There should have been something simple about both sides of the council agreeing to back a motion calling for Croydon residents to get the best possible treatment if they suffer a stroke.

But, of course, when they came to debate the issue last Wednesday, while they would have loved to have agreed, politics got in the way.

Healthcare for London is reorganising stroke services in the capital and introducing new hyper-acute stroke units (HASUs).

Under the proposals, Croydon residents needing emergency treatment will have to go to the HASU at St George's Hospital, in Tooting, something which even St George's says will put it under strain.

Last Wednesday the Tories called an extraordinary meeting of the council to press for Mayday Hospital also to be given a HASU.

Labour countered that with an argument that there were limited numbers of trained stroke experts and it was just not possible to have a HASU at every hospital.

They did not accept Croydon patients would suffer from having to go to St George's.

Both are arguments which could have been put without political clashes.

But they were overshadowed both at the meeting and since by undignified political point scoring.

Fair enough, the Tories did make a bit of hash of the original wording of the motion, which had to be hastily altered on the night.

But the Labour lead in the debate, Alison Butler, spent her time attacking council leader Mike Fisher for wasting "thousands of pounds" of taxpayers' money on organising the meeting.

She believes the meeting was purely a bid to score points against out-of-Tory-favour Croydon Central MP, Andrew Pelling, who has launched a similar campaign.

Cllr Fisher retorted that the council chamber had already been booked for the Conservative group annual general meeting, therefore the only cost was some officers' time.

By the following day, Cllr Fisher was arguing Labour's abstention on the main motion meant they were happy for services at Mayday to be reduced.

This sort of sad exchange runs the risk of backfiring on the council if a face of dissension rather than unity is presented to Healthcare for London.

Something as important as ensuring Croydon residents have the best chance of surviving the horrors of a stroke surely deserved to see the burying of the political hatchet.

THE Conservatives' prospective parliamentary candidate for Croydon North, Jason Hadden, has sent us a press release saying how much he enjoyed the Norbury Dance Festival.

He also kindly sent us the accompanying picture showing just how much fun he was having on the day.

At least Norbury Labour councillor Shafi Khan could manage a smile.