FLINTSHIRE County Council has suggested health board chiefs should withdraw their proposals for a major shake-up of health services in the county.
Councillors are due to meet this afternoon (Thursday) to discuss their collective response to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) consultation.
BCUHB, which must save £64.6m, has made a number of proposals across North Wales, including axing Flint Community Hospital and closing the minor injuries and X-ray departments at Mold Community Hospital.
These plans have been met with anger from residents and community leaders with protest marches taking place in both towns.
The suggested formal response states that: “The proposals cannot be supported without major reservations and significant comment at this time. It is suggested that the BCUHB should withdraw the proposals, take due account of the comments made, and reconsider the proposals for change.”
The council says there has not been sufficient detailed planning for it to be reassured that the proposals are sustainable and in the best interests of constituents.
Throughout the consultation senior council officers have been ‘continually asking for greater clarity’ on details of the business case behind the proposals. A report states that additional information was received at a late stage of the consultation process and ‘goes some way to providing the details needed to effectively consult’.
The report goes on to say that the absence of key information at an early stage has ‘undermined confidence in the consultation process’.
It states: “Council remains concerned over the financial sustainability of the proposals and how BCUHB is going to ‘balance the books’ in the medium to longer term.”
Flintshire County Council is due to meet at County Hall, Mold, at 2pm.
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