What the media says about me...

"Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, is not one of the Government’s favourite backbenchers. That’s because he does not bite his lip or sit on his hands when Ministers propose to do something, or refuse to do something, and he disagrees with them."

Lancashire Telegraph editorial. May 2008

MP Slams Council Absence at Key Meeting on NHS

Tags: health care | Local Government | NHS | Press Release

Wednesday, 16 April 2008 00:00

Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, has slammed Pendle Council for failing to be represented at a key meeting called to discuss the recent changes to the local NHS – including the transfer of blue light A&E from Burnley to Blackburn. Lancashire’s Adult Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee which met yesterday (15 April) in Preston is the sole statutory local government body charged with monitoring the NHS. Pendle Council has a place specifically allocated to it. In front of the Committee were Gary Graham, the Acting Chief Executive of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Dr Geraint Jones, the Medical Director of the Hospital Trust and Cath Galaska, the PCT’s Director of Strategic Commissioning. Also present was John Amos of the former Public and Patient Involvement Forum, representing patients. Speaking from Nelson earlier today, the MP said: “I made a point of attending the meeting to see for myself how the NHS people would stand up to questioning. But I was dismayed and astonished that the chair reserved for Pendle Council’s representative remained empty.” “Pendle Council has called for the sacking of the Hospital Trust Board but can’t be bothered to send along its representative to a critically important meeting where the recent hospital changes were to be discussed. It is nothing short of a disgrace that the opportunity to quiz the top NHS people, on the record and in public, was passed up.” The MP continued: “Councillor Lord Greaves asked me today by e mail to “talk to the leadership of Pendle Council”. I am, of course, prepared to meet the Council but not until the Liberal Democrat dossier of so-called horror stories has been handed over to the Primary Care Trust for analysis and the Council has met the Hospital Trust.” “It has been weeks since the horror stories dossier was promised and the PCT is still waiting.” “I have called for an independent review of the changes to establish whether the new set up is, in practice, delivering better health care for Pendle people.” Note to Editors: The background paper from yesterday’s meeting is available on the Lancashire County Council website in the Adult Social Care and Health Oversight Committee page. The document is: Meeting Patients’ Needs Programme Update Report.