Karl Love, former cabinet member for adult social care and public health:

Again more closures by this newly formed Integrated Care Board (ICB).

This time Argyll House GP services.

It seems to me that the ICB’s only purpose is to cut services to the bone and fit our Island into a mainland model of healthcare system.  

It has little or no regard to our Island circumstances.  

Our Island's population receives reduced accessible services than those on the mainland and we also have the largest elderly population in the UK. 

At the end of June, we saw the ICB remove support, almost overnight and without any proper consultation with the people, of the RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People) services.  

I asked the ICB for their Equality Impact Assessment at the time to justify their actions and have not received it.

I received a vague explanation of replication. To be frank RNID has been supporting Island people for many years, and then suddenly it has been stated to be a replicated service?  

If that was the case, why did it not get picked up previously has a concern?  

People with disabilities have a protected characteristic within the disabilities act, however those in the ICB think they can completely ignore them and our council's requests for proper consultation, information and response.  

It seems they can close services as they please and without providing any proper evidence, consultation or accountability to the people of our Island.  

This was always my concern from the outset of the announcement of the introduction of the ICB concept.

I made my concerns know along with the leader of Isle of Wight Council.  

I anticipate that the new portfolio cabinet member for ASC and public health will demand a full explanation about this planned GP closure and enquiry about what mitigations they have put in place to serve people with reduced mobility and why this decision was made?  

Having “high quality services” come in the form of good locality accessibility, not just to to be delivered at a convenient point for the NHS.  

I have no doubt a crisis management of funding is occurring and the NHS seems transfixed on balancing its budget, rather than delivering those high quality services it claims exists, despite the ever growing waiting list and people having to travel longer distances and off Island to access services provision.  

It’s completely inappropriate NHS locations, such as Winchester, and developing NHS services on the mainland, that’s causing great concern here.

I guess the ICB would’ve been glad to see the back of me as I resisted their plans and stuck my heels against the deterioration of services and demands for increased ASC productivity when that was not achievable or safe to do within the existing workforce crisis and available funding.   

The ICB appear to be doing the bidding of the government and its pretty awful NHS strategy.   

The ICB needs to standing up for local people not roll over for a government tummy tickling. 

There will be more cuts to come because of the shortage of qualified staff and training.

We told them staffing was a problem and our government ignored the voice of professional NHS staff.