Minutes of the Meeting of Health Watch West Berkshire Board on 15 March 2017- 10:30am

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

Present / Andrew Sharp
Alison Foster
Dr Melanie Morgan-Jones
Martha Vickers
Ann Standen
Alice Kunjappy Clifton / Chief Officer, Healthwatch West Berkshire (HWWB)
Chair, HWWB
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Development Officer, Healthwatch West Berkshire / AS
AF
MMJ
MV
ASt
AKC
Leia Clifton / Admin & Information Officer, HWWB / LC
Item No. / Agenda Item / Action
1. / Welcome and Introductions
Alison Foster started the meeting thanked everyone for coming and apologised for the time delay in getting the meeting started. Each board member introduced themselves to the meeting.
2. / Apologies for Absence
Mike Fereday (MF), sends his apologies to the meeting as he is out of the country.
Chris Noble (CN), SEAP, sends her apologies to this meeting as she is ill.
Zoe Tomes (ZT), 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 sheis a councillor with Newbury Town Council.
4.a
4.b / Minutes of the meeting held 15 March 2017
Martha Vickers stated that she was present at the last board meeting and this should be added.
After this change was made the board approved and AF signed the minutes of the last meeting.
Matters Arising and Actions from that meeting
Action log – AS went through this and explained the actions outstanding and plans to address the outstanding items.
5. / Report of the HWWB Chief Officer
AS thanked the public for coming, also thanked the Board especially those who had travelled considerable distances in poor weather and staff of HWWB for ensuring all had been arranged for the meeting.
Staff changes –
AS thanked past staff members Leena Sakhiya, Maggie Matthews and Amelia Hamblin for their contribution to HWWB. AS stated that LC had joined HWWB as the new Admin and Digital Information Officer. AS specifically thanked AKC for her hard work, as the only member of full time staff for much of the last quarter as Development Officer. AS also thanked volunteer Nathan Pope for his contribution towards improvement of social media and the website which AS hopes will continue to see improvements.
Vulnerable People – AS stated that HWWB will continue to prioritise and look at vulnerable people as HWWB aims to reduce health inequalities locally. This has been happening through work with homeless and rough sleepers. HWWB is also involved with Brighter Berkshire and the newly formed Mental Health Action Group(MHAG- a subgroup of the West Berkshire Health and Well Being Board) to continue work on mental health in West Berkshire.
Day to Day Enquiries – AS stated that the nature of enquiries received by HWWB have become more serious. HWWB had expected to be an organisation where you’d go for GP or Dental appointment issues, but more recently HWWB have been dealing with issues to do with ‘system failures’ seriously impacting on people’s lives. Part of HWWB job therefore recently has been to remind those in charge of providing or commissioning services that real people are suffering because of problems with how services are delivered or where there are ‘gaps’.
County Border Issues – AS stated that a problem HWWB has been seeing over the past few months are issues of health or social care if someone lives on county boarders between West Berkshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire. Or if a member of the public lives in West Berkshire and attends a GP practice in Hampshire or the edge of WestBerkshire and they have a complaint this raises difficulty of which Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) HWWB should raise a complaint or concern with.
Transition in Healthcare – AS stated HWWB have also been dealing with clients who have ‘fallen through the cracks’ when transitioning in health or social care. He explained an example of this is between child and adult services. AS further explained that people who fall through the cracks in this way are in a difficult position, as they no longer have the statutory protection afforded under 18’s and struggle to be heard as adults.. They just about avoid crisis but are not are offered help they need. AS continues, ill health in this can be caused when departments/aspects of health and social care are not joined up.
Meetings with Richard Benyon – West Berkshire MP – AS explained he has had meetings with Richard Benyon on the topics of advocacyandsupport for military veterans. He also raised the issues of homelessness and cross county border health/social care issues with the MP.
AS praised West Berkshire Council (WBC) for their quick response, willingness to help and the difference they have made. They have particularly got involved with work done with Learning Disabilities report HWWB produced ‘The Final Transition ‘and with Mental Health events HWWB arranged called ‘Thinking Together’.
Meetings with Royal Berkshire Hospital Chief Executive – AS stated that Steve McManus is the new Chief Executive of RBHFT. As states that he has met him twice and that AS believes McManus is already doing a good job of changing the ethos of the Trust and HWWB has had much more contact with those working in Healthcare at Royal Berkshire Hospital . He further stated Steve McManus is coming to West Berkshire later in the year and is trying to work on moving more appointments/services to West Berkshire for those who live here.
CCG Merger – AS explained that unlike WBC the local NHS have been ‘hearing’ but not really ‘listening’ and general not willing to take things on that have been brought to them by HWWB. AS also mentioned the forthcoming proposed merger of the four CCG’s in Berkshire West into one CCG . He hopes the new merger of the four local CCG’s will help this improve and react more effectively to issues raised by HWWB.
Annual report – AS stated that the only organisations who haven’t responded to their mention of failing to respond to a HWWB request and hence highlighted in the annual report were South Central Ambulance Service(SCAS) and Reading North CCG regarding LD services and that HWWB will chase that up.
Annual Conference – AS stated recently MFand AKC attended the Healthwatch England’s Annual conference in Nottingham and it was very helpful in terms of learning from other Healthwatch’s. HWWB was singled out for praise within the conference opening address by its Chair, Jane Mordue, for its Thinking Together project. HWWB also has a meeting with Imelda Redmond, the National Director of Healthwatch England in October.
MV asked whether the Board was aware of progress being made with health and social care as there was criticism between CCG and local authority about what progress will be made. AS responded by saying that there is an integration agenda between health and social care and how they are trying to work together seamlessly. AS then explained how a challenge facing integration is information governance and not breaching data protection. AS further explained that key areas seen have been impressive performance with connected care programmes and initiatives like social workers being placed in Royal Berkshire Hospital(RBH)to try and get people out of hospital quicker. Focussed integration is working well however the places where there is not specifically focussed integration between health and social care was not so good.
AF stated that there is lots of change happening locally with health and social care including integration and this may be confusing for the public as it is difficult to navigate.
AS stated that the language used by the NHS healthcare systemNHS is often confusing. Such as the use of terms such as‘urgent care centres which are different from A&E, Minor Injury Units, or Walk in Centres. More care needs to be taken to avoid confusion for the public.
MV stated that there is a money saving suspicion by the public concerning the NHS. With the focus on that drawing away from the person. AS responded saying that it is not a suspicion but a fact, demand year on year is rising and someone needs to alter services to fill the gap left by austerity. AF concurred that the local council has had to save millions the role of HWWB is making sure that the person remains at the centre. AS continues that if the system isn’t working for one person then it isn’t working for anyone.
An Audience Member thanked HWWB for the Thinking Together report as it has had a big impact on the WB Health and Wellbeing Board. Thanks HWWB on behalf of service users. / AS and Team
6. / Appointing a Vice Chair –
AF suggested opening up for a Vice Chair role because staff at HWWB is very busy and cannot attend every meeting that they wish to MMJ recommended ZF (who was not present) as she has knowledge of this area. The board suggested talking about this point externally.
ACTION – Board to discuss appointing a Vice Chair externally via email as many of the board members are not present. / AS
7. / Annual Report Update -
AS first told the public in attendance at the board meeting that the Annual Report is available on the HWWB website. AS stated that he was pleased that HWWB are now dealing with more cases and now have a bigger footprint to help make change. He stated one of the concerns raised by the annual report is the homeless population locally and how they are receiving care. AS said that the system wasn’t working for a group of people despite saying it was.
Whistleblowers – Since the annual report HWWB has been listening to whistleblowers. Despite it not being HWWB’s area they did what little they could as whistleblowers came to them after they have exhausted every other option. AS explained that a whistle-blower becomes unemployed or unemployable, this should not happen as services should encourage whistleblowers and they should be encouraged and not picked on.
8. / Roles and Responsibilities – Healthwatch Board
AS stated that a Vice Chair is needed as HWWB require this level of support. He continued to say more people need to be recruited for the board that are willing to be very involved in the complex world of Health and Social Care – it cannot be a passive role.
MMJ stated that she would like to be more involved as a board member she asked whether it would be possible for her to experience every different thing in Health and Social Care. She suggested a day in a different part of the work HWWB undertakes in H&S care every 3 weeks in order to be able to experience everything.
ACTION – Look into how MMJ can experience different aspects of H&S care every 3 weeks in order to increase her experience in order to become more involved as a Healthwatch board member.
ASt suggested that the advert to recruit a new board member should be clear and should fully explain what is required of a new board member including what skills are required and what people will be required to get involved with and how they are willing to be engaged.
ACTION – Begin recruitment process to find a board member who is willing to be as committed as required by HWWB.
MV asked how HWWB would go about adverts
AS replied saying this would happen through press releases, social media and through the press.
9. / Ratification of ‘New’ Work Plan
The Board read through the new workplan. AS stated that the Work Plan has been changed to become a clearer log of what HWWB are doing. AS further suggested that the Work Plan has started being realistic with what HWWB can and cannot do work and resource wise. The champions group are a big help to organise the workplan as they come to HWWB and show where the big challenges are in Health and Social care. AS said for example GP enquiries and access issues remain of concern locally, there aren’t a huge amount of other GP issues but the frequency seemed to be rising therefore it stays high priority concerning the Work Plan.
AS stated that department of health stated GP needs to open 7 days.ASt added the UK hasn’t improved in health terms and it has rather stalled, the Care Act (2014) was supposed to fix this but local authorities sometimes ignore it as it is costing them too much.
MV stated that perhaps the Health and Wellbeing Board should cover ‘Living Healthily’ in terms of using resources to make Newbury/West Berkshire a ‘Marmot’ town. MV then asked what it would take for Newbury/West Berkshire to become a Marmot Town. AS replied it would be a matter of procedure linking all services Health and Social care and beyond. Services should become a ‘one stop shop’ where everyone takes responsibility rather then deciding there is nothing that particular service can do for someone in need. An Audience Member then commented that the board had touched on how people become disillusioned with health and social care as it feels like some professionals have a lack of empathy and professionals at times discard cases instead of passing it on to someone who could help.
AS stated ‘Eligibility Criteria’ and ‘Living Healthily’ to be taken off the Work Plan in order to focus on ‘key’ issues or what HWWB have feedback on. If HWWB receives feedback on either of those issues then it can be reconsidered in terms of returning to the work plan, it doesn’t have to be many people who come forward for this to take place.
ACTION: ‘Eligibility Criteria’ and ‘Living Healthily’ to be taken off the Work
Plan in order to focus on local issues or what HWWB have feedback on due to limitations of resource.
10. / Contact & Issues Report –
-Thinking Together Report
AS stated the last Thinking Together event was a success, the chair of HW England even came and stayed the whole day as well as many senior officers. The Thinking Together report was put in front of the Health and Wellbeing board continues to make a difference. The Mental Health Action Group (MHAG) has been formed and comes up with local strategies that can help the people of West Berkshire whilst fitting into wider regional/nationwide strategies. AS explained that Richard Benyon (MP) is set to attend the Health and Well Being Board meeting in November at which the MHAG would present its initial plans.
AS said another Thinking Together event is set to be held in order to ask the service users what they think in general and about changes the MHAG is proposing since the last Thinking Together event
ASt said that the point of an event such as Thinking Together is that people take ownership of what needs to happen.
MV then stated that West Berkshire has one of the lowest suicide rates in the country and many of those with mental health issues prematurely dying therefore,are dying of physical health reasons
AF then stated that this is a public health issue, local services treating someone with mental health problem the same as if they didn’t, professional stigma is allowing this to happen. AF also explained that West Berkshire now has a mental health Champion in the Council.
An audience member who works for Newbury Survivors of Bereavement stated that the numbers of suicide rates are low because Coroners in certain examples have put a suicide down as a misadventure rather than a suicide so the real numbers of suicide don’t match the statistics.
Another Audience Member stated that GP’s often give those with mental health problems and in danger of suicide anti-depressants, they did not feel GP’s were sensitive to this issue.
Another Audience member explained they felt exasperated as a parent of someone with a mental health issue. They wished that patients at a GP surgery were seen holistically and that mental health and LD were better integrated into education.
AF explained that the community needs to value mental health and in order to achieve this there needs to be a loud voice around mental health.
An Audience Member stated they have been a mental health sufferer for a few years yet has just had their ESA stopped.
Another Audience Member stated they want to be normal and do well despite his learning difficulties but felt he had been treated as though he was incapable and it left him feeling hopeless.
AF and ASt agreed the personal experiences shared by the audience members are valuable in making real change concerning mental health.
An Audience Member explained that improvements to self-care have a big impact in mental health.
MV stated that mental health first aid is being rolled out as an optional course. AS states that is should be mandatory as training like HSE is in the workplace.
Action: Should try to capture the personal experiences from the Audience Members from the Board Meeting if they giveconsent to and collected, in order to be put in front of those who can make real change in mental health.