Health  Service  Forum  South  East

Minutes of a regular meeting of the Health Service Forum SE held on 13 January 2009 in the Larkfield Centre

Contents

Welcome

Apologies

Minutes

Correspondence

Treasurer’s Report

Appeal for donation of brain tissue

Golden Jubilee Hospital

NHS24

Questions on various aspects of the Acute Strategy

Could you recognise the signs of a stroke?

Next Meeting

Welcome

Welcome from the chairman, Margaret Hinds

Apologies

Douglas McGregor, Alastair Glen, Dan MacPhail, Dorothy Walls

Minutes

Minutes of the 9 December 2008 having been circulated were adopted as correct. James Sandeman proposed seconded by Mary Hamilton

There were no Matters arising from the minutes.

Correspondence

a) An invitation to speak to the Forum was sent to Mr Richard Copland , Director of IT at the GG&C Health Board.

b) We have not yet received a response from Calum Kerr of the Scottish Ambulance Service to attend one of our meetings this year.

Treasurer’s Report

The balance in the bank at present is £2541.34. From this expenses for postage, paper, ink cartridges are due to be deducted and travel to Edinburgh to meet with the Health Minister -a total of £67.18.

Appeal for donation of brain tissue

Recently on the BBC news it was reported that medical research into various brain diseases is being hampered by a gross shortage of brains. Dr Payam Rezale said that thousands more brains are needed to look for the causes and treatments for conditions like autism, Alzheimer’s, Motor Neuron Disease, Parkinson’s etc. Professor James Ironside of the Human Tissue Authority, which regulates the donation process stated that there is a bigger problem of getting hold of healthy donor brains and put this down to lack of awareness rather than people being squeamish. There is also confusion. Some people are under the impression that if they sign up for a donor card that will include donating their brain for research. But it won’t. Donor cards are about donating organs for transplant, not for medical research.

On the 22 January the Forum wrote to the Sudden Death Tissue Bank at Edinburgh University Pathology Department asking for details of how one goes about making a donation.

Golden Jubilee Hospital

Margaret Hinds recently visited a friend in the Clydebank Hospital and was very impressed by the accommodation and cleanliness. The adjacent Hotel is luxuriously appointed. Most impressive was the fact that on the morning following admission the patient was given an itinerary of all that would happen to her during her stay. Having been transferred from Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, the Jubilee hospital contacted Ninewells to co-ordinate their investigations. Although the Jubilee is the location of the West of Scotland Heart and Lung Centre there are surgeons now on a rota system to deal with abdominal problems that can arise. All patients are screened for MRSA before admission and those who test positive are treated with antibiotic before being admitted.

NHS24

John Turner joined NHS 24 as Chief Executive Officer on 1 September 2008. Prior to his appointment he was Acting Chief Executive of Western Isles Health Board from September 2007 to August 2008 . He is the fourth Chief executive in 5 years.

Questions on various aspects of the Acute Strategy

Questions on various aspects of the Acute Strategy have arisen and a decision was made to direct these to Ally McLaws, Director of Corporate Communications. The issues raised are as follows;

1. Our understanding is that the number of o/night beds at the ACAD will be 12, however reliable sources have commented on the number as 20. Could you confirm the actual number of o/night beds?
2. If there are to be 20 overnight beds, what are the consequences on the elderly due to the further reduction from the original 60? We maintain this number is woefully inadequate to replace the Mansionhouse beds?
3. Is it the case that a considerable amount of money has recently been spent on Mansionhouse?
4. Leave for all staff at the Victoria, except laboratory staff, has been refused during the month of June, resulting in a 2 month delay in clinical appointments. Is this also impacting on SGH appointments?
5. Will all patients for planned day surgery and endoscopies be screened for MRSA prior to admission to the new ACAD?

6. Will the paper-lite IT service be ready for the opening of the ACAD in June?
7. On which date will the ACAD become fully operational?
8. What will be the total number of on-site beds when the SGH development is completed?
9. How many single room units will there be?

Could you recognise the signs of a stroke?

Please read the enclosed article. It could save a life.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S Ask the individual to SMILE.

T Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(Coherently - e.g. It is sunny to-day)

R Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

Remember the 1st Three Letters S T R

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 999 immediately.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked' or if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message and sends it to 10 other people at least one life will be saved!

 Next Meeting 

Internet technology is pivotal to the efficient working of the new Victoria ACAD. Please make an effort to attend the next meeting to hear our guest speaker;

Richard Copland

Director of Health Informatics and Technology,

Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board

Tuesday 10 February 2009, the Larkfield Centre,

at 7.30 p.m.