Voluntary Sector Health Forum
Notes of the GOSPORT & FAREHAM
VOLUNTARY SECTOR HEALTH FORUM
Tuesday 5th May – Thorngate Halls, Gosport
The meeting was hosted by Gosport Voluntary Action, and was attended by representatives of 24 local health groups. Also in attendance were representatives from Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group, Solent Health, and Southern Health.
Apologies were received fromElizabeth Kerwood, Clinical Commissioning Group, and David Miles, Chief Officer for Gosport Voluntary Action.
A list of those who attended and other apologies is appended to these notes.
Nicky Staveley began the meeting and welcomed everyone. She introducedPaul O’Beirne, Chief Executive Officer of Community Action Fareham: Dr Keith Barnard, Lay Governor and Patient Engagement Officer for the Clinical Commissioning Group for Fareham and Gosport.Nicky announced that the Surgery Signposters project is starting this week and that BrendaWoon, Engagement & Partnership Manager (think her title may be different) for the CCG would be seconded to GVA on a part-time basis to lead it. The project has a timetable of 21 months, thanks to £20K of funding from Wessex Academic Network. The induction programme for volunteers is currently being put together and recruitment will begin shortly. Further information will follow in time, in the meantime, speak to Nicky Staveley or Brenda Woon.
The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.
Responses from the CCG to items arising from the meeting on 3rd March
Dr Keith Barnard responded briefly to the topics raised during the last meeting. The full responses can be found here:
Voluntary Organisations Presentations
Haslar Bosom Buddies
Joan Welsh, the group’s secretary, gave a talk about the group, which was started 21 years ago to support women with breast cancer. There are over 20 members who now meet monthly to support each other and celebrate survival with social activities. The group has evolved to support all people suffering with any form of cancer.
Their priorities were:
1)The poor opportunities, offered by both public and hospital transport, for people travelling to QA.
2)The high cost of parking at t QA.
Keith said he would address this issue during his responses after lunch. Mary Shepherd said that as a Governor for Portsmouth Hospitals Foundation Trust, she would bring it up at the next day’s meeting. It was noted by several people that certain hospital departments would validate parking for one hour if longer parking was necessary due to things like late discharge and long treatment times.
Gosport Disability Group and Access Forum
Jim Morey gave a presentation about their work. He defined disability and outlined some statistics to give the Forum a feel for the scale of the issues faced by people with disabilities. The group meets bi-monthly to offer social support to disabled people, their families and carers, living in Gosport and Lee. They work with local businesses and service providers giving feedback on access, with town planners to make towns more accessible and offer training and advice. They also give annual awards to acknowledge efforts and successes.
Their priorities were:
1)To make the borough more accessible to all, giving advice to local providers and businesses and promote understanding of needs.
2)To improve signposting to relevant services and obtain and share knowledge.
It was asked if there was anything similar in Fareham; Paul stated that there had been Fareham Access Group which closed after the founder Lorraine Herrington passed away. A Fareham and District Disability Forum has been set-up and more information could be given by MadelineClose from Healthwatch Hampshire. (Madeline is one of the committee members)
The Rainbow Centre
IstvanSzucs gave a presentation on the work of the Centre, which promotes conductive therapy education first originating at the Peto Institute in Hungary. The Centre opened in 1990 for children with Cerebral Palsy and in 2007 began providing adult services for those with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s etc. Using neuro-rehabilitation techniques, service users are given an increased level of confidence and independence, and the ability to overcome problems with learning and practical advice. A multi-agency approach is incorporated to ensure continuity of care.
The charity needs to find £50k each month for running costs and is dependent on donations as well as having to levy a small charge for service users.
Their priorities were:
1)To gain as much help and support from the CCG as was possible
2)To raise awareness of the Centre and its work by signposting
Parkinsons Society
Valerie Rossiter represents theParkinsons Society for the Gosport and Fareham area. She gave a brief overview of the condition, which often does not manifest itself until more than 60% of the brain is affected. Research is currently being done to recognise earlier signals and symptoms. The local group has over 280 members and offers support through social activities, as well as therapies e.g. hydrotherapy and conductive education. They also link with the Rainbow Centre.
Their priorities were:
1)To establish mutil-disciplinary consultant clinics, where all services could be accessed at once e.g. therapists, adult services and Society representatives
2)To increase hospital staff awareness of the need for medication to be controlled by the patient rather than the nursing staff
GAIN event
Gosport Information & Advice Network are holding an event on Saturday 16th May, staring in front of the Town Hall. There will be 1-2-1 money advice available and employability sessions held in the Discovery Centre.
Love your Bones 2015
A Bone Health and Osteoporosis Patient and Public Conference will be held at the Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth on Wednesday 24th June from 10am-4pm. Places must be booked, contact .
60+ Brochure for Gosport Residents
The brochure is to be updated and expanded to include more information about community support for those with health and wellbeing issues.
Responses on behalf of the CCG to items arising from group priorities
Keith shared brief responses on behalf of the CCG regarding the priorities brought forward from the group presentations:
1)Haslar Bosom Buddies – Keith sympathised with the situation but stated that the CCG did not have much influence over transport services. He promised, however, to raise the topic again and see what could be done. With regard to the parking system, Keith would investigate as to which departments validated for one hour, who was entitled etc. He was aware of a parking season ticket but would look into this further.
2)Gosport Access Group – with regard to signposting, the new surgery signposting project should be able to help with this in the long term. Awareness training at GP surgeries was something to think about for the future, to enable patient’s access when attending.
3)Rainbow Centre – Keith understood the need for funding for the Centre but said this was a difficult issue for the CCG and resources were already stretched. He agreed that GP awareness of the Centre was poor, that they were not aware of the value of conductive education, but that again, the surgery signposting project would help to address this.
4)Parkinsons Society – Keith agreed with the need for a multi-disciplinary clinic and would support plans to get this off the ground. He will also raise the issue of medication being given to suit staff rather than patients needs.
Solent Health & Southern Health
Nickywelcomed Paul Thomas (Head of Business Management) and Sandra Spong, Area Matron for Fareham and Gosport) representing Southern Health NHS Trust, and Alex Whitfield, Chief Operating Officer representing Solent Health Care
Sandra and Paul gave a presentation on the services offered by Southern Health.
- Integrated Services – community, support at home and integrated care teams, all working together to give home support to patients with complex health needs
- Community Nurses – working with inpatients at Gosport War Memorial and coordinating care with other professionals egParkinson’s, Falls, Palliative care; housebound patients e.g. from surgery or physical restrictions, chronic complex conditions and end of life care
- There is a two hour rapid response when referred by a GP
- Twilight Services from 5pm-11.30 for patients needing help at home
- Night Nursing Service from 10pm – 7am, predominantly giving end of life care and support to families
- Enhanced Support and Recover at Home – Recovery, Reablement and Rehabilitation. This supports patients coming home after a hospital stay or to prevent a re-admission. It lasts 6-7 weeks and is tailored to the individual.
- Paediatric services based in the community for children with long term complex needs, for Looked After children and for victims of child abuse
- COAST – an acute children’s nursing team to avoid admission to hospital or on their return home. This service is by GP referral and available 7 days a week.
- Therapies for children up to age 19, who attend school or have a GP within the county, including Occupational Therapy, physio, Speech & Language etc. The service works closely with parents who are seen as the experts in their child’s care.
- Musculo-skeletal team, mainly physio and pain management - this is an adult service and can refer to the QA if necessary. Pain management clinic is held at the Crofton Centre in Stubbington.
- Podiatry – for foot and ankle conditions but not for routine foot care.
- Dental Care for those who are housebound, have learning disabilities or phobia (A one stop service is available whilst patients are under anaesthetic e.g. smear test, foot problems etc. can be performed at the time)
- Sexual health clinic – eg contraception, pregnancy tests etc
- Substance Misuse service – a recovery focused service that is both drop-in and appointments
Q:Paul O’Beirne, Community Action Fareham: How are the services paid for and how are the funding decisions made?
A: Alex and Gethin explained that Commissioning Groups decide what they want, develop a specification in conjunction with other interested parties and then put it out to tender. The bids are assessed and awarded depending on service quality and cost. This may change in the future and will be discussed with the CCG.
Q:Raymond Hale, Fareham & Gosport Diabetes UK Group: There is a six months waiting list for podiatry services – is priority being given to diabetics as their need is often urgent
A: Alex agreed that six months was far too long but that there were urgent referral pathways available. Urgent cases should be escalated, and reducing amputations is a priority for their Service. Tip Toe is a charging service provided by Solent and can refer to the podiatry service.
Q:Ian Johnson, Gosport Volunteer Centre: What are the best ways to increase engagement and make working together efficient?
A: Gethin replied that services are provided and patients are currently expected to fit in. Vanguard status has been provided in Gosport – and will look at how to redesign the services, coordinating with the voluntary sector and the community to meet the needs of the population and be more person-focussed. Providers and Commissioning groups need to be involved as well as the community and groups need to be making suggestions.
Alex pointed out that although Mental Health Services are currently only provided by them in Portsmouth city (Southern provide for Gosport and Fareham), they are currently developing a partnership with Solent Mind. There is so much experience in the voluntary group, often through personal experience, and waiting lists will hopefully be shortened by subcontracting to them.
Q Rachel Aslett-Clark, Relate: There is no integrated commissioning unit involvement in Hampshire, they do not engage with local services. Surely they have a social responsibility to work effectively with local groups?
A: Alex stated the desire to develop long term partnerships with local groups as it provides a more effective service.
Q:Margo Berry, Portsmouth & SE Hants Osteoporosis Group: How do you share patient information between services and does this cause delay?
A: Alex said there is a real tension in the health service between keeping information confidential and providing the best care for patients. At the moment there is no easy way to share information between all the agencies involved and protocols need to be respected e.g. having informed consent to share information.
A show of hands within the room suggested that the majority present were happy for their medical information to be freely shared between providers.
Q:Valerie Rossiter, Parkinsons Society: Why is it so difficult to get a properly coordinated care package?
A: The new integrated community service provided by Southern Health should mean that in future, one person is responsible for coordinating the care package. Methods are currently being trialled to alert all involved in a person’s care, when they are admitted to, or discharged from hospital. The enhanced recovering support package should also help with this.
Q. David Pointon, Moving On Project: With regard to the Support at Home package – what happens after the six weeks are up and who is entitled to the package ie is it means tested?
A: The aftercare offered with this service is not means tested which means everyone is entitled to it. Historically people are being discharged from the enhanced recovering support package quicker than six weeks and are more ready to be independent that under previous systems. The rehabilitation package means they need less long term support, with good feedback from patients, and HCC reporting less reliance on social care as a result.
Before closing the meeting, Nicky advised everyone that as a result of safeguarding having changed since the Care Act 2014, the Hampshire Adult Safeguarding Board have said it will be helpful if groups can promote the need for looking out for people and referring if necessary. Nicky can advise on this but anyone needing to refer should contact Hampshire Adult Services on 0300 555 1386 or the police on 101.
Addition to the minutes – the Community Wellbeing Day event will not be going ahead due to lack of resources; however, there will be a Health and Wellbeing Festival at St Vincent College on Saturday 26th September, 10am – 4pm. Spaces are available at £40 for the day and profits go to Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation, a charity offering respite for families with children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Further information is available from Pippa Marsden on 07899 990688
The Meeting close at 2.45 and details of the next meeting will be sent out with the minutes.
Appendices: Attendance from the following
Alzheimer's SocietyBritish Red Cross
Chrysalis
Community Action Fareham
Fareham & Gosport Clinical Commisioning Group
Fareham and Gosport Diabetes UK Group
Fareham Area Active Blind
Fareham Stroke Club
Friends of Fareham Community Hospital
Gosport Older Person Forum
Gosport Voluntary Action
Hampshire County Council
Hants and Isle Of Wight Ileostomy Association
Harbour Cancer Support Centre
Headqay Portsmouth & South East Hants
Home-Start Gosport and Fareham
Moving On Project
Multiple Sclerosis Fareham Branch
NASS Portsmouth
Open Sight
Parkinsons UK
Portchester Community Association CIO
Portsmouth Osteoporosis Society
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Relate Portsmouth
Shore Leave Haslar
Southern Health
The Rainbow Centre
The Rowans Hospice
Wessex Cancer Trust
APOLOGIES from
Brendoncare
Fareham Area Active Blind
GAIN
Gosport Borough Council
Gosport CAB
Gosport Partners through Pain
Help in Bereavement
Mytime Active
Relate Portsmouth & District