Issue - meetings

At the meeting of Council in December 2022, Councillor Forster had presented a notice of motion which welcomed the recent decision to open a community diagnostic centre at Woking Community Hospital.  The motion stated that:

“This Council notes that our residents’ closest diagnostic centres are currently in Ashford, Chertsey and Guildford. At present Woking residents often have to travel outside the Borough for medical tests or a diagnosis.

This Council warmly welcomes and fully supports the decision to open a community diagnostic centre at Woking Community Hospital. The planned expansion of a diagnostic hub in Woking is in line with the NHS Long Term Plan will provide a local, accessible service for our residents. The Council recognises that access to the new services has the potential to improve our residents quality of life and may help to save lives.

This Council believes that the decision to open a strategic community diagnostic hub in Woking is a clear example of this authority’s close working relationship with our key partners, especially Ashford and St Peters NHS Trust, Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board and CSH.”

The Leader of the Council introduced the recommendation of the Executive to support the motion in recognition of the significant benefits the new centre would bring for the residents of the Borough.  Councillor Forster spoke strongly in support of the motion, and the confirmation of the diagnostic hub was welcomed by the Councillors.

RESOLVED

That the Motion be supported.

Reporting Person – Corporate Leadership Team

At its meeting on 1 December 2022, the Council referred the following Notice of Motion to the Executive.

Councillor W Forster

“This Council notes that our residents’ closest diagnostic centres are currently in Ashford, Chertsey and Guildford.  At present Woking residents often have to travel outside the Borough for medical tests or a diagnosis.

This Council warmly welcomes and fully supports the decision to open a community diagnostic centre at Woking Community Hospital.  The planned expansion of a diagnostic hub in Woking is in line with the NHS Long Term Plan will provide a local, accessible service for our residents.  The Council recognises that access to the new services has the potential to improve our residents quality of life and may help to save lives.

This Council believes that the decision to open a strategic community diagnostic hub in Woking is a clear example of this authority’s close working relationship with our key partners, especially Ashford and St Peters NHS Trust, Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board and CSH.”

Councillor Forster spoke in support of the Motion.  The Executive welcomed the Motion, noting the Council’s important partnership work with key partners to bring forward a planned expansion at Woking Community Hospital to provide a diagnostic hub for the benefit of residents of Woking.  The Executive further welcomed that the decision to open a community diagnostic centre at Woking Community Hospital would provide diagnostic facilities to residents locally and would reduce the need for Woking residents to travel to Ashford.  Councillor Forster informed the Executive that the proposed development would increase parking pressures at Woking Community Hospital.  Therefore, Officers had been asked to consider how the Council could help NHS service delivery by offering parking permits at a public sector rate in its car parks.

RECOMMENDED to Council

That the Motion be supported.