Friday 16 March 2012

LINk Quarterly Meeting with QA Hospital Management Staff

Terry Carter, Acting Chair of the Portsmouth LINk, met with Ursula Ward, C.E.O. Queen Alexandra Hospital, Julie Dawes, Chief Nurse, and Allison Stratford, Communications, on Tuesday 13 March. He was accompanied by Paul Dibben and Gerald Cameron, LINk Members. This was the customary quarterly meeting.
Matters discussed were:-

1) The formation of a LINk Transition Committee, who in consultation with the members, will carry the work of the LINk forward between now and the inauguration of Health Watch in April 2013. It was explained that the LINk membership list had recently been ‘pruned’ and that the remaining members – 66 persons – had indicated by means of a questionnaire, the level at which they would seek to become involved. Ursula Ward said that she thought that the lay members of the Hospital Foundation Trust Membership Group should be encouraged to join the LINk/Health Watch. Terry Carter expressed appreciation and said that this will be followed up.

2) Vascular Surgery – The Acting Chair said that the LINk Chairs across the SHIP Cluster will shortly be meeting with Ms Debbie Fleming, CEO SHIP. Vascular Surgery will be on the agenda. He will express the view that the ‘geographical issues’ i.e. Portsmouth in relation to Chichester, Havant and S.E. Hants should have been allowed to surface much earlier in the recent debate. However, issues related to the number of vascular surgeons at QA Hospital and the numbers of patients involved in vascular surgery at QA Hospital remain, and are to be monitored regularly by SHIP. The LINk Chairs are to meet monthly with those involved in commissioning at SHIP.

3) Compensation Claims at QA Hospital. This was raised in relation to recent figures released by the press. Certain areas stood out e.g. A and E and Orthopaedics. It was agreed that these are high risk areas. Each case needs to be looked at individually. The Hospital is covered by its insurers. In reply to a question, Julie Dawes said that Portsmouth Hospital Trust is average with regard to compensation claims, when compared with other Hospital Trusts.

4) Commissioning of Services. The Acting Chair said that he has expressed the view to Portsmouth Commissioners that much more needs to be done to educate the public with regard to what is involved in the commissioning process and to draw together, for example, opinions expressed by individual patient experience groups attached to G.P.’s surgeries.
Portsmouth Commissioners have informed the LINk that their priorities are to be the care of the Frail Elderly and Heart Conditions.

5) Future of QA Patient Experience Council. Julie Dawes explained that this has recently been revamped to make it more inclusive. The numbers of volunteers has increased and the aim is to cover all wards involving the patients in discussions/questionnaires, as appropriate, to evaluate their hospital experiences. Ursula Ward and Julie Dawes also spoke of the value which they attach to information fed in, which has been gathered as a result of LINk Public Meetings.

6) Paul Dibben raised the matter of parking – especially for the Disabled at the Hospital. It was agreed that there is ample parking for the disabled on level 4 of the main Car Park and that over time the signs regarding parking – including for the disabled – have been greatly improved. One problem remains – that the pay machines are a long way from the disabled parking area. This is currently being considered. Paul also raised the question of outpatients who may wish to self-treat during their visit e.g. diabetics who may wish to inject. Julie Dawes said that provision would be made, if staff are made aware of the need.

The next meeting will take place on June 12th 2012

Tuesday 13 March 2012

SHIP CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUPS – LINK CHAIRS’ MEETING

SHIP CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUPS – LINK CHAIRS’ MEETING
The Chairs of Hampshire, Southampton, Isle of Wight LINks and myself met together with the lead officer for the Cluster Groups’ Commissioning Groups at NHS Southampton, Oakley Road, on Tuesday March 6th.

The meeting began with introductions.

Matters discussed included the following:

• Enabling the public to understand how Commissioning works (much more work needs to be done).

• Capturing the views of the public over and above the ‘bold’ statistics found in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment data e.g. collecting views expressed by individual GP’s Practice Councils.

• Progress being made with the development of Health Watch (what are the concerns?)
• The setting up by Local Authorities of Health and Well Being Boards (some common concerns across LINks).
• The SHIP Cluster Commissioning Work Plan. A copy is to be provided at our request to all LINks in the Cluster.

It was agreed that it is necessary for all Chairs of LINks in the Cluster to meet regularly and when necessary to be joined by the lead officer for Commissioning.
The next meeting was arranged for Tuesday April 3rd at Oakley Road, Southampton.
This meeting will be followed by a second meeting, when we will be joined by Debbie Fleming, Chief Executive, SHIP PCT Cluster.

Terry Carter
Acting Chair
8th March 2012

Monday 12 March 2012

LINk Meeting with Jim Hogan and Innes Richens

Terry Carter, Acting Chair, Portsmouth LINk, met with Dr Jim Hogan, lead GP for Commissioning NHS Portsmouth and Innes Richens, Executive Director NHS Portsmouth on Wednesday 29th February 2012 at Trust Headquarters, St James’ Hospital. The following information was exchanged/discussed.
The Acting Chair explained matters to do with the LINk A.G.M., the planned Elections, the 3 year membership rule and issues connected with individual/group membership of the LINk and the LINk Steering Group. He spoke about the Transition Group currently being formed. He also thanked Dr. Tim Wilkinson who had been a panellist at the ‘Any Question’ which followed the A.G.M., for his very useful contributions. He mentioned the resignation of the former Chair, Jock McClees but added that he remains a very knowledgeable and informed member of the LINk.
He spoke about the concerns which NALM (National Association of LINk Members) has about the transition from LINks to Health Watch, nationally.
Dr Hogan said that the Commissioners are still trying to establish a financial base line for the Commissioning process.
The following matters were also ,discussed:-
1) The present and future provision of Vascular Surgery in Portsmouth,
2) Consultations with GP’s where only one medical condition may be dealt with in a single consultation.
3) Cancelled appointments at QA Hospital
4) Matters to do with discharge from QA Hospital including transfer of patient information from the Hospital to GP’s in good time
5) Care Pathways
6) The need to further improve ‘signposting’ for the public’ i.e. how and where they can access services which are available.
7) The need to simplify information made available to the public concerning the structures ad different tiers of services available in the NHS.
8) The need to explain the Commissioning processes to the general public and how to involve the public over and above the Strategic Needs Assessment Data.
9) Ways of ascertaining the publics’ views e.g. the LINk Website and Blog(but there are very few postings on The Blog), questionnaires and Public/Group Meetings. It was agreed that the reason why the same topics often arise at meetings held in different venues is because the public perception is that these matters have not yet‘been cracked’.
10) The setting up of Reference Groups involving members of the public in connection with Vascular Surgery and Heart Problems
11) The Commissioners have decided to prioritise: - Care of the Frail Elderly and Heart Conditions. It was agreed that outcomes will need to be reported on over a reasonable period of time in order to ascertain what progress has been made
12) The setting up of Health and Well Being Boards by Local Authorities and how PALS will come within the remit of HealthWatch
It was agreed that there should be regular meetings between the LINk, Dr Hogan and Innes Richens during the Transition Period.