiK are also undertaking a judicial review to challenge the decision to close three of Kent’s six stroke units. SONiK are raising funds for legal fees and waiting to learn if a hearing will be granted.
ENDS
Save Our NHS in Kent:
www.facebook.com/saveournhskent
Webcast video of May 21st KCC HOSC Scrutiny meeting where the vote took place:
http://www.kent.ukcouncil.net/site/mg_bounce.php?mg_m_id=8375
Cllr Sarah Hamilton saying she attended the briefing and ‘was now reassured’ can be heard at 2.00. Cllr Dan Daley saying his mind was changed: “Until May 7th, I was persuaded in my own mind that 4 HASUs was the right number, however on May 7th I had the benefit of listening to the team that’s here today…” can be heard at 1:25.
In Whose Interests? 