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Minutes of a regular meeting of the Health Service Forum SE held on 11 Nov 2008 in the Larkfield Centre
Contents
South Monitoring Group meeting 31 October 2008
Welcome
Welcome from the chairman, Margaret Hinds, and introduction of speaker Dr Heather Hosie, Consultant Anaesthetist and former Chair of the Glasgow & West of Scotland Day Surgery Association.
Speaker: Dr. Heather Hosie
At present in the Victoria Infirmary, there are 2 day surgery theatres. Dr Hosie cannot carry out general anaesthetics for day surgery patients after 3 p.m. because overnight beds would be required for recovery. Once the Victoria ACAD is up and running there will be 8 operating theatres for day surgery patients and procedures requiring general anaesthetic can be carried out up to 5 pm with discharge between 6 and 7 pm or even later as the unit will be staffed up to 9 or 10 at night. There will be sufficient staffing levels as personnel will be transferred around
Patients selected for day surgery have to meet strict criteria. Pre-assessment takes the form of an on screen questionnaire with press button answers and occurs two weeks before the operation. Hard copy of each response is assessed by an anaesthetist. There is a plan to have a universal pre-assessment format for all of the Greater Glasgow area. All patients suitable for day-surgery procedures will be admitted to the Victoria ACAD.
After the operation and before leaving the ACAD, each patient will be given the telephone number to contact in the event of a problem arising . The call will be answered by staff at the Southern General who will have access to the patient’s details. At present there is one day-case liason nurse for the whole of
Dr Hosie took note of several points for clarification such as the number of 23 hour beds, the possibility of an ambulance stationed at the Victoria ACAD, and suggested that her colleague Dr Bill Oates would provide the information and could come to future Forum meeting.
Margaret Hinds expressed her appreciation to Dr Hosie for her attendance and the interesting and informative talk.
Apologies
Alastair Glen, Douglas McGregor, David Smith, Irene Addie, Betty Milne, May McClelland
Minutes
The adoption of the minutes of the 14 October 2008 was proposed by Janette Butler and seconded by Dorothy Walls.
Matters arising
Douglas MacGregor sent a written report on the latest meeting of the Transport Group (a sub group of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board) held on the 10 Nov 08. The inadequacy of the parking facilities at the Victoria and the Southern General Hospitals was raised as well as the plans for parking at the new Victoria ACAD and the revamped Southern General. There was discussion on the subject of the condition of the interiors of buses. The Metro newspaper can be a safety hazard when dropped on the floor especially when rain water makes it slippy underfoot. The bus operators do not seem to have an answer to this. Buses still take off before elderly passengers are seated. It is hoped that improved driver training will come into effect shortly.
Correspondence
There was no new correspondence.
Treasurer’s Report
The Forum has kept expenses to a minimum and the balance in the bank at present is £2484.02.
South Monitoring Group meeting 31 October 2008
James Sandeman has analysed patient episodes at the Victoria Infirmary using the latest data available. This shows a 2% decrease in General Surgery, An increase in emergency admissions by 6% . The A&E attendances are fairly stable and show that the Victoria Infirmary is one of the busiest in the country. He has asked the Board for a schedule of the patient profile at the Vicky at present and what it will be when the ACAD is up and running.
AOCB
It was reported that Dr Reading the Bacteriologist at the
Attention was drawn to a letter in the Herald of the 11 November from Gavin Tait, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, raising his concern that ‘Money for the NHS is wasted on political ends.’
LATEST NEWS!!
NEWS FROM THE CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
Threat to Scottish devolved authority over health care policy
New rules for health services proposed by the European Union threaten Scottish devolved authority over health care policy, according to a report from the Centre for International Public Health Policy.
The rules, which are set out in a proposed patient mobility directive prepared by the European Commission, would require the NHS in Scotland to reintroduce policies pioneered in England that it has already rejected under powers granted by the Scotland Act, 1998, say the report's authors.
The European Commission is calling for a new law that will force member states to channel public funds to commercial providers and allow patients to be charged for NHS care.
The policies, which have been developed without the direct involvement of
Prof Allyson Pollock, director of CIPHP, said: “The EU’s proposals should be rejected by the Scottish Government.
http://www.health.ed.ac.uk/CIPHP/documents/CIPHP_2008_Response_CrossBorderHealthcare_Pollock_001.pdf
All of us are concerned that late November and early December temperatures have plummeted and the elderly especially are afraid to turn up the heating because of the price of electricity and gas. Many of the utility companies in
Christmas and at New Year’s day fall on a Thursday this year so there will be four days each week when normal GP services are not available. If you or yours suspect you have suffered a stroke or heart attack telephone 999 .
Emergency attention within three hours of the attack is essential!
Next Meeting
On Tuesday 9 December 2008 at 7.30 p.m. in the Larkfield Centre
our guest speaker will be
Dr Jean Turner, Chief Executive of Scottish Patients Association
