GPs in Huddersfield are threatening a vote of no confidence in their local CCG chair, over plans to close the town’s A&E department.
Kirklees LMC has agreed to pursue the option after NHS chiefs ignored their calls to pause the plans, the Huddersfield Daily Examiner has reported.
Under the proposals, NHS Greater Huddersfield CCG wants to close the A&E at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and instead treat most patients in an urgent care centre, with emergency care ‘centralised’ in neighbouring Calderdale.
Kirklees LMC called for a three-month pause to discuss alternatives to the ‘Right Care, Right Time, Right Place’ plans, but the CCG has since announced it is pressing ahead with them.
The LMC had previously threatened a vote of no confidence as a ‘nuclear deterrent’, arguing that failure to listen to local GPs’ concerns went against the CCG’s constitution.
The GPs have now agreed to seek to hold a special meeting in order to carry through their threat.
A statement issued by the LMC, signed by chair Dr Robert Jenkinson, vice-chair Dr Robin Sharman and medical secretary Dr Bert Jindal, said: ’The LMC believes that the need for effective, safe, high quality health care is paramount and this is not currently being supported by the RCRTRP proposal.
’It was unanimously agreed that we should seek approval from our GP members to call an Exceptional General Meeting in order to pursue a vote of no confidence.’
According to the Examiner, the vote of no confidence in the CCG would have to be target a single individual so the LMC will aim the vote at the chair, Dr Steve Ollerton.
