Monday, 29 September 2025

Call for independent chairing of Brent Scrutiny Committee when it considers the closure of Northwick Park Hydrotherapy Pool

 

Backbencher Cllr Daniel Kennelly asked Cllr Ketan Sheth at Full Council if and when the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee would consider the closure of the Northwick Park Hydrotherapy Pool by the local NHS.

Cllr Sheth had listed sickle cell care, urgent care treatment centre at Central Midlesex Hospital and Youth Justice as future agenda items for his Committee but did not mention the Hydrotherapy Pool. 

Cllr Sheth thanked Cllr Kennelly for his 'very helpful' questionsand said the issue was 'very much on his radar' and that he would inform the councillor and the chamber when it was on the agenda.

Cllr Paul Lorber (Lib Dem) intervened demanding that the Committee meeting considering the issues should be independently chaired as Cllr Ketan Sheth in a local newspaper article (above) had taken a position that merely 'paraphrased the excuses [for the closure] made by the health service'.

Given the controversy over the closure it is astonishing that it was not already on the Agenda! See below:

 

Petition Stop the closure of Northwick ParkHydrotherapy Pool - 3,156 verified signtures

Open Letter to Cllr Ketan Sheth: Hydrotherapy Pool closure needs effectivescrutiny 

Barry Gardiner calls for Hydrotherapy Pool closure to be paused, release ofdocumentation regarding the decision and review of decision in consultationwith service users 

Healthwatch Brent calls on Trust to reconsider Northwick Park HydrotherapyPool closure

Philip Grant: Northwick Park Hydrotherapy Pool – what the NHS Trust ChiefExecutive wrote (and my reply, seeking to help resolve her problem) 

Northwick Hospital & NHS Trust 'disrespecting' staff and patients over what appear to be secret plans to close the much needed Hydrotherapy Pool funded by donations. Link to Petition.

1 comment:

Martin Francis said...

Comment received by email: The Councillor has a Masters in BS!!

NOH at Stanmore have been mentioned several times. However we were told by our very efficient and empathetic physios (who had been ringing round trying to find alternatives for their patients) that Stanmore would not have capacity to take us all on!

I am already feeling the effects of not being able to go to the hydrotherapy pool. I have been several times to a swimming pool for Aquaerobics but it is much more strenuous and the colder water means it is not as good for R A sufferers. I am much more achy than I was whilst attending NPH! My Rheumatology Consultant is furious about the closure and the detrimental effect it is having on his patients.