'The time for being polite is over' Health board 'dragged' to scrutiny meeting over lack of healthcare in Leighton-Linslade

ICB management has been “dragged” to an extraordinary meeting of the local authority’s health scrutiny committee today, (Monday, November 25) according to a local councillor.

A motion was presented to Central Bedfordshire Council by Liberal Democrat group leader and Leighton Linslade South councillor Shaun Roberts on Thursday (November 21).

It stated: “Leighton Buzzard residents have been let down again by the latest proposals from the ICB, which are woefully inadequate for the growing town while communities in Biggleswade and Wixams are equally frustrated.

“The motion requests the council leader writes to the ICB indicating CBC’s and residents’ frustration and dissatisfaction at its outline business case and the need for new healthcare facilities in Biggleswade, Wixams, Houghton Regis, Flitwick and Ampthill.

“It also asks the council leader to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer expressing our concern on the impact of the recent increase in National Insurance employer contributions on local GP practices and charities which provide health and social care services.”

An ICB update on delivering services in Leighton Buzzard listed details of its improvements to the town’s primary care services. And it published the outline business case “with confirmation from the government that any sale proceeds from Vandyke Road can be reinvested in local health projects”.

Councillor Roberts described the “frustration” felt by the Leighton-Linslade community and other parts of Central Bedfordshire, telling the full council: “There’s no argument about the need.

“Central Bedfordshire is one of the worst areas in the country for doctor patient ratio,” he explained. “What worries me is the ICB seems disconnected from all of this, and doesn’t place the same importance on primary care.

“We think that’s a problem. Our residents have no voice with the ICB. This council does. I would urge the council to use that voice to try and be heard by the ICB.”

Independent Leighton Linslade West councillor Steve Owen suggested: “Health campaigners in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade predicted when the ICB’s outline business case emerged it would be a damp squib.

“But there’s outrage locally at what the ICB is trying to foist on the town. It’s a postage stamp solution, with postage stamp finance, and it isn’t listening to the community or those of the other towns listed in the motion.

“We’re past the time where we need to be polite, clicking tea cups and sending letters to the ICB. We need to campaign and we need to transmit to them the anger and the outrage the communities are feeling because they’ve been neglected by an uncaring, monolithic body.”

Liberal Democrat Leighton Linslade South councillor Emma Holland-Lindsay added: “There’s an injustice of inequality here.

“Every time a new plan comes out, what’s on the table gets smaller. We’ve dragged the ICB to be held to account this morning and I think answers are needed on behalf of residents.”

The amended motion was unanimously backed by councillors.