Decision

This Council resolves to:

1. Declare that the current pressures on healthcare in North Wales represents a health care emergency affecting residents of Flintshire;

1. Write to Welsh Government (WG) and the leadership of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) expressing the Councils serious concern regarding access to timely safe healthcare for Flintshire residents;

1. Call for urgent measures to reduce waiting times, end corridor car, improve ambulance handovers, expand NHS dental access, and make it easier for residents to access GP and community-based primary care services;

1. Call on WG and BCUHB to ensure that any recovery plan for North Wales includes a clear and measurable shirt towards primary and community care, including general practice, NHS dentistry, community pharmacy, optometry, community nursing, mental health support, and social care, so that more people can be treated earlier, locally, and before problems become acute;

1. Call on WG to review the share of NHS Wales funding reaching general practice and wider primary care, with the aim of restoring sustainable funding for services which keep residents well, reduce pressure on hospitals, and deliver care closer to home;

1. Request that the Chief Executive and Chair of BCUHB be invited to attend a meeting of the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee within the next three months, to provide an update on the evidence previously given to the Committee, including progress made since their last attendance, current pressures affecting Flintshire residents, and the actions being taken to improve access to primary, community, ambulance, mental health, dental and hospital services in North Wales;

1. Request that the Leader of the Council write on behalf of the Council to WG Cabinet Member for Health and Social care seeking immediate action, with a clear recovery plan for North Wales health care services; and

1. Work collaboratively with other North Wales Authorities to advocate for improved healthcare provision for our residents.