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Health Service Forum South East
Minutes of regular meeting of Health Service Forum S.E. held in the Larkfield Centre
Tuesday 14 December 2004 at 7.30 p.m.
Contents
Report on the NHS GG Board meeting of 21 December 2004
Welcome
Welcome from the Chair.
Apologies
Apologies; Eric Canning, Dorothy Walls, Douglas Macgregor, Mary Markey, Janette Butler, Bill & Ena Montgomery
Minutes
Minutes of 9 November were adopted as correct.
Matters Arising
a) The Secretary read out a letter from Niall McGroggan, Head of Community Engagement, NHS GG, regarding the opening hours of the Victoria ACAD. It stated:
“The hospital will be open for GEMS Monday to Friday from 1800 to 0800 hours and at the weekend from 1800 Friday to 0800 on Monday. The Minor Injuries Unit will be open at the weekend from 0900 to 2100 on Saturday and Sunday. The hospital will be open on Saturday morning so that patients can attend the Renal Department from 0700 to 1200.”
It was decided to reply to Mr McGroggan asking for a copy of the official document relating to the opening times.
b) A letter was received from Wendy Hull, Director of Finance NHSGG, raising two issues arising from our October minutes. Firstly, she stated that we should have informed readers that the NHSGG Board meetings are bi-monthly. We have previously highlighted this drastic reduction in the number of meetings and the loss of the opportunity for the public to be kept abreast of Board decisions. Secondly, we should have informed readers that the financial situation facing the Board was not a specific item on the agenda for the July and September Board meetings. We are still very surprised that the Board in the agendas for two consecutive meetings omitted the financial situation. Mrs Hull stated, “Update reports on financial monitoring for the year are presented to the Performance Review Group and the minutes of that group are submitted to the NHS Board and any issues of significance to members can be discussed.”
Correspondence
IN: a) No reply to our reminder letter of the 11 November Ken Macintosh MSP asking for details of the new plans for the ACAD as illustrated at a public meeting of 7 October.
b) No reply to our reminder letter of 12 November to Ray Hepburn Head of A&E services Scottish Ambulance inviting him to speak to a Health Forum meeting.
c) No reply to our reminder letter of 11 November to Jim Murphy MP regarding the statement in the EXTRA newspaper regarding beds at the ACAD.
d) Reply from Land Services, Marshall Poulton, Head of Policy and Planning, re the Hampden traffic plan and the effect of the ACAD development at the Queens Park School and Recreation Ground. He stated, “Provision of off street parking in the area is the subject of a comprehensive study commissioned by the Council to identify and appraise the available options.”
Public meetings:
1) December 1 in the Concert Hall attended by Professor Kerr and the National Planning Team. The meeting was run by Penny Taylor, a journalist, and was well attended by the public. Professor Kerr expressed surprise at the numbers. As with many public consultations the team were anxious to hear what we, the public, wanted from the Health Service. It is very difficult to feel convinced that our views will be considered but we must persevere
2) December 6 in the McCance Building of Strathclyde University on the subject of Scotland’s Hospitals chaired by Bob Thomson – how can we provide the best treatment as locally as possible? The speakers included Dr Matthew Dunnigan, MSPs Dr Jean Turner, Jackie Baillie, Carolyn Leckie, Shona Robison and a Green Party MSP, who addressed a sympathetic audience. There were no members of NHSGG present although they were invited.
Treasurers Report
The bank balance at the 14 December was £1247.62
South Monitoring Group
The South Monitoring Group met on the 10 December under the chairmanship of Pat Bryson. It was not advised who had decided to appoint Ms Bryson as chair in the absence of Peter Mullen. Robert Calderwood was in attendance but gave no explanation to the meeting about the waiting lists for Gynaecology and ENT at the Southern General. Calum Kerr also attended and advised that the ambulance service is reaching its target of 50% of the ambulances having a paramedic aboard.
Unfortunately Stewart Maxwell MSP SNP was absent due to ill health and the Party did not send an alternate delegate.
Report on the NHS GG Board meeting of 21 December 2004
We are indebted to Aileen Fyfe who attended this meeting and most of the Board meetings throughout the year.
Wendy Hull, the Finance Director, is leaving the Board. Andrew Robertson becomes Vice Chair and Elinor Smith is now Chair of the Audit Committee.
The Chief Executive’s update advised that Dr Andrew Calder, who has been given responsibility with regard to the provision of a new children’s hospital, is now seeking ministerial approval for his group and their remit.
Sir John made reference to the Minister’s announcement re future waiting times targets from December 2007. Outpatients – 18 weeks, inpatients – 18 weeks from decision that treatment is needed, cataract – 18 weeks maximum, CHD – 16 weeks maximum, A&E – 4 hours from arrival, hip surgery – 24 hours from admission for surgery.
Mr Calderwood expressed surprise at the reference to the Victoria in the recent article in the Evening Times and stressed that the official line is “nothing has changed” and that the new clinical strategy at the Victoria would be active by 2008.
The Director of Finance reported that steps taken had been positive and that she forecast a deficit of £4.6m at the 31 December 2004.
Mrs Hull gave a presentation on Information Technology Strategy. The document was not distributed to the public prior to the meeting and it was therefore difficult to follow. A copy has now been passed to Professor Douglas Macgregor for scrutiny.
In the minutes of South Glasgow Divisional Management Team item 8 – Refurbishment of the Victoria Infirmary, it states: “This would allow the relocation of the Haematology service from Ward A at the Victoria Inf. which would allow those 13 beds to be reallocated to General Medical Service……while there would be a loss of beds within the Victoria Infirmary itself, the number of beds across the Division would increase by the end of these developments.”
Item 9 reads: “No preferred bidder was recommended to the Board at December’s meeting.”
(The next Board meeting takes place on the 22 February 2005)
Our comment: The relocation of Haematology was not raised at the December South Monitoring Group meeting. Why not? Is this not what the Group was set up to monitor?
ALL THE VERY BEST TO ALL OUR MEMBERS FOR THE YEAR 2005
Date of our next meeting Tuesday 11 January at 7.30 p.m.