1:10pm Tuesday 9th February 2010
By Sophie Edwards
A WAR of words has erupted over future health care services in Billericay.
Town councillors argued over the results of a health survey, conducted by NHS South West Essex in September.
A confidential report, containing the results, was leaked to the Echo last week.
It revealed the majority of the 1,000 residents who responded were against proposals to replace seven surgeries in Billericay with fewer, but better equipped clinics.
As a result, in the draft report, health bosses said they would not pursue the plan and were looking at other ways of expanding services.
Only two town councillors, Peter Bowditch and Marian Wilson, have seen the report, because they are on the health steering group, which has been overseeing the review.
When this was discussed at the latest town council meeting, councillors complained about secrecy and the way the survey had been carried out.
Councillor Terry Gandy said it was undemocratic for councillors to be left in the dark about the results.
He said: “We as councillors have been elected by the public and yet those on the health board haven’t been voted for by anybody. It’s this secret society.”
Councillor Edgar Guests added: “I think the town council should have been informed.
“I find it concerning the town council, which is a local government authority, is being put in the same category as the public and press.”
However, council chairman Peter Bowditch, said the leaked report was only a draft and had not been approved by the NHS.
Mr Gandy also raised concerns about the survey, which marks the second phase of consultation, after the first was scrapped last May after complaints it was misleading.
He complained it was not distributed to enough residents and said many who were supposed to receive copies, never got them.
However, Jim Devlin, deputy chairman of the council, said the rate of response for the survey was around ten per cent, which was above average.
He also said: “If something gets posted to somebody, only 50 per cent of people recognise they had it.
“It’s just one of those things and there’s been massive amounts of research to show it.”
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