A CROSS-PARTY delegation of district councillors in Stroud will seek to meet health chiefs to raise concerns over the future of the town’s hospital and maternity unit.

It comes after a motion to meet health chiefs and seek reassurances was passed unanimously at the Stroud District Council meeting on Thursday evening.

With Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s NHS Trust £11.1m in deficit and NHS England having to find £22bn savings by 2020, Stroud’s co-operative alliance fears the axe could fall on the town’s institutions.

A motion moved by Labour’s deputy leader Doina Cornell asked for a meeting with senior members of both Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals and Gloucester Care Services NHS trusts and the Clinical Commissioning Group.

Cllr Cornell said: “Conservative cuts to our NHS have devastated health services across the UK.

“Hospital units – in some cases, entire hospitals – have been closed and we’re concerned Stroud may be next for the Tory axe.

“The hospital and maternity unit are well-used facilities providing essential healthcare to people living in and beyond Stroud.

“If they closed, patients would have to travel to Gloucester, Cheltenham or even Bristol for treatment.

“While the Tories are busy wrecking and privatising our NHS, we are fighting to protect a vital service for our community.”

Both the hospital and maternity unit are in the ward of Green councillor John Marjoram, who seconded the motion.

During the debate, Cllr Marjoram reminded people of the hard fought community campaign ten years ago, adding: “We’ve had this fight before and people power saved the maternity unit.

“There is a scare now amongst local people, when we know that the Sustainability and Transformation Plans due to be published soon for Gloucestershire will require millions of pounds of cuts by 2020. That is what we have to face.”

All political parties supported the motion. The Conservative group had a small amendment passed to ensure its voice was heard in the motion.

However, Tory councillor Tom Skinner said: "As a father whose wife is due to give birth to our second child at Stroud Maternity Unit early next year, I know what a precious local asset the unit is.

“It is irresponsible to frighten expecting parents in Stroud by raising a wholly unjustified threats of change or closure to Stroud Maternity hospital.

“As councillors we need to be very careful not start unfounded rumours where there is no evidence to back up the claims.

“I am sure that everyone recognises the vital, caring, role that Stroud Maternity plays and we should not be saying anything that calls that into question.

The vote seemed to be more about the Labour Party trying grab headlines at the expense of worrying expecting parents.”

George Butcher, Lib Dem councillor for Wotton, North Nibley and Stinchcombe added: "We wholly support any move that highlights any threats to NHS services.

"The Stroud MIU and maternity hospitals are vital to the community.

"We should do everything we can to protect them for the people of the district."

  • The motion said:

“This Council notes that the Gloucester Care Services NHS Trust now no longer operates an overnight service at the Stroud Minor Injuries & Illness Unit. This Council further notes the £11.1m deficit by the Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals NHS Trust. This Council also recognises the financial pressures on the NHS. Lastly, this Council recognises the valuable contribution made to the whole of the Stroud District by having Stroud Hospital and the Maternity Unit operating locally to serve local people. The Council is asked to seek reassurances from the NHS about the long term future of both institutions, and that a delegation of its group leaders meet with senior members of the trusts and the Clinical Commissioning Group, to seek guarantees about the future of the hospital and maternity unit.”