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
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