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Health Service Forum South East
Minutes of a regular meeting of the Health Service Forum S.E held in the Larkfield Centre on Tuesday 13 September 2005 at 7.30 p.m.
Contents
Joint North and South Monitoring Group Meeting
Welcome
Welcome: Margaret Hinds welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Apologies
Apologies: Pat Lally, Douglas McGregor, Rhoda Ritchie and Janette Butler
Minutes
Minutes of 14 June 2005 were adopted as correct.
Correspondence
Correspondence: OUT 1) Invitation to Dr Colin Hunter of NHS Education Scotland to attend a Forum meeting to speak on the subject of trainee GPs. Recently there has been renewed concern expressed publicly regarding the lack of trainees to fill training places. 2) Letter to John Scott MSP for Ayr re closure of Ayr Hospital A&E dept. The A&E will be replaced by a nurse led Minor Injuries Unit i.e. exactly the same as we are being given at the new Victoria ‘Hospital’. 3) Letter to Roseanna Cunningham, convenor of the Parliamentary Health Committee re the Kerr Report. Three main points were raised;
a) Glasgow is the sick man of Europe and should be considered as a special case. b) The Forum’s Traffic Impact Study carried out on Dec 2000 indicated that by the year 2006 a patient travelling from Rutherglen to A&E at the Southern General during the rush hour will take 35 minutes. Recommended time from accident to A&E is 30 minutes or less. c) We are all in agreement that IT is essential. England is spending £6.2 billion on developing an IT system. Even if we in Scotland are able to use this system there will be a very high cost in the transfer of records onto computer and the training of staff. The Kerr Report does not cost the implementation of IT in Scotland.
4) Letter to the Scottish Executive, Chris Rafftery, in connection with the use of Stracathro Hospital for private patients.
IN 1) Reply from Dr Cowan to queries raised following the presentation to the Forum on the new ACAD.
He refused to comment further on the opening hours of the ACAD although we have been given conflicting times by various people. As Dr Cowan already stated he believes that ‘patient education programmes specifically directed at the use of a minor injuries unit would not be necessary’. In discussion with A&E staff about the services to be offered at the ACAD he will include ‘seeking their views on the need for more information for the public’. Mr McIntyre, Project Manager for the ACAD, does not feel there is a need to retain the temporary car parking on the gusset of the ACAD site once the building work is completed.
2) Lindsay Blakemore wrote to us on behalf of Andy Kerr Health Minister re our letter of the 28 June. Firstly Mr Kerr declined to meet with us assuring us that he follows the minutes of the South Monitoring Group closely. He addressed the following: bed numbers are currently being considered by the GGNHS Board. They are also considering a small number of short stay beds at both the Victoria and Stobhill.
NHS 24 and the review that is ongoing.
Queen Mother’s and Yorkhill relocation is in the hands of the Calder Group.
Student Nurse Intake Planning has been running for several years and the minister is satisfied that the number of trainees matches the need.
Andy Kerr considers that the BECaD model in Brent is not suitable for hospital configuration in Glasgow.
EWTD and private work; Consultants have a core contract of 40 hours. They can take their working week to 48 hours. Those who work over 48 hours must sign a waiver to the working time agreement. Consultants who undertake private work in addition to NHS commitments are required to inform their employer. ‘We recognise that this issue needs to be addressed further and we want to work in partnership with the BMA to ensure even greater clarity about consultants and their private practice.’
Argyll and Clyde Health Board will be dissolved and a consultation is currently being undertaken on ‘Redrawing NHS Boundaries in Argyll and Clyde’. Comments on the paper must be submitted by the
4 November 2005.
3) Citizens Advice Scotland has recently submitted a framework for their organisation to deal with patients’ complaints against the NHS. Carol Greer Advisory Officer for CAB hopes to hear from the Scottish Executive by October whether their organisation will be selected. This situation has arisen because the Scottish Health Council no longer deals with patients complaints. Ms Greer stated that if successful CAB would be financed by the Scottish Executive and NHS. We were advised to contact Jackie Burman, Project worker, to discuss the matter further.
4) Letter from John Connaghan, Director of National Waiting Times Unit, regarding Stracathro Pilot Treatment Centre Project. He states; ‘The NHS in Scotland is currently not in a position to undertake all the necessary additional capacity to enable waiting time targets to be met. It is expected that partnerships with the independent healthcare sector will be able to provide the additional requirement that NHS Scotland is unable to deliver quickly.’ Stracathro will remain as an NHS facility but spare theatre space and beds will be put out to tender to private operators. ‘The emphasis will be on working in partnership with opportunities to share experience and transfer skills.’ Recently in the Extra newspaper Mr Connaghan praised the A&E at the Victoria and especially the waiting time.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer’s Report; The amount in the bank as at 14 June is £1568.87
Board Meeting of NHS GG
Board Meeting of NHS GG held on 26th July 2005
Inpatient Bed Modelling: Discussion Paper was distributed on the morning of the meeting. This long and complex paper could not be read and digested during the meeting yet it was included as an item on the agenda. This is not the first time that important papers have been handed out at the last minute.
Joint North and South Monitoring Group Meeting
Joint North and South Monitoring Group Meeting 2 September 2005 chaired by South Monitoring Group Chair, Peter Mullan.
A report by Margaret Hinds and James Sandeman.
The latest timetable for the ACAD is;
Feb/March Final negotiation of Contract with preferred bidder.
March 2006 Final Business case and contract signature.
Apr/May 2006 Construction commences. (was May 05 then Nov 05)
Late 2007/08 Handover and opening.
Senior directors were unable to answer detailed questions such as the number of day surgery theatres, the provision of a sprinkler system, overnight beds, scanning services.
The costs of the two ACADs have risen by a further £20 million.
The next monitoring South Monitoring Group meeting is at the beginning of December. Some of us are frustrated that after 10 meetings we have not yet monitored anything!
Dr Pat Lally is standing as an independent candidate in the Cathcart By-Election to be held on 29 September. The Health Forum fully endorses his stand on the provision of acute beds and A&E at the New Victoria.
Hustings Meeting
A Hustings meeting has been organised for Tuesday 27 September at 7.30 p.m. in the Hall of Battlefield East Church.
Time is limited. Members wishing to assist Pat in any way should contact him by telephone on 637 8586.
The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 11 October 2005
