On Tuesday 7th February, in the House of Commons, I presented a petition of the residents of Rushden and the surrounding area. The petition has nearly 3,000 signatures. Please see the video below for the presentation of the petition.
Click the link above to view the video or read the transcription here
The ‘Listening’ team in Rushden has been working hard to campaign for the reopening of Spinneyfields. Spinneyfields is a 51-bed step-down facility that allows medically fit people to be discharged from our two acute hospitals, Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital. These patients would be cared for at Spinneyfields until they are able to go home. This allows more patients to get quicker treatment at Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital. Councillor Melanie Coleman and Councillor King Lawal have been championing this cause.
At the end of November last year, I was contacted by staff at Spinneyfields Specialist Care Centre, informing me that West Northamptonshire Council was proposing to close the Centre at the end of January. Although Spinneyfields clearly sits in my constituency in North Northamptonshire, it was run by West Northamptonshire Council. I had no forewarning of the closure. I was immediately in contact with local residents, councillors, and staff. I wrote to the Chief Executive of West Northamptonshire Council expressing my disappointment. The campaign to re-open Spinneyfields then became a key priority for the Listening to Wellingborough and Rushden campaign.
Click the link above to view the video or read the transcription here
I raised the closure of Spinneyfields in Parliament during Health and Social Care questions (see above) and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care later promised to meet me to discuss the matter further. The Secretary of State then met with me and the Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing for North Northamptonshire Council, Councillor Helen Harrison. The Secretary of State was very supportive and offered the help of Department officials to find a solution.
I then organised a meeting with key members of Northamptonshire’s Integrated Care Board which took place on 3rd February. The outcome of this meeting was that a plan was being developed to find ways to re-open Spinneyfields.
That work should be completed in March, and I am meeting with members of the Integrated Care Board on 24th March. I hope to be able to update you all on the progress that has been made after that meeting.
