Councillor L Hovvels to Move
The Rural Services Council is calling on local authorities in rural areas to support a motion calling on the Government to provide extra funding to attract rural GPs. Whilst Clinical Commissioning Groups in County Durham have not identified GP pay as an issue in recruitment within the County, there have been other challenges, for example, an ageing GP demographic.
As GPs get older and wish to retire, it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract, recruit and sustain new GPs as there is a national shortage, which needs a national solution.
Local Clinical Commissioning Groups are taking forward a range of initiatives to support General Practice.
There is the potential that the challenges in GP recruitment may create additional pressures on other parts of the health care system, such as Accident and Emergency in the future, although local CCG’s have provided assurance that patients across the County are able to access GP services in a timely way. To further support this, in County Durham, plans are progressing to introduce Teams Around Patients (TAPs) where local GPs work more closely together in order to improve access to services, however, this work is in its infancy.
I urge this Council to call on local Members of Parliament to lobby the government for the further development of initiatives for the continued recruitment and retention of GPs, which may include a weighting system to support areas across the country where there are difficulties in recruiting GPs. Such a system will create a positive incentive for the GPs to work across the north east, including County Durham, bringing benefits to individuals, as well as our entire communities.
Councillor K Thompson to Move
That Durham County Council begin immediately to video all Full Council Meetings, and make them available for the public to view.
Minutes:
In accordance with a Notice of Motion it was Moved by Councillor Hovvels and Seconded by Councillor Johnson:
The Rural Services Council is calling on local authorities in rural areas to support a motion calling on the Government to provide extra funding to attract rural GPs. Whilst Clinical Commissioning Groups in County Durham have not identified GP pay as an issue in recruitment within the County, there have been other challenges, for example, an ageing GP demographic.
As GPs get older and wish to retire, it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract, recruit and sustain new GPs as there is a national shortage, which needs a national solution.
Local Clinical Commissioning Groups are taking forward a range of initiatives to support General Practice.
There is the potential that the challenges in GP recruitment may create additional pressures on other parts of the health care system, such as Accident and Emergency in the future, although local CCG’s have provided assurance that patients across the County are able to access GP services in a timely way. To further support this, in County Durham, plans are progressing to introduce Teams Around Patients (TAPs) where local GPs work more closely together in order to improve access to services, however, this work is in its infancy.
I urge this Council to call on local Members of Parliament to lobby the government for the further development of initiatives for the continued recruitment and retention of GPs, which may include a weighting system to support areas across the country where there are difficulties in recruiting GPs. Such a system will create a positive incentive for the GPs to work across the north east, including County Durham, bringing benefits to individuals, as well as our entire communities.
Councillors J Robinson, Brookes, Stoker and R Bell spoke in support of the motion.
Resolved:
That the motion be carried.
In accordance with a Notice of Motion it was Moved by Councillor Thompson and Seconded by Councillor Maddison
That Durham County Council begin immediately to video all Full Council Meetings, and make them available for the public to view.
Councillor Henig considered there was merit in referring the subject of video recording Full Council meetings to the Constitution Working Group, which was a cross-party Group, for consideration and to enable the cost implications to be investigated.
Councillors Gardner, Hopgood and Wilkes spoke in support of the Motion.
Councillor Thompson replied that while he would be pleased for the matter to be referred to the Constitution Working Group he did not wish to withdraw his Motion.
Councillor Allen considered that it was appropriate to refer this to the Constitution Working Group and Moved the following amendment:
That Durham County Council’s Constitution Working Group consider the feasibility of videoing all full Council meetings and making these available for the public to view.
Seconded by Councillor Corrigan.
Upon a vote being taken the amendment was carried.
In accordance with Standing Order 16.4 Councillor K Thompson sought a named vote on the substantive motion. The requirements were met.
Upon a further vote being taken the substantive motion was carried
For
Councillors E Adam, J Allen, J Atkinson, P Atkinson, B Avery, A Bainbridge, B Bainbridge, A Batey, D Bell, R Bell, H Bennett, J Blakey, G Bleasdale. L Boyd, P Brookes, D Brown, L Brown, C Carr, J Carr, J Chaplow, J Charlton, J Clare, J Clark, M Clarke, I Cochrane, J Considine, K Corrigan, P Crathorne, R Crute, G Darkes, M Davinson, S Dunn, D Freeman, A Gardner, N Grayson, O Gunn, C Hampson, K Hawley, T Henderson, S Henig, A Hopgood, K Hopper, L Hovvels, S Hugill, E Huntington, S Iveson, I Jewell, O Johnson, P Jopling, B Kellett, L Kennedy, J Lethbridge, K Liddell, H Liddle, L Maddison, J Maitland, J Makepeace, R Manchester, L Marshall, C Martin, E Mavin, L Mavin, S McDonnell, M McGaun, M McKeon, I McLean, O Milburn, A Napier, H Nicholson, J Nicholson, R Ormerod, A Patterson, C Potts, L Pounder, S Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, J Robinson, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, K Shaw, J Shuttleworth, M Simmons, A Simpson, H Smith, T Smith, W Stelling, B Stephens, J Stephenson, D Stoker, A Surtees, P Taylor, O Temple, K Thompson, F Tinsley, T Tucker, J Turnbull, A Watson, M Wilkes, A Willis, M Wilson, S Wilson and D Wood.
Against
No Members
Abstain
No Members
Resolved:
That Durham County Council’s Constitution Working Group consider the feasibility of videoing all full Council meetings and making these available for the public to view.