The move comes after details of a Foundation Trust ‘Financial Improvement Plan’, which detailed millions of pounds of cuts to local services, was exposed.
The plan proposes the moth-balling of a 22-bed surgical ward and voluntary redundancy for up to 410 staff.
Executive Councillor for Health Tom McGee said ‘The news of these massive cuts was a bolt from the blue and patients and their families have rightly been asking questions about what impact it will have on the healthcare they receive.
‘Labour felt that it was only appropriate to summon the Chief Executive for public questioning on these concerning plans – they were released at very short-notice and were a shock to many staff as well as to local residents.
‘Labour Councillors have already met with the Chief Executive of the Trust and the Council’s Corporate Director for Adult Social Care, decisive and constructive action aimed at finding the best way to protect local services.’
The Financial Improvement Plan is aimed at addressing the fact that Stepping Hill Hospital loses £75 every minute.
Councillor Tom McGee added ‘What will remain front and centre though-out every discussion and every decision taken is Labour’s support for the incredible staff working at Stepping Hill and our focus on ensuring that patients get the best possible care.
‘The Council continues to work extremely closely with Stepping Hill, and I believe this news reaffirms the importance of integrating health and social care services to ensure support is provided in the most appropriate setting across the borough.
‘Labour isn’t going to scaremonger or misled the public on such an important issue, we are committed to working with anybody in Stockport who is genuinely interested in helping our local NHS to come through this crisis.’
Funding for the NHS has been under severe pressure during the last 6 years, due to tight settlements from Government, cuts to Council Adult Social Care, and Stockport’s ageing population.
Without a massive increase in Government funding on the horizon, the only way for the local health and care sector to overcome this challenge that is within the Council’s control is to integrate services better and focus on the best possible patient outcomes.
As part of this effort, the Clinical Commissioning Group, Foundation Trust and Stockport Council have signed an agreement to pool around £200m of their local budgets in order to better integrate services in the Stockport Together Programme.