Copy to: MSP MSP MSP MSP Neil Findaly MSP MSP MSP Gordon Lindhurst MSP Andy Wightman MSP

WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL LABOUR GROUP

Notice of Motion from Councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick for the Council Executive Meeting on 6th February 2018

Agenda Item 6 – Paediatric Services at St John’s Hospital

Council Executive notes with increasing regret the ongoing closure of the children’s short stay assessment and fully shares the distress and anxiety caused to parents’ and children directly affected.

Councillors are increasingly alarmed at the distressing tales related by parents who have had to travel often in the middle of the night for their children to obtain urgent medical attention and that latest figures reveal that 432 children have had to be transferred to the Sick Kids since the reduced service was introduced. In many cases parents have had to meet expensive taxi fares for these journeys. In such cases, Council Executive requests NHS Lothian to provide free transport.

Council Executive agrees that five closures since 2012 is totally unacceptable.

Once again Council Executive calls on to work to provide at the earliest date the option 1 arrangement set out by the Royal College for Paediatricians and commit to a full return of the service at the earliest possible date, all on the premise that Council Executive considers that NHS Lothian can only provide a permanent resolve with the absolute urgent commitment of .

Council Executive also agrees to write to the local MSPs and the Lothian List MSPs to support our council’s position.

Councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick Group Leader Labour Group