Opposition labels Warwickshire's five-year health plan as 'woolly'

Warwickshire's latest five-year health strategy has been dubbed 'woolly' by opposition Labour councillors who have criticised the lack of targets.

Cllr Les Caborn (Con, Budbrooke and Bishop's Tachbrook), the county council's portfolio holder for adult social care and health, laid out the policy which will run until 2026 and includes three key ambitions – that people will lead a healthy and independent life, be part of a strong community and have access to effective and sustainable services.

As he went through the document he told this week's full council meeting: "What this shows is that our health in Warwickshire is above average but varies across the county and there are wide differences. Our children and younger people, especially through Covid, have increasing needs and there are growing concerns around mental health issues and self-harm rates.

"Our particular priorities over the next two years are helping our children and young people to have the best start in life, to help people improve their mental health and wellbeing and to reduce inequalities in health outcomes.

"We are not talking about a short journey with this report, we are talking about a long-term serious change to the health of Warwickshire."

While there was some support for the strategy from Labour councillors, they also had areas of concern.

Cllr Dave Parsons (Lab, Polesworth) said: "I commend the three principles behind the strategy and there is a lot of good work here. Where it becomes woolly is how do we know when we've got there? That is the difficult area and I fully acknowledge that.

"What we have to acknowledge is that these inequalities have been there for a long time and they're not just going to go away. We do need specific measures to take them away."

Cllr John Holland (Lab, Warwick West) added that after Covid had disrupted children's lives so much and that remedies needed to be put in place to make up that shortfall.

And Labour group leader Cllr Helen Adkins (Lab, Leamington Willes) said: "The health inequalities are certainly something the Covid pandemic has highlighted and we need to act on that. Why we've not acted on it before I don't know."

Cllr Wallace Redford (Con, Cubbington and Leek Wootton) responded: "I do not see that this is a woolly strategy at all. It is quite clear and maps out the ambition and steps that are going to be taken to ensure the future health and wellbeing of our residents.

"I think we should all get behind this because it is for the benefit of all the residents of Warwickshire."

Council voted to approve the strategy with no councillors voting against and the two Green councillors abstaining.