Minutes of the Meeting of Health Watch West Berkshire Board on 04 December 2017- 13:30Pm

Minutes of the Meeting of Health Watch West Berkshire Board on 04 December 2017- 13:30pm

Room G9, Broadway House, Northbrook Street, Newbury RG14 1BA

Present / Andrew Sharp
Alison Foster
Dr Melanie Morgan-Jones
Martha Vickers
Mike Fereday
Chris Noble
Zoe Tomes
Karen Swaffield
Alice Kunjappy Clifton
Nathan Pope / Chief Officer, Healthwatch West Berkshire (HWWB)
Chair, HWWB
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member, SeAp representative
BoardMember
Guest/ new Board Member Appointee
Development Officer, Healthwatch West Berkshire
Digital & Social Media Officer / AS
AF
MMJ
MV
MF
CN
ZT
KS
AKC
NP
Leia Clifton / Admin & Information Officer, HWWB / LC
Item No. / Agenda Item / Action
1. / Welcome and Introductions
Alison Foster started the meeting and thanked everyone for coming. Each Board member introduced themselves to the meeting.
Karen Swaffield introduced herself to the meeting as a new Board member, giving an overview of her education, experience, and confirmed the various Boards that she is involved with in Oxfordshire. Zoe expressed her commitment to ensure where public money is used, and patients are spoken about, there is public involvement. Alison welcomed her to the meeting.
2. / Apologies for Absence
Ann Standen, sends her apologies to the meeting.
3. / Declarations of Interest
Andrew Sharp – declared that he is Chair of West Berks Rapid Response Cars.
Martha Vickers – declared she is a councillor with Newbury Town Council.
4.a
4.b / Minutes of the meeting held 11 September 2017
The Board reviewed the minutes and approved, AF signed the minutes of the last meeting.
AF advised that the process around appointing a vice chair will be discussed after the meeting, to decide as to whether its an appointment or a nomination process.
Matters Arising and Actions from that meeting
AS went through the action log and explained the actions outstanding and what plans are in place to address the outstanding items. AS/MV need to arrange to meet to move on action point
ACTION – The action on page 7 of the minutes needs to be captured on the action log, where it is made sure everyone’s feedback from last time was captured.
AF confirmed that Hungerford Council have secured their library, Board should think about how the Board Meeting can be moved around West Berkshireto ensure the meeting isn’t in Newbury. / ALL
AS/MV
AF/ALL
5. / Report of the HWWB Chief Officer
AS thanked the public for coming, also thanked the Board and staff of HWWB.
AS stated that he couldn’t remember a busier time and wanted to thank the team for all their help. With special thanks to Alice, Leia and volunteers Nathan and Aastha. MV seconded this, commenting that staff go above and beyond and are very proactive which has been maintained through the last quarter.
AS confirmed getting involved with homeless and rough sleeper population comes from Healthwatch remit to find those who don’t have their voices heard, to be heard. It is our belief that they do not get a good service but this is norby design but failures to acknowledge lack of effectiveness as ‘no complaints ‘ received. One of the hardest things in being a‘critical friend’to providers/commissioners is holding services to account and pointing out what is being missed.
There has been a large amount of press coverage for HWWB, details of which can be found on the website.
AS advised that HWWB continues to carry out Enter and View work inspections, in line with its statutory powers to do so. In this quarter just gone, Healthwatch biggest visit was carried out on Prospect Park, an acute mental health hospital in Reading that serves the West Berkshire population. The report from this visit is due to be published in early January, which the hospital has worked collaboratively with all the Berkshirelocal Healthwatch. The level of care staff are trying to deliver, is in tight circumstances.
A follow up meeting to the HWWB ‘Final Transition(FT)- when carers can no longer care’ Reportwas held . Ithas led to the formation of a new body to help action the recommendations involving West Berkshire Councils Portfolio Holder Housing lead and housing department, Parents & Carers, The West Berkshire Learning Disability Partnership Board, Sovereign Housing and others to assist in better pre-crisis management of housing for those with learning disabilities (LD)
KS asked whether there were any people within the group with LD? AS confirmed that there were people with LD within the group, but also their parents and carers.
AS confirmed that the FT meeting was handled very sensitively by the West Berkshire Council in relation to bereavement, who started off the meeting with the report that had been done by HWWB.
Work on the workplan on a page has been done with HWBB, which has been important as Health and Social care are merging more and more closely.
The Mental Health Action Group (MHAG), a sub group of the West Berkshire Health and Well Being Board(WBHWBB) has been formed and represents a positive start to moving things forward from the ‘Thinking Together’ events held, AS has been nominated co-chair on a temporary basis.
The plan has been co-produced with people from the voluntary sector having been involved. Some challenges faced have been key partners not turning up, however feedback from the ‘Thinking Together’ event have included into the presentation at a special WBHWBBat which Richard BenyonMP was present as he has taken a keen interest in local Mental Health matters.
AS advised that he will be stepping down as co-chair in the new year. MHAG has committed itself to running four ‘Thinking Together’ events per year, it is unclear how this is yet to be funded. HW funded the last few events, it is important to also ensure the venue is kept accessible. Evaluation sheets for these events can be found on the website.
HWWB contract has been extended for an additional six months, during the next few months it will enter a tender process for the HWWB service to continue after September 2018
AF opened the floor to the public for questions, there were none.
6. / Appointing a Vice Chair
AS confirmed that all Board members are required to be present to have a discussion around the process, and application or nomination process. AF suggested this be followed up outside of the meeting and a formal decision made at the next meeting / AF/ALL
7. / Roles and Responsibilities – Healthwatch Board
AS confirmed that it makes a real difference whenBoard membersjoin in, and thankedBoard members who have actively attended meetings and events. He questioned whether in the New Year did the HWWB need to hone those roles in with Board members having knowledge in particular areas, rather than trying to cover all bases. AS commented that MF went to a Planned Care meeting and the Thames Valley Quality Surveillance Group (QSG). Here all of Thames Valley NHS comes together for biggest problems, though its held with very ‘NHS’ speak, HWWB are often the only sole lay representative at this important Board. MF says he found QSG very interesting, topics discussed very surprised, overall it was good, we were accepted well, made the point of regarding rough sleepers access to health and getting that information to them. AS stated that themeeting topic had fallen through the gap, why was it not on the agenda? QSG meeting suffers from not knowing where it is, senior people are there, but relies on the outside bodies doing what needs doing or following up. AS stated that it was good for HWWB to attend as it can bring items to their attention.
MF asked about the NHS Thames Valley Quality Surveillance Group meetings, stating some issues discussed were very serious, numerous bodies on it, and not just self-discovered issues often by regulators e.g. CQC. Healthwatch Oxford often attend butdidn’t attend on this occasion. AS confirmed that the location in Oxford is a bit difficult to get to and parking a problem. It often appears the NHSgenerally organised meetings depending on how easy it is for them to attend rather than wider bodies e.g. difficulty for people in Maidenhead/Bracknell etc. getting there.
ZT stated meetings are about continuity, so people can be known in meetings, to check if people can turn up, get things on the agenda would be good.
AS advised that the QSG, very senior people, directors of nursing etc. senior level of management, can often get around local problems and initiate solutions.
KS commented that NHS England under improvement have a safety group on which theyare on, meetings in London, occurs to me that there is an awful lot of overlap.
AS discussed what is required outside of the meeting. They’reoften 3 hours long, 2 hours of reading. Thanks to MF for fighting through the paperwork at both meetings. Difficult to know what they are talking about, need to work out first what a particular implement/medical term is. Things changing in the Health arena quickly, need to make them as smart and up to date as they possibly can be. MF advised its worth doing 5 minutes with KS to compare notes with, encourages Board members to bring things to HWWB. Universal Credit launching 6th Dec will have an impact, do feed intelligence in and bring things to the Board – not just today, to be the eyes and ears. Lucky to have people with the capabilities of the HWWB to be able to go to these meetings and make contributions.
AF confirmed HW have done a list/doing a list – having volunteers for the meeting, highlight to council and CCG that if HW can’t attend them how are they ensuring the patient voice is there. Good exercise to play back.
AS advised that he had meet with Nick Carter(CEO of West Berkshire Council) following the ‘Thinking Together’event, which he was very impressed with . It also highlighted that with major issues with social care services that the Council wanted to hear aboutissues, but the experiences with Health is that they are not as open in terms of accepting problems– often seems to be an undercurrent of ‘we are being attacked’ not sure where it comes from, not from local management but potentially from Department of Healthpressures. MV commented that they should be looking for criticism, but there is a great sensitivity to critique if they admit they’re wrong. AS mentioned a quotefrom Chief Health Strategist at Google health worldwide –“patients are the most underutilised resource in medicine”.
KS stated at the top, patient involvement is on policy, there is a gap, it doesn’t seem to filter down, local groups there have no representatives.
AS noted from how anecdotally he was informed how other CCGs operate, Cornwall welcomes and encourages public involvement at Board Meetings etc.
AF confirmed that JackieWilkinson hadcirculated a report about recommendations of public engagement, co-production, NHS clinical commissioners have excepted as guidance
ACTION formally ask the CCG on how they are doing this, its evidence based, they’ve been accepted by their body and it is endorsed by them. Would be a good action – AF to drop them a letter.
KS commented that it would be interesting to ask all groups/Boards which do not have patient representation, or is there in all groups? AS confirmed that he sits on numerous groups/Boards where ‘we are assured X is accurate in relation to many statutory matters e.g. finance, equality& Diversity etc’ but don’t remember hearing that the patient voice is heard.
AS stated that when considering terms of reference, specifically TheBerkshire West NHS Primary Commissioning Committeethere was originally a member of the public as the lay/public member, but recently there has been no one there, have they been replaced?It also has very restrictive voting structure with no members not employed by the CCG voting on considerable sums and changes to Primary Care locally.
MV advised that it could be daunting for members of the public to attend,including induction programme for them to attend so they don’t come again.KS confirmed thatOxford AHSNhave been looking at this, leading together courses.
AS stated that one of the things we’ve had a conversation with fellow Healthwatch’s, about was regardingwhat patient groups from surgeries are involved in, also where is the training for reps and what is their remit? In terms of patients who sit on GP panels/Patient Groups- just surgery matters or things that affect the patients at the surgery in Health and Social Care.
As many local structures were changing e.g. the four local CCHG mergers, Sustainability & Transformation Partnerships(STP) and Accountable Care Systems (ACS) coming into existence, how would this affect the patient experience rather than merely an overarching policy change,
KS commented that it might be worth getting patient groups together in the area. / MF/KS
AF
KS/ALL
KS
ALL
8. / Ratification of Workplan on a page
AS advised that we want to take our very complex 9/12 page start to try to get to a better and easier version of what we want to do, though not a final finished version as yet.
HWWB to work with ZT or a couple of pages justto summarise what we’re up to. This is a very simple draft idea of what it might be, graphics and icons.
AF askto have something in there about championing co production, championing patient voice.
ACTION: AS asked shall we include that as a workplan item? Although it is implicit, but do we state it, we aren’t doing it for ourselves but for the public also. If we can ensure its done
ZT suggested putting it on the strap line. AF commented that increasing patient engagement and increasing feedback, so they feel involved, is something that people ask for.
Josie(audience member)commented that there are length of service user connection, they lose that link, they’re onto another group, they lose that connection and I want to keep coming.
MMJ, you were one of the few that interacted properly. The training needs to not just come to patients but also people who need to come down a level. KS stated that the trainingencouraged a working togetherethos, so it was a learning experience for the professionals. ZT emphasized that it is important to maintain the local connection. as well as maintain the connections with the more seniorprofessionals. / ZT/AKC/AS
AS
KS
9. / Contact & Issues Report
Final Transition (FT)
AS confirmed that what they had managed to do with this report was produce a joinedup inclusive influential report the help of WB Mencap and the West Berkshire Learning Disability Partnership (LDBP) and most importantly Parents/Carers with lived experience. This was to raise the profile of this particular conversation of‘what will happen when I’m not here to take care of my LD child/sibling/family member’.
A Report written in 2001 by Mencap, highlighted the ‘housing time bomb’ – councils and social care were dealing with on a ‘one at a time’ as the crisis arose basis, but carers want a degree of planning for when someone with LD goes into independent living or they can no longer care. There has been no planning, an attitude of “everything will be alright” has been adopted. Interestingly this is not because the councils are not doing anything buthad refused to discuss what happens how or where the person with LD would go. The report highlighted a problem that West Berkshire Council did not know seem aware of as they were dealing with each crisis as it arose. West Berkshire Councils Social care team now highlight in their annual assessment – ‘if you’re not living here, where would you like to live? Who or where with?
’ Now it’s about what are the options?
WBC have some unique challenges with LD and thelocal vulnerablepopulation, Often these challenges are semi dealt with elsewhere in the country bynew builds of accessible property . However, land in West Berkshire is very expensive and WBC has no spare land –So, are there any other solutions that could be considered.For example - Shared lives, a person with LD will go and live with a family in their existing house, which is fine if the family has a house, But, -what if the person with LD wants to stay in their family home- are there any workable options?
Why co production works – first meeting was almost an adversarial ‘council vsparents/carers’, but out of that anger we managed to move it forward to a more constructive conversation of what changes are possible? We now have a commitment here and a process (The Housing Action group), otherwise you end up with angry letters to councillors and an unhealthy relationship. The official bodies think people want alot, but they are very realistic, they know how stretched services are.
ZT asked when talking about how realistic people are, are you talking about families or service providers? AS advised families, they don’t expect custom built things, they just have a view now that we can solve for a particular group.
Newbury College Student placements
A third group joined us in October, both students helped and enjoyed the ‘Thinking Together’ event in Hungerford, and are due to finish in Feb. One project is about diabetic support, one on sudden cardiac death. A previous student had produced a very well thought of poster on antibiotics resistance, WMHD put the video out about world mental health day.