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Health Service Forum South East Minutes of a regular meeting of the Health Service Forum SE held on 11 May 2010 in the Larkfield Centre Contents Guest Speaker, John Goldie, Head of Addiction Services Scottish Health Campaigns Network
Welcome
Margaret Hinds, Chair of the Health Forum, welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced John Goldie, Head of Addiction Services South East Community Health and Care Partnership. Guest Speaker, John Goldie, Head of Addiction Services
In S.E. Glasgow there are two addiction centres, one in the Gorbals and one in Ardencraig providing medical, nursing and social care services. At present 48 staff look after 1800 on-going cases, of these 800 addicts are on methadone. The GP has the responsibility of prescribing and after-care is in the hands of the CHCP. Addicts have complex needs. Few admit to abusing alcohol as well as being on a a cocktail of drugs. Prescribed Methadone removes the need to seek out drugs and prevent cold turkey but does not deal with the alcohol abuse. It is the glue that holds the user to the Addiction Service because it is consistent quality and longer lasting effect than opiates bought on the street. Street drugs can be 0.1% pure to 70% pure. The buyer has no idea what the drug is mixed with. It can and often is brick dust! At the Adelphi centre approx 180 addicts per year go through the dedicated abstinence programme. In Mr Goldie stated that the welfare of children under 16 years is given priority over the addicted parent however the service is not in favour of injections of female addicts to prevent pregnancy. It is acknowledged that foetal alcohol syndrome causes genetic problems in the new born child. The creation of the CHCPs has promoted a better working relationship between services dealing with addiction. Members were told that if anyone would like to visit one of the centres Mr Goldie would be pleased to see them. Margaret Hinds thanked him for coming along and for answering all the queries raised during his presentation. Apologies
Apologies were received from Dorothy Walls, David Smith, Ruth Elworthy, Betty Milne, Alastair Glen, Janette Butler Minutes
The minutes of the 13 April 2010 had been circulated to members and adoption was proposed by Pat Lally seconded by James Sandeman. Correspondence
On the 16 April the Herald reported that the number of operations cancelled by the NHS in Treasurer’s Report
Mary Hamilton reported a balance in the bank of £1854.64. Scottish Health Campaigns Network
The Scottish Health Campaigns Network meeting with Nicola Sturgeon took place on the 20 May 2010. Hospital Inspections Nicola Sturgeon stressed each hospital is to receive one announced and one unannounced inspection (the first was Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, well publicised) and inspectors would return “if HEI thought it appropriate.” Elected Health Boards: Pilot elections are being run in Nicola welcomed the large number of candidates as reflecting public interest, and hoped that with a Single Transferable Vote these elections would go well. She acknowledged that they are pilots, and lessons would of course be learned. Confidentiality of Health Records: James Sandeman raised questions over the future of the G-PASS computer software and the decision by NHS Scotland to use the TrakCare software as the Patient Management System(PMS). Nicola stressed the unreliability/insecurity of paper records: She is keen to use IT, and to use it properly. The E-Health programme includes the possible replacement of G-PASS: GPs would be able to run a dual system, but she would respond in writing to the points raised. Nuffield Report: Robert Cumming referred to Dr Matthew Dunnigan’s paper, which addresses findings on the relative efficiencies of the NHS in Nicola is grateful to Matthew for his paper. She described Nuffield as “a travesty”. It even included Dentists in Scottish figures but not in English, and made no allowance for the geographical differences in The Health Minister promised a written reply on the matters discussed The Treasurer would like to thank those of you who have already paid and remind others that dues for the Health Service Forum should be paid as soon as possible. £5 per person or £25 for group membership. Date of Next Meeting
Date of next meeting 8 June 2010 |
