LINKED UP NEWS November 2011
“Growing Stronger Communities - by joining together, many whispers become one voice”
Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology (CCO) By the LINk Support Team Audrey Meacock (LINk ViceChair), Peter Walton (LINk Board member) and Karen Prior (LINk Support Team) recently met with the Chair and CEO from Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology (CCO), Alan White and Andrew Cannell. Items discussed included service relocation, changes to commissioning, quality accounts and enter & view visits. LINk members have indicated that the potential relocation of services is of concern, so this was at the top of the agenda.
Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology
CCO and Commissioners are hoping to build a comprehensive world class non-surgical cancer centre run by CCO co-located on the same site as the Royal Liverpool Hospital. This does not mean withdrawing cancer
services from the Wirral site, it is about investment in cancer services and they would remain an independent Trust. Services would still run at Aintree / Walton and at chemotherapy clinics across Merseyside and Cheshire. It was stressed that this would only happen if it is in the best interest of patients and any possible opening of this new service would not be before 2017. Cancer treatment is highly prioritised by local Primary Care Trust Clusters, and a cancer centre adjacent to an acute site is potentially beneficial – CCO think it could be a World Class Centre and could improve patient safety. Forthcoming changes in the commissioning process will have an impact on cancer services - this may be particularly significant in the case of newer, expensive tumour-specific drugs. As a result of this meeting the LINk will be holding a coffee morning early next year to provide members with a full update about the plans for CCO – both Alan White and Andrew Cannell have offered to attend. Details of this event will be sent to LINk members and published on www. linkwirral.org.uk.
Authorised Representatives By the LINk Support Team Over the past few months a number of LINk members have expressed an interest in becoming authorised representatives for the purposes of carrying out Enter and View visits. To facilitate this, six volunteers attended a training session on the 4th of November. The training covered the legalities of Enter and View visits, best practice for representatives, and the procedures and standards that are required for a successful visit. The LINk has the statutory right to carry out Enter and View visits to premises where state-funded care is being provided (with certain exceptions). Authorised Representatives are the volunteers who carry these visits out and write a report.
Pending CRB checks being completed, these six volunteers will now join the Enter & View team. The new authorised reps are: • Kate Gratwick • Chrissy Jones • Lorraine Keilaus • John Keilaus • Paul Engle • Marilyn Kennett • Heather Ward The Enter & View group has been working hard to prepare new protocols for reporting visits – these were agreed at the board meeting on November 10th and can be found on the LINk website. We have also been working with Julie Walker and Mal Price from Wirral Council to establish a protocol to improve information sharing between the LINk and the Council.
WE NEED
Issue 12
YOU!
We Need Your Help By Phil Davies LINk Support Team The LINk’s promotion and distribution team is slowly growing. We are still looking for volunteers who can spare an hour or two to help us make sure their community is informed about what the LINk is doing, by taking newsletters, leaflets and dignity in care cards to local community venues. We want to make sure that Dignity response
cards, in particular, are available in every GP, dentist, optician, library, community centre throughout the Wirral. The best way we’ve found of achieving this is for local people to each take responsibility for a couple of the venues that they regularly use. If you can spare a couple of hours to help your community have the opportunity to say what they think about health and social care services we need to hear from you!
A chance for you to give your views for LINk / HealthWatch future workplan - Friday 25th November, Birkenhead Park Pavilion, 12 noon Please book a place via the LINk Support Team
Arrowe Park Coffee Afternoon By the LINk Support Team At Hoylake Community Centre on 14th October, the subject of the LINk coffee afternoon was feedback on the Arrowe Park Site Strategy consultation. Mike Chantler from Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust talked about the consultation that had happened earlier in the year, the decisions that had been reached about the future of Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge Hospital sites, and the changes
Attendees at a LINk coffee morning
that had been made as a result of the consultation. An account of the consultation and the strategy was published in the August newsletter.
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LINKED UP NEWS
November 2011
Dignity and Respect campaign response rate is a little above 1%, which is above where we expected The LINk’s Dignity and Respect to be at this point – our experience Campaign and Survey continues has been that most people take the to gather pace. We have now cards and fill them in at a later date. distributed around 8000 of the Significant numbers of the cards are feedback cards throughout the still on display across the borough, Borough, with another 7000 still so the rate of returns to cards taken waiting to go out. At the moment our is actually much better than 1%. By the Dignity in Care Sub-Group
We intend to compile an interim report on the survey responses at the end of the year, but continue distributing and collecting the survey cards throughout the transition to HealthWatch next year. This will help us build up a continuous picture of Dignity and Respect in care services.
We still need your help to distribute the cards (see page 1), and are relying on you to give any feedback of care services that you might have – you can submit feedback via the website, and please encourage other people you know who have experienced care services recently to do so as well!
The LINk believes that being treated with Dignity & Respect is a basic human right, not an optional extra
Join our Dignity in Care Campaign Visit www.linkwirral.org.uk
Seasonal Advice from NHS Wirral
Some basic essentials that everyand earache, will mean that you are general aches and sprains one can use include: better prepared. • Anti-diarrhoea and re-hydraAt this time of year, it’s a good • Paracetamol or ibuprofen if It will also mean that A&E, 999 tion mixtures for adults if they idea to make sure you stock up your and GP services have more time to you have a temperature caused have an upset stomach. medicine cabinet, Making sure you deal with serious and life-threatby coughs, cold and flu • A thermometer safely store some essentials that can ening conditions, such as heart-at• Paracetamol and ibuprofen can Don’t forget, antibiotics have no help you and your family to cope tacks, strokes, breathing problems also be used for pain relief for effect on conditions such as coughs, with common complaints such as and serious accidents. complaints such as earache, colds, flu or stomach upsets. colds, coughs, stomach upsets, flu stomach ache, sore throats, By NHS Wirral
Any Qualified Provider Report By the LINk Support Team By October 2011, NHS Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral were required to identify three or more community or mental health services to be opened up to “any qualified provider” (AQP) to offer services. A public consultation has been run across Wirral, Warrington and Cheshire to help identify which services local people would like to see opened up to wider choice of clinicians. The consultation asked which of 8 services should be considered for “Any Qualified Provider”. A total of 122 responses were received and a majority of respondents felt there would be a number of benefits to opening services out to the independent sector including reducing waiting times and
providing patient choice. The accountability, integration of service, follow-up and complaints procedure were all areas of concern for members of the public. Concerns were also raised regarding the potential for this process to lead to privatisation of the NHS. From the responses received the majority of the general public supported implementation of Any Qualified Provider in any of the 8 services identified, furthermore additional services were suggested such as maternity services. The respondents however were not in favour of services such as Emergency Services being opened out to Any Qualified Provider. The full conclusions and recommendations from the report are available on the LINk website.
State of Care 2010-11 Provider Consultation Report from CQC By the LINk Support Team The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have published their third annual report into the state of health and adult social care in England for the year April 2010 to March 2011. They say that “we are able to see an emerging picture of improvements in some areas and others where more work is needed. The NHS has continued to make advances in infection control but management of medicines and the use of restraint are in need of improvement.” The topics that the report covers are: • The shape of health and social care provision • Access to care services • Choice and control • Quality and safety
You can read the report online at http://www.cqc.org.uk/ stateofcare2010-11.cfm The LINk continues to share our Enter and View reports and other feedback from the community with the CQC, and are actively considering how to continue and develop this relationship as we move towards becoming Local HealthWatch. CQC is working on developing HealthWatch England, the national body that will oversee local HealthWatch organisations. They have set out a plan for developing HealthWatch England, beginning this month with the start of the recruitment process for its Chair (to be in post by April 2012) and continuing right the way up to envisioned launch in October 2012.
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LINKED UP NEWS
November 2011
Vascular Services Review and Consultation
Northwest Ambulance Service
By the LINk Support Team
The Northwest Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) is putting together a new patient experience programme. Building on last year’s programme the Trust are using a number of different ways to gather patient experience through interviews with patients at hospitals, observations on ambulances, telephone and online surveys and focus groups across the region. Ambulance Service staff will be visiting the Countess of Chester Hospital, Leighton Hospital, the Royal Liverpool Hospital, Macclesfield District General Hospital and Aintree Hospital over the next few months covering Accident and Emergency departments, Out Patient Clinics, Discharge Lounges (where
The LINk is aiming to be increasingly involved in the consultation over plans to create two centres of excellence for Vascular Services in Merseyside. One will combine specialists in Wirral and Chester and also cover Warrington, with the other shared between the Royal Liverpool and Aintree hospitals north of the Mersey. At present there are seven centres, including one at Arrowe Park. Representatives of Wirral LINk, with other regional LINks, put several questions to the PCT cluster representatives, which we are waiting answers for. We are also working with the PCT to ensure that the consultation over these proposals is widespread and meaningful, and gives Wirral residents the chance to air their views. We are already receiving comments from people who are concerned about the potential changes. We will be contacting all LINk members as soon as more details about the consultation process have been released.
Recent news from linkwirral.org.uk By the LINk Support Team Latest News • Patients Association launches damning report • Any Qualified Provider - Report from Public Consultation • To all patients of Sandstone Medical Centre, West Kirby • Personal health budgets • CQC launch set-up plan for HealthWatch England • Join a NETSCC panel or board • Health Secretary: Local HealthWatch to be able to trigger independent inspections • Wirral Cultural Diversity Festival Day 2011 • JSNA Update • Patient and carer perspective on Respiratory Care • Point of Care testing for HIV • Council asks residents to help balance its budget • Call for members of NETSCC Patient and Public Involvement Reference Group • CQC report on management of controlled drugs Latest Consultations • Caring for our future White Paper consultation
By NWAS NHS Trust
Office Move By the LINk Support Team
The LINk ‘Host’ organisation, VCA Wirral, will be relocating from their current offices at Birkenhead Fire Station to premises in Liscard on 1st December 2011. The LINk Support Team will be included in this move, so from December 2011 our address will be:
Northwest Ambulance Service provides ambulance cover to the Wirral
applicable) and Ambulance Liaison Rooms. Staff will also be on board Patient Transport vehicles to observe patient journeys. The Trust wants to hear from patients about all aspects of their experiences of using both the Patient Transport Service and the Emergency Ambulance (999)
Narcotics Anonymous New Carers Group By the LINk Support Team
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a member-driven, international organization in which no dues or VCA Wirral Wallasey Office fees are charged for membership. 220 - 224 Liscard Road All they ask is for a potential Liscard member to have a desire to stop Wallasey using drugs. Members recover Wirral from the disease of addiction CH44 5TN by application of the principles contained in the Twelve Steps. Our telephone and email The programme is based on a set addresses wil remain the same. of spiritual principles, and they have no affiliation with any other There may be some slight organisation. disruption on the 1st and 2nd of Narcotics Anonymous is a December as we move - if you twelve-step approach to recovery can’t get hold of us by phone with the primary purpose of please send us an email and we’ll helping any individual stop using do our best to get back to you. drugs. NA’s programme focuses on an addict’s recovery from the disease of addiction, rather than any specific drug. Through their group meetings and the therapeutic value of one addict helping another, addicts learn how to live drug-free and productive lives. To get a copy of a list of local meetings email: meetingslist@ • Patient Association CARE mana-ukna.co.uk. More campaign information about Narcotics • RT @RadioClat1386AM: RaAnonymous is available at www. dion Clatterbridge is now on air ukna.org and a Merseyside Area (1386AM) of Narcotics Anonymous (MANA) • CWP Annual Report website is under development at Follow the LINk at www.mana-ukna.co.uk www.twitter.com/LINkWirral
Recent Tweets!
Service in order to improve for the benefit of all patients. If you would like to share your experience, get involved in a focus group in your area or find out more about this year’s programme, you can email talktous@nwas.nhs.uk or contact the LINk Support Team and we will forward your details.
By the LINk Support Team A new carers group is being set up in West Kirby for any carer in the West Wirral area. The aim is to provide a local venue where carers can get the information and support they need, including mutual support, and where they can be signposted to other agencies for more specific help. The group will meet on the first Thursday of the month at West Kirby Methodist Church, Westbourne Road from 12.00 – 2.00 and the first meeting is on December 1st. The group will be facilitated by Sue Gladden (formerly of Wirral Carers Centre and Family Tree), Rev Jim Dobson, who is a carer for a son with cerebral palsy, and a number of volunteers, most of them former carers. Lunch will be provided (Rev Jim makes very good soup!) and this will be followed by either an information session or an activity (craft, gentle keep fit, etc). Replacement care may be available if needed. If you live in this area you are very welcome to go along. If you are a bit unsure about coming along on your own then they will ensure you are met at the door and welcomed in. Please contact Sue Gladden on 07968 236 854 or the church office 0151 625 3224 for further details. If you live in the Pensby area a similar group, Carers Together, meets at St Michael & All Angels Church, Gills Lane on the second Thursday at 11.45 - contact Carol Jordan 07932 251198.
LINKED UP NEWS Lasting Power of Attorney Classifieds Letters Page 4
By Karen Prior LINk Support Team
The LINk hosted a coffee afternoon on 28th September in St Saviours. The theme of the afternoon was Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). 30 attendees listened to a presentation by
November 2011
Karen Blair of Wired. The session was very informative and below are some questions which were asked, accompanied by the responses from Karen. During the presentation Karen talked about the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice which can be downloaded from http://bit.ly/eRiL8s
Your Questions Answered Q Is LPA only UK legislation? A The Mental Capacity Act in its entirety (including LPA, Deputy etc as it’s within the MCA) is legislation in England and Wales only. Other legislation may apply and differ in other parts of UK. Q If a friend (attorney) steals from you and prosecuted and the donor has no-one else, what happens? A Under certain circumstances the OPG may refer the matter to the Court of Protection. The court may revoke the LPA. The court may then consider whether the authority previously given to an attorney can be managed by the court making a single decision or by appointing a deputy. (CoP Ch 7.72) Q Is it compulsory to issue notice of intentions? A It is not compulsory to issue a notice of intention. If a notice of intention is not issued the donor would need to have 2 certificate providers (re capacity). Therefore the options are either 2 Certificate Providers OR 1 certificate provider and 1 notice of intention. Q Can you change things in the LPA (re cost)? A No. Each LPA is given authorisation for the decisions stipulated at the time it is made. The LPA is also authorised as a certificate that the Donor lacked capacity to make that decision. If changes were wanted a new LPA, therefore process, would need to be instigated to ensure the safeguards for the donor are ensured such as lack of capacity for the change that is required (certificate of capacity). (Info given by OPG) Q Can you appoint more than one deputy? A The court can appoint two or more deputies and state whether they should act jointly, jointly and severally, or jointly in respect of some matters and severally in respect of others. (CoP Ch 8.42) Q When donor passes away and a will has not been made, what happens? A Any LPA or Deputy in place previously ceases to have authority at the point of death of the donor. In this circumstance an attorney or deputy is expected to inform the OPG and they will nullify the authority then due process of intestate (died without a legal will) and testate (died with a legal will) will apply. (Info from OPG) Q Is there an appeal process? A This question, I think, was meant around Court of Protection decisions? It was difficult to get an answer as it would depend on the particular decision. The Court deals with a lot of different things including LPA, Deputy and decisions for individuals in extreme circumstances. The court acts primarily in the welfare and best interest of a decision/individual according to the legislation. Depending on the decision you are appealing against there are other bodies such as local ombudsman, higher law systems etc to go to. The Court of Protection can be contacted to answer any specific queries. (Info from OPG) Q If the person has no capacity to make a will – what happens after death? A Deputy (if one in place) could apply to Court of Protection to ask to make a will on persons behalf before the event. If no will in place any LPA or Deputy would have no bearing on due process through intestate and testate (see previous question). Any LPA or Deputy ceases when person passes away.
and diary
LINk Board Meeting in Public Thursday January 19th 9.30am start at Birkenhead Park Pavilion. Observers are most welcome at these meetings, but we would be grateful if you could let us know in advance if you intend to attend. Workplan Group A ‘Brainstorming’ session to look at issues that should be considered by the LINk over the next year, and proposed actions to address these issues, will be held at Birkenhead Park Pavilion on November 25th at 12noon. Please contact the LINk Support Team if you’d like to attend. Communications Sub-Group The next meeting of the Communications Sub-Group will be held at Christchurch Centre, Bebington on Wednesday 30th November starting at 10.00am. Please call the LINk Support Team if you would like to attend. Childrens and Young Persons Sub-Group The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 13th December at Christchurch, Bebington at 10am.
I was rather concerned, after a recent visit to the walk in centre at Mill Lane, Wallasey, that patients were being asked about their personal details at an open plan reception desk situated in one corner of the waiting room. Although I was sitting away from the desk I could hear the name, address, telephone number and date of birth for every person attending the unit. On some occasions the person was asked to repeat their details as the unit was very busy and at times quite noisy. Should the management consider an alternative measure or relocation of the desk to protect people’s privacy? Name and address supplied
Shortly after a recent visit to a local NHS facility I was surprised to receive promotional material through the post from private companies trying to sell me products related to the problem I’d been treated for. I’m sure it was just a coincidence, but I’d be interested to hear if anybody else has had a similar experience.
Name and address supplied
Send your thoughts, queries and letters to info@linkwirral.org.uk
LINKED UP NEWS If you have articles, events or features that you would like to see in the next edition of LINKED UP NEWS, please contact Phil Davies. The next edition deadline is 1pm on Friday February 3rd 2012.
Contact Details Wirral Local Involvement Network (LINk) c/o VCA Wirral, 220-224 Liscard Road, Liscard, Wallasey, CH44 5TN Tel: 0151 203 2111 Fax: 0151 666 5300 Email: info@linkwirral.org.uk www.linkwirral.org.uk
LINk Support Team
Karen Prior, LINk Manager Ext. 203 Elaine Evans, LINk Support Officer Ext. 211 Phil Davies, LINk Comms & Information Officer Ext. 207 Lisa Phillips, LINk Admin Support Officer Ext. 209 To contact LINk staff call 0151 203 2111 (+ Ext)
Office Hours 9.00am - 4.30pm
Editor: Phil Davies Design: Phil Davies To subscribe or change your contact details, phone 0151 203 2111 LINKED UP NEWS is published on behalf of Wirral LINk by: VCA Wirral, 220-224 Liscard Road, Liscard, Wallasey, CH44 5TN Copyright © 2011 Wirral Local Involvement Network (LINk) Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this newsletter is accurate, but we cannot guarantee accuracy and our articles do not constitute legal or professional advice. Opinions expressed in the newsletter are not always to be taken as expressing the opinions of Wirral LINk or VCA Wirral. Advertisements, products or services listed are not necessarily recommended by Wirral LINk or VCA Wirral.