PROTESTERS gathered to demonstrate outside Shire Hall this morning as a 5000 strong petition against the overnight closure of Stroud and Cirencester hospital’s minor injuries units was handed to Gloucestershire County Council (GCC).

More than 40 people gathered with flags and banners as Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green councillors made speeches ahead of the full council debate on the issue.

It comes in response to a controversial review opening hours that would see an end to the 24-hour local care services in the two towns.

Councillors and campaigners are calling on NHS bosses to ensure that urgent out-of-hours healthcare at both Stroud and Cirencester Minor Injuries and Illness Units (MIIUs) is retained.

The cross-party petition was co-ordinated Stroud Constituency Labour Party and Cirencester county councillor Joe Harris and gathered 5435 signatures in six weeks – triggering the debate at GCC.

While members of the campaign group waved flags on the council steps, inside the building councillors from across the political divide spoke out against the Gloucestershire Care Services’ plans.

Stroud town councillor John Bloxsom, who delivered the petition, told GCC the overnight services must remain “open”, “accessible” and “fully funded”.

“These MIIUs are valued local services that help thousands of people a year,” he said.

“We bring this petition to you as our elected representatives to ask you to give voice and leadership by reflecting the great public concern at these proposals.

“We seek a clear message coming from this chamber on behalf of the people of the county.”

Cllr Joe Harris (Lib Dem /Cirencester) said the changes to opening hours at the MIIUs was just one piece of a bigger puzzle.

“This issue acts to highlight the slow erosion of our national health service,” he said.

“We are told that is process isn’t about cost cutting. But I ask you, would this really be happening if the NHS wasn’t strapped for cash?

“Closing these units overnight will hit the most vulnerable people in our communities the hardest – those who cannot so easily get from A to B.

“This will mean that some people have to get a £70 taxi to Swindon or Cheltenham for treatment and it will result in more calls for an already under-pressure ambulance service.

“It comes back to the same point again and again – that our NHS is underfunded. We have a clear cross-party consensus here – let’s make a statement.”

Cllr Lesley Williams (Stonehouse) leader of the Labour group at GCC, said: “This is about creating a managed decline in the health service, piece by piece.

“The rot of managed decline is well underway in the NHS and its sister services.

“Waiting times are through the roof, we are not funding the creation of new nurses, Gloucestershire A&E is in breach of its license and the Health Secretary is at war with our own doctors.

“Frankly it’s a disgrace. We must fight for a fully national, fully comprehensive and fully funded NHS.

“It has been the bastion of the people but it is being undermined and undone. Well enough is enough.”

Green councillor Sarah Lunnon was another who had been involved with the campaign and spoke at a rally in Stroud last month.

She told the council she’d heard many stories from families and parents in Stroud of how the MIIU’s night time service had benefited them over the years.

“These minor injury units are a cherished parts of our communities,” she said. “They give security and urgent care to thousands of people every year.”

“I checked the Gloucestershire Royal A&E this morning and the waiting time is three hours and 43 minutes.

“These services are already under severe pressure. So why are we closing units with capacity and instead directing people to services that are not fit for purpose?

“I want these MIIUs to remain 24 hour services. The people of Stroud and Cirencester want these units to retain their 24 hour services.

“Let’s send that message to Gloucestershire Care Services and Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.”

Cllr Steve Lydon (Labour/The Stanelys), who is also the leader of Stroud District Council, said: “We have to look at why this petition has been brought here today.

“It’s been delivered here because people are frustrated with the salami slicing of our NHS.

“We really need to examine what the future of our community hospitals is if these changes go ahead.”

Cllr Brian Oosthuysen (Labour/Rodborough) also spoke in favour of the petition and urged fellow councillors to support it.

No Conservative councillors spoke during the debate.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

While Shire Hall cannot effect the decision of NHS bosses in Gloucestershire, campaigners are hoping that greater scrutiny, debate and discussion will help draw more attention to the issue and demonstrate the opposition from thousands around the county.

The petition will be referred to Gloucestershire Care Services (GCS) and Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (GCCG) along with the minutes of the debate.

GCS say the changes are necessary as the current model of overnight care is regularly underused and economically unsustainable.

It argues the changes will allow for easier nurse recruitment and provide value for money – while stressing the changes are “not about cost-cutting”.

A final decision will be made by the NHS Trust at its board meeting on September 20.

GCS say that feedback received will be compiled into an outcome report and used to inform a new operating model for MIIUs that will begin on October 1, 2016.