COUNCILLORS in Thurrock have backed a call for government intervention at Basildon Hospital.

The leader of the Conservative opposition, cllr Garry Hague, tabled a motion calling for the secretary of state to address the “extremely concerning” situation with the leadership and quality of care at the hospital.

Speaking to the chamber at the last meeting, cllr Hague said: “I believe we have a duty to the residents we collectively represent.

“My intention is not to denigrate the fantastic work that is carried out by our local hospital.

“However, I am drawing attention to continuing failures in some key areas as highlighted by the official inspectors.”

Cllr Hague spoke about the latest report by the Care and Quality Commission published in November, which highlighted some serious concerns about the hospital, and said things are not improving fast enough.

He said: “CQC did not see enough evidence to show that systems designed to enable the trust to identify, investigate, analyse and review incidents which had harmed or may harm patients were operating effectively.

“This follows a decision by Monitor's board that the Trust was in significant breach of the terms of its authorisation as a result of concerns around compliance with healthcare standards, board effectiveness and governance.

“Inspectors reported major concerns with two of the essential standards of quality and safety: care and welfare of people who use services, and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

“We are more than a year since the first serious concerns were raised. How long should we wait?

“This is a grave situation. Public health and public confidence is at stake.”

Labour’s Diana Hale, who is on the board of governors at the trust, spoke against the motion.

She said: “I think you run the risk of damning this hospital and we will be in danger of losing it.

“I just worry that you are not even listening, you are so sure at each of the meetings you go to that they (the hospital) are lying you don’t have a balanced view.”

Councillor Hague’s motion was supported by all the Conservative councillors, Concerned Conservatives, and the Independents, ten Labour councillors voted against it, and nine Labour councillors abstained.

Cllr Hague said after the meeting: “ I am disappointed that Labour chose to make this a party political issue and refused to back the motion. I have requested the leadership of Thurrock Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health to call for him, in cooperation with Monitor, to take whatever action is possible to ensure that these issues are resolved as a matter of urgency.”