MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE PARTNERSHIP BOARD FOR HEALTH AND WELL BEING HELD AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM, WHITECROFT, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 20 MARCH 2001 COMMENCING AT 2.00 PM
Present :
Mr P Bingham - Chairman - Isle of Wight Health Authority
Isle of Wight Council
Mr A C Bartlett, Mr G A Nichols
Isle of Wight Health Authority
Mrs V A Anderson
Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust
Mr A Munds
Community Health Council
Mr M Carr
Voluntary Sector
Ms C Piggott, Mrs P Lee
Also in Attendance :
Mr C Waddicor, Mrs S Bennett, Mrs B Herbert - Isle of Wight Council
Mrs E Garrett - Isle of Wight Health Authority
Mr G Elderfield - Isle of Wight Healthcare Trust
Apologies :
Mr P Barber, Mrs Y Baxter, Mrs C Good, Mrs H Humby, Mr G Kendall, Mrs A Leigh, Dr P Old, Mr D Wastall
RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2000 be confirmed.
28. MATTERS ARISING
(a) Frank James Hospital - future of site
The Board was advised that the IOW Health Care Trust had now approved the marketing agents for the Frank James site. A design team had also been established for the relocation of services to St Mary's Hospital, Newport which should take effect in the autumn. A number of issues required investigation in order to achieve the planned date.
RESOLVED :
THAT the position be noted.
(b) Community Strategy
This item would be considered under Minute No 31 - The Local Strategic Partnership.
(c) Winter Pressures
The Chairman reported the receipt of an E-mail from the Prime Minister congratulating NHS and social care staff for all their hard work and commitment in coping with the considerable pressures on the NHS, over the winter period. The Chief Executive of the IW Healthcare NHS Trust paid tribute to all his staff for achieving this success, in what had been the busiest winter to date at St Mary's Hospital. Bed occupancy had consistently ran at 92%. It was noted that 14 extra beds had been opened since Christmas to cope with the demand. Problems had also arisen due to bed blocking by patients awaiting nursing home placements. Increased resources was aimed to be invested in the ambulance service from this autumn. Discussion would take place between the Primary Care Trust and the new Health Authority to consider any lessons to be learnt from the unprecedented increase in demand. The Director of Social Services and Housing informed the Board of the Council's intention to seek a meeting with the Parliamentary Under Secretary with regard to the severe problems being experienced in the residential care and nursing home sector and the severe pressures on budgets in 2000/01.
RESOLVED :
THAT the position be noted.
(d) NHS Plan
The Board received a progress report on the development of the NHS Plan. It was reported that the IOW Healthcare Trust were to undertake an audit of services against the NHS Plan. A more detailed report would be presented to the Board when this had been completed.
RESOLVED :
THAT a more detailed report be presented to the next meeting of the Partnership Board.
29. ACUTE SERVICE REVIEW - PROGRESS REPORT
The Board was advised of the progress in work with Southampton and Portsmouth Trusts to identify Island links and set priorities for ensuring safe, convenient and viable clinical services on the Island. Where Island services would be linked with mainland providers, any new posts would reflect this. It was anticipated recruitment should be less problematic in larger departments. A model setting out a clinical network had been established and was currently being investigated as to how it could be rolled out into other service areas.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
30. NEW HEALTH AUTHORITY AND PRIMARY CARE TRUST - PROGRESS REPORT
The Board were reminded that at the last meeting the Government's decision to merge the Isle of Wight Health Authority with Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority and to create a Primary Care Trust for the Isle of Wight, was reported. The report of the Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Health Authority was received providing a brief update of the current progress in developing the new organisations.
The Board noted the action underway to staff the new structures. It was anticipated that the majority of posts would be filled by 1 April 2001. Appointments to the Chief Officer positions for both organisations were reported. Consideration of the membership of the Partnership Board was now necessary to reflect these appointments.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
31. LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
The Director of Social Services and Housing reported on the development of an Island Local Strategic Partnership and a community strategy for the Island. The Board received a Paper summarising the key issues which had been discussed during a number of brainstorming sessions held over the past few months and suggested the future steps which needed to be taken in order to create a Local Strategic Partnership for the Island. The report had been endorsed by the Council's Executive at its meeting on 8 March 2001.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
32. NURSING HOME SITUATION
The Director of Social Services and Housing advised the Board on the difficulties being experienced by owners of residential care homes and nursing homes. The Council had offered above average fee increases for all home owners . This was either comparable or higher than neighbouring, mainland authorities. Due to the difficulties and pressures faced by home owners through implications of the national minimum standards and minimum wage it was believed that the problem should be addressed at a national level. Steps were being taken to pursue this. The Council had established a Working Party to examine the results of an impact assessment exercise to determine the risks to the Care Home sector from the new Care Standards.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
33. PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE NEW NHS - ADVOCACY LIAISON SERVICES TO REPLACE THE CHC
Members were given an oral update on the progress to establish a Patient Advocacy Liaison Services (PALS) by April 2002. It had been originally proposed for the Isle of Wight to be put forward to be a pilot scheme from April 2001. However, further time was needed to consider all the relevant issues to ensure that a robust service was established which would then replace the Community Health Council (CHC). Appreciation was expressed of the work being undertaken by officers from the RCC and CHC to devise a scheme appropriate for the Island which could then be presented to the Regional Office.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
34. DAVID WASTALL
The Chairman advised the Board of the forthcoming retirement of Mr D Wastall, the Chief Executive of the Health Authority at the end of March 2001. On behalf of the Board, he formally expressed his thanks for all Mr Wastall's past help and assistance.
35. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED :
THAT the next meeting be held on Wednesday, 27 June 2001 commencing at 2.00 pm at a venue to be arranged.
CHAIRMAN