NOTES OF THE PATIENT PANEL MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY 22 MAY 2006
PRESENT: Alan Mackim Andrew Stronach
Ben Rooke Caroline Edwards
Colin Jobson (Chair) Colin Websdell
Deborah Wiley Eilzabeth Witts
George Pearce Gillian Measures
Harry Mehran Heather Howman
Kate Anetts Lillian Hodgson
Mary Dolding (Vice Chair) Meryvn Edwards
- Pat Crawford Sara Freeman
Shirley Barratt William Chalmers
In attendance: Nadine Sharp
Ann Delf
APOLOGIES: Wendy Howes Christine Baxter
Jenny Cooper Michael French
William Armitage Stephanie Ash
1. Welcome and introductions:
Colin Jobson welcomed the new members to the Panel and everyone introduced
themselves.
2. Updates from last meeting:
Colin Jobson asked if anyone had questions regarding the minutes from the last
meeting.
Gillian Measures asked for some clarification on the financial deficit not mentioned by
Mr Forden.
Heather Howman explained that last year we broke even but we have a predicted deficit
this year.
Harry Mehran asked about the deficit and redundancies as he had a few proposals. He
requested that Paul Forden attend again to answer the Panel’s questions.
Group decided that they would like to be given a financial update at the next
meeting by Paul Forden or Finance Manager.
Dan Chalmers asked how the meeting went with the PPIF Chairperson. Colin Jobson
explained that it went well and added clarity to the respective roles. Dan also asked if
the Hospital Information Booklet was updated yet as he felt there hadn’t been any
feedback. The panel were advised that the agreed version is ready to be put in at the
next print which is due soon.
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Ben Rooke asked if there were any Terms of Reference for the Panel. Colin Jobson
explained that he and Mary Dolding (Deputy Chair) had discussed this earlier. Mary
Dolding explained that the aims in the Patient Panel leaflet had initially acted as their
guide. Forward copy of Patient Panel Leaflet to Ben Rooke.
Harry Mehran felt that the rotating Chair was no suitable and felt the Chair should be in
post for 2 years. Colin Jobson said they would review the situation at the next meeting.
Harry Mehran said anything given to them should be analysed carefully, brain stormed,
have a conference before agreeing to new projects, new ideas/new ways He also felt
that the meeting should be every 2 months so the last agenda was fresh in their minds.
Heather Howman explained that the group was initiated to look at new initiatives for the
Trust.
The minutes were agreed as an accurate account of the meeting 27 February 2006.
3. Visitors leaflet
Andrew Stronach asked the Panel their opinions of the draft rights and responsibilities
document. Dan Chalmers said could the word declaration be used in the title.
Mel Edwards felt a few paragraphs needed tightening up and also when the treatment
ends he felt there should be contacts etc at discharge. It was felt this information would
be difficult to add as it differed in each department. Dan Chalmers raised the point that
there was now an Integrated Discharge Team.
Dan Chalmers commented, should be more of mention of hospital policies.
Colin Websdell asked if the document could be made available in other formats e.g.
tape, INTRAN service explained. Kate Anetts suggested removing the word ‘to’ from the
front of each sentence and therefore each bullet point could have more prominent
impact.
Shirley Barratt said that she would like it to be common practice for staff to address
patients by their title i.e. Mr /Mrs. Heather Howman explained this is discussed at
Customer Care Training, Mary Dolding confirmed it was difficult as patients liked
different things.
Alan Mackim said it was a good set of good principles. Dan Chalmers said he would like
to see the word visitors not members of the public.
Gillian Measures felt there should be something on hand washing and personal
hygiene. The group talked about inclusion of no smoking, and MRSA.
Shirley Barrett asked why all patients were not screened for MRSA before being
admitted to hospital. Andrew Stronach explained the logistics for screening and even if
you were de-colonised when tested you could become re-colonised.
The group discussed where this information should be available.
Colin Websdell felt it should appear on the back of the appointment letter. Ben Rooke
asked if it would be displayed on the web site. Andrew Stronach confirmed. Deborah
HH/JC/NS –6 Pt Pane.minutesl may2006 2
Wiley felt it should be on back cover of hospital booklet but Caroline Edwards felt the
inside front cover would be more appropriate.
To summarise - the following points were agreed:
1) The word ‘to’ to be removed
2) Visitor instead of member of the public
3) Not customers but patients
4) Not patient experience but the patient’s experience
The Panel agreed it should be placed in the hospital booklet, on posters, ward
entrances, in other languages and formats. Dan Chalmers felt every patient should have
a copy.
Alan Mackim asked what was happening around Equality and Diversity at the hospital
as he was worried that a new policy would not be completely introduced for 3 years.
Heather Howman explained that this could be the next piece of work for the Panel
to look at.
4. White Paper
Andrew Stronach gave a slide presentation on ‘Our Health, Our Care, Our Say’. He
explained the 3 tier NHS service, Primary Care, Secondary Care (the Trust) and
Tertiary Care.
He explained the basics behind the White Paper, for example diagnostic tests to be
taken closer to home and some outpatients services completed at GP surgeries. He
spoke about direct payments for services and gave Renal services as an example,
Cromer is about to open a new unit.
Andrew Stronach took questions or opinions surrounding the White Paper
Dan Chalmers commented that the White paper was loaded with jargon, e.g. AHP
(Allied Health Professional).
Colin Jobson raised concerns with services moving more to GP’s work, when it was
difficult to get a basic appointment. Kate Anetts pointed out that the elderly would suffer
as there is no free transport to the surgeries but it is free to the hospital.
Gilliam Measures was concerned these plans could de-stabilise the Trust. Andrew
Stronach explained how the Trust would look to its current health borders and at
different ways of doing business. Harry Mehran felt it was a good idea to move services
away from the Trust to relieve some of the pressure.
Andrew Stronach explained that structurally there was to be a lot of reorganisation in
the whole area not just our Trust.
Ben Rooke was concerned that the expertise was at the Trust not in the community.
Andrew Stronach explained one of the ideas would be for our staff to work in GP
Practices and Health Centres etc. Andrew also gave examples of alternative/improved
ways of working from the Trust including fast track for neck of femur patients.
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The group were overall pleased to hear the Trust was trying moving forward in such
positive ways.
5. Norfolk Acute Services Review
Andrew Stronach gave a PowerPoint presentation.
Andrew Stronach explained that there were 3 large acute hospitals in the East Anglia,
Queen Elizabeth (QE), James Paget (JPH) and the Norfolk and Norwich (NNUHT).
They have already established a joint project group. This includes reviewing the way we
all work and having a network approach to things.
Each Trust would have to provide the core areas of care and some specialism would be
based at each site. He went onto explain that JPH cannot offer a weekend ENT service
at present and patients already come to us. Andrew gave another example of the
pathology service which in the past was based at each site but now there is a collective
unit at the Research Park.
The Panel discussed the information that Andrew had supplied. Deborah Wiley was
concerned that more and more work would leave the Trust. Mary Dolding raised the
point the GPs will need to be more responsive.
Andrew Stronach indicated that we need to look at things in a different way and take
this as an opportunity of reviewing how we do things. He gave an example of the sleep
apnoea clinic. Up until recently all patients went to Papworth, on reviewing the service
we found we could provide this service locally, which benefits the patient.
Andrew Stronach also explained that the forward thinking was about preventative
medicine and gave an example of holding a clinic in the Thetford areas regarding
cataracts.
Colin Jobson asked for clarification about Opticians, Andrew advised that they are
separate to the Trust. Dan Chalmers pointed out that some chemists were offering life
checks.
The Panel decided that they would like to have copies of both presentations -
Nadine Sharp to action.
Colin Jobson thanked Andrew Stronach for providing an overview of the White paper
and its impact. The Panel felt there was no ‘piece of work’ they could add at this time
with the Trust already looking at a number of initiatives.
6. Finance
Andrew Stronach was asked if he would answer some questions about the financial
situation that had arisen in the meetings earlier discussion.
Deborah Wiley wanted to know how the sudden deficit had happened. Andrew Stronach
confirmed that the Trust had broken even for 2005/2006. He confirmed that the Trust
had to save 14.8 million pounds to break even for this financial year. Andrew was asked
about the effect on staff he confirmed the Trust has at present asked for voluntary
redundancies.
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Colin Jobson asked what effect this had on the remaining staff with people going and
not being replaced. Andrew Stronach explained that the staff had been kept up to date
with information.
Deborah Wiley felt that this was a government ploy to move further into the private
sector
Harry Mehran said he had wanted to see the Chief Executive as he had lots of ideas for
saving or increasing money for the Trust, this included restricting the numbers of Senior
Managers, fundraising, VIP or Professional celebrity involvement, the CEO to be
responsible for the day to day income and involve private sectors.
The Panel also raised the idea of fetes and open days and having money from the
Friends of the hospital.
Dan Chalmers said he had seen a programme about Octagon Healthcare and asked
about the effect this had on the Trust. Andrew Stronach explained how PFI worked.
Gillian Measures suggested writing to Mr Clarke and asked the Panel their views of this.
Colin Jobson said he would draft a letter to all MPs. Kate Anetts felt that it should also
go to the media. It was discussed if there should be a meeting with MPs, Heather
Howman confirmed PPIF members had already taken this route.
The group agreed that a letter should be sent to all local MPS. Colin Jobson to
action.
7. Any Other Business
Colin Jobson thanked Andrew Stronach for his time and the presentation on the white
paper.
Mary Dolding asked if the Trust Corporate objectives could be sent to each panel
member.
Colin Websdell thanked Andrew Stronach for the interesting tour around the hospital he
had given to Panel members.
Dan Chalmers raised an issue about buses not turning off their engines as requested
when parked at the Hospital. Andrew Stronach said the Trust regularly pursues this and
he will raise it again as an issue.
For future meetings it has been requested that the Chair person and Trust staff sit
at a side table as it is difficult for people to hear if they are at the end.
7. Date and time of next meeting
The next meeting of the Panel is Wednesday 13 September 2006 from 9.45am to
1.00 pm at the Norwich Sportspark.
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