“Rugby deserves better": Distinguished councillor wants cancer battle to inspire better healthcare for town

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, the Liberal Democrat group leader at Warwickshire County Council and Rugby Borough Council, received unanimous support and a standing ovation from his borough colleagues for bringing forward plans to set up a Rugby health partnership agreement.

It asks that NHS commissioning and delivery bodies, patient representatives and councils agree to and work towards the principle that Rugby people should be able to access care “close to home, delivered with compassion and shaped by the community and the people’s voice”.

Cllr Roodhouse, who has requested that his and his family’s privacy be respected beyond the details he has chosen to make public, has spent more than 30 years in public life.

Earlier this year he was awarded the freedom of the county in recognition of his work, particularly in relation health, social care and children’s services.

Cllr Roodhouse revealed he had been invited to do a patient experience video for the NHS which he titled ‘Is OK good enough?’

He refers to having to request appointments that are available in Rugby to be switched with the default position seeing patients asked to travel to Coventry.

“Some people have asked whether I would have brought this motion regardless of the journey I’m on – the answer to that has to be yes,” said Cllr Roodhouse.

“My journey has shown me how vital, from day one, local and compassionate healthcare is.

“Many of us know what it is like to travel for appointments, to wait for communications that should have been timely or to feel left behind by a system that should serve us all equally.

“Rugby deserves better and I think we all recognise that. The motion is about people, it is not about politics. It is about our residents, our families, our neighbours, people who deserve straightforward, dignified and accessible healthcare. It is about ensuring the experiences of Rugby patients are not ignored, minimised or brushed to one side.

“Through my journey I have learned that it is really important to be treated with compassion and to have people listen to you. They cannot be optional extras but people who have been down those routes will know that it can seem that way.

“Too many Rugby residents I have spoken to over the years – and still do – feel their voices are never heard, they do not count, their concerns disappear into the black hole between our community and Coventry or wherever the system is taking us.

“This is not about trying to shoot down the NHS, this is about proposals to set out a fair deal for our local people."

The motion – which having been approved forms Rugby Borough Council’s statement of internet – requests that the borough writes to the Integrated Health Board, University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire Trust, South Warwickshire Foundation Trust and Warwickshire County Council, inviting them to promote and develop the partnership.

The borough will form a cross-party working group which those and other health bodies and patient groups will be asked to join as Cllr Roodhouse aims to achieve “local access to care where it is safe and practical” alongside “clear and respectful communication so patients know what is happening with their care”.

He then gave a startling example of how it had gone wrong for one of his residents.

“They had a letter come through telling them what was wrong with them, a diagnosis, but they had not seen a consultant or anyone else,” explained Cllr Roodhouse.

“It was a very serious diagnosis. It came up on the app and in a letter, they hadn’t seen anyone else. That cannot be right.”

Portfolio holder for partnerships and wellbeing Councillor Maggie O’Rourke (Lab, Benn) supported the motion from the outset, detailing ongoing work to improve areas such as blood testing but acknowledging there is much more to do.

“We also need to make sure local people are not having to make needless journeys to Coventry and Warwickshire hospitals for treatments that could and should be provided locally,” she said.

“Jerry’s own experience clearly demonstrates that unless you ask, you might not get that choice. That just isn’t acceptable.”

She wants to see detailed communications plans to spell out what services are available at Hospital of St Cross, Rugby, and through local primary care.

“Patients should be active partners in managing their own physical and mental health,” Cllr O’Rourke continued.

“Most of all, Rugby residents need to be aware of their choices. Jerry’s experience is not an isolated case but I do believe we can make a real difference.”

Further backing came from leader Councillor Michael Moran (Lab, Admirals & Cawston) who confirmed the council would be funding a health project manager to turn the words into action.

Cllr Roodhouse expressed his gratitude during a conclusion which included a heartfelt plea for all to focus on the simplest yet most important basics.

“I’ve been treated OK,” he said.

“I am going through the system and it’s okay but is that good enough? Is that what we expect? Personally, I think we could and should do better.

“It comes back to listening, compassion and kindness. All the data says they are key and if you can fit those things into the system, the mental health effect on patients is enormous, I can assure you, I’ve seen it.

“Just a few of the right words at the right time in the right place from a health professional makes that individual feel like they are a human being rather than going through the sausage machine.”