MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS
THURSDAY 25 JUNE 2015
A meeting of the Council of Governors will take place on Thursday 25 June 2015 at 2pm in the
Boardroom of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
AGENDA
1
Apologies
2
Minutes of meeting held on 30 April 2015
3
Performance Update
Presentation
4
#futureNNUH – Improvement and Transformation Projects
(Executive Directors)
Presentation
4
Nursing Workforce – temporary supply
Presentation
Enclosure
(Mr Jeremy Over – Director of Workforce)
5
Governance Review and Undertakings Update
6
Membership Analysis and Update
7
Any Other Business
Presentation
Enclosure
Members of the public and press are excluded from the remainder of the meeting due to the
confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
Date and Time of Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Council of Governors will be held at 11am on Friday 31 July 2015 in the
Bob Champion Research and Education Building (to be confirmed)
P.R.I.D.E. in Our Values – People-focused. Respect. Integrity. Dedication. Excellence
Distribution: Council of Governors and Board of Directors.
website on the Monday prior to the meeting.
Public papers available on the
Contact details: Janice Bradfield, Membership Manager, Norfolk and Norwich University
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, tel 01603 287 634, e-mail membership@nnuh.nhs
.
MINUTES OF COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 30 APRIL 2015
Present:
Mr J Fry
Mr E Aldus
Mr N Brighouse
Ms S Burt
Mr B Cushion
Ms P Ford
Professor J Gazzard
Cllr D Gihawhi
Mrs I Grote
Ms E Hinks
Mr K Jarvis
Mr J Labouchere
Rt Rev J Meyrick
Mr T Nye
Mr P Postle
Ms J Scarfe
Mrs F Sharples
Mrs V Worman
- Chairman
- Clinical Support (staff)
- South Norfolk (public)
- Nursing and Midwifery (staff)
- Broadland (public)
- Norwich (public)
- University of East Anglia (partner)
- Norfolk County Council (partner)
- Great Yarmouth/Waveney (public)
- Breckland (public)
- North Norfolk (public)
- Breckland (public)
- West Norfolk (public)
- Broadland (public)
- Norwich (public)
- South Norfolk (public)
- Breckland (public)
- Admin & Clerical (staff)
In attendance:
Mrs J Bradfield
Mrs J Cave
Mr P Chapman
Mrs A Dugdale
Mr J P Garside
Mr T How
Mrs E McKay
Mrs L Ollier
Mr J Over
Mr R Parker
Ms V Rant
- Senior Communications & Membership Manager
- Director of Resources
- Medical Director
- Chief Executive
- Board Secretary
- Non-Executive Director
- Director of Nursing
- Non-Executive Director
- Director of Workforce
- Chief Operating Officer
- Assistant to Board Secretary
15/010
APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Mr N Burgess, Mr T Davies, Dr A Dhesi, Ms C Edwards, Ms
M Fox and Miss S Ginty.
15/011
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2015
The minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2015 were agreed as a true record and
signed by the Chairman.
15/012
MATTERS ARISING
The Council reviewed the Action Points arising from its last meeting as follows:
15/006 Following discussion at the last Council meeting, a list of potential local quality
indicators was circulated and governors selected pressure ulcers as the indicator to be
reviewed by the external auditors.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in public on 30 April 2015
Page 1 of 8
15/013
EXECUTIVE UPDATE
The Council received a report from the Executive Directors concerning the performance of
the Trust in key areas and strategic developments.
(a) Operational Performance/CEO Report
The Council was informed that Monitor has completed its initial investigation into the
Trust’s breach of the A&E 4 hour, 18 Week RTT and Cancer targets and will be issuing a
press release to confirm that it has accepted voluntary undertakings from the Trust.
One key issue arising out of Monitor’s investigation has been to highlight the need for a
system-wide strategic plan for emergency demand. Discussions have been held to
encourage all health and social care organisations in Norfolk to work collaboratively on
producing a system-wide plan and relevant Terms of Reference are under development.
The draft Operational Plan for 2015/16 is due to be submitted to Monitor on 14 May. The
Operational Plan sets out the Trust’s key strategic aims and core values. The Quality
Priorities for 2015/16 are aligned to local and national priorities. Work to address capacity
challenges are defined under four key areas: People, Processes, Physical and
Partnerships.
The Council was updated on progress of a number of key capital projects. The minors
area in A&E has moved into refurbished accommodation. The new facility has received
positive feedback from staff and will assist in easing some pressure elsewhere in the
Department and in the Urgent Care Centre. The new facility was opened on schedule
due to the team-work of the multi-disciplinary team. Arrangements will be circulated for
governors wishing to visit A&E and the new Minor Injuries area.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
Preliminary drawings are under development for the proposed A&E extension and it is
expected that these will be submitted to the Planners in the next few months.
Planning applications for a new building for the Centre for Food and Health have been
submitted and it is hoped that planning permission will be granted by August. Additional
space is also being planned for the Weybourne Day Unit in order to increase
chemotherapy capacity.
(b) Caring and Patient Experience
The Council received an update from Mrs McKay and was informed that ‘patient-led
assessments of the care environment’ (PLACE) were introduced in 2013 to assess the
quality of the patient environment. The assessments involve local people reviewing how
the clinical environment supports patients’ privacy/dignity, food, cleanliness and building
maintenance. The annual PLACE assessment recently took place and involved 13
independent auditors, reviewed 10 wards, 10 outpatient areas and the A&E Department
assessing cleanliness, food, privacy and dignity. Initial feedback from the assessors was
positive and the Council will be updated once the final report has been published.
The Quality Assurance Audit (QAA) programme has been redesigned to incorporate key
elements of the CQC’s Fundamental Standards and this has received positive feedback
from staff and external auditors. The QAA programme now has more than 70 auditors
and any governors wishing to join the audit team would be welcomed.
Mr Nye recommended participation in the QAA process as a way of obtaining insight into
the patient experience and that governors may wish to undertake at least one audit a year.
Details on how to join the QAA programme will be circulated.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
The Friends and Family Test (FFT) score was 84 in March 2015 and has been above 80
since December. There has been an improvement in satisfaction in relation to noise at
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in public on 30 April 2015
Page 2 of 8
night which has increased to 82.6%. A number of interventions have been put in place to
improve patient satisfaction in relation to noise at night including delaying gardening start
times, decreasing porter radio volume, quiet shoes and delayed start up time for the
Hospedia TVs. Doors are being added to bed bays as the wards are refurbished and
ways of managing patient expectations are being explored. There was challenge on use
of the FFT across the organisation and it was explained that it is used across the Trust
and will be in use in Henderson Ward from May.
Dementia Awareness week will take place between 18 and 24 May 2015. A lot of work
has been undertaken to increase and promote awareness of ways to help people suffering
with dementia. The Council was informed that to promote awareness and understanding
of dementia the Trust has launched a social media campaign called #iCare. The
campaign aims to encourage the public to think about dementia, to help raise awareness
of the condition and the ways people can help. The message has already been circulated
to about 300,000 people in just a few days.
(c) Workforce
Mr Over reported that the results of the Staff Survey in 2014 indicated a number of areas
for improvement and consultations have been held with staff to gain feedback and ideas
on further actions. A series of sessions with in March have been used in the development
of a staff engagement strategy.
Following publication of the Francis ‘Freedom to Speak Up’ review of whistleblowing in the
NHS, the Trust has reviewed its arrangements to ensure staff are able to raise concerns.
Principles and recommendations arising under each theme identified in the Francis
Report have been considered to ensure that the Trust is promoting an open, honest and
patient focused reporting culture. The Trust currently offers a range of different routes for
staff to raise issues but staff are being consulted further to determine with whom they
would feel comfortable raising concerns, if not through their line manager.
The Council was informed that the Trust’s volunteers’ service has been accredited by the
Investing in Volunteers quality standard for the fourth time. The Trust is believed to be the
first organisation in the country to have achieved this. Approximately 700 volunteers work
in the Trust and they are greatly valued by staff and patients. The team supporting the
volunteers programme was congratulated.
The Council discussed the Trust’s use of agency/bank staff to cover nursing shifts in the
Trust and the steps being taken to reduce the number of vacant posts within the Trust. At
its last meeting, the Council discussed the use of bank and agency staff to maintain
appropriate staffing levels to deliver safe, high quality care and to cover staff shortages
caused by vacancies or sickness. Staff employed through the Trust’s Nurse Bank are
used flexibly to provide cover and, when there are insufficient staff available internally,
additional staff are sourced through external agencies.
Nurse staffing levels on wards are closely monitored and we have been recruiting
additional nursing staff in order to achieve and maintain recommended registered nurse
day and night ratios. It is not always possible to accurately predict the number of nursing
staff that will be needed on each shift as the number can increase if high acuity patients
are admitted.
There was challenge on the number of agency staff used in the Trust and what is being
done to reduce the reliance on agency staff by filling vacancies. Information concerning
nurse staffing and education will be brought to the next meeting of the Council including
figures on usage of agency/bank nurses and associated costs.
Action: Mrs McKay/Mr Over
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in public on 30 April 2015
Page 3 of 8
The Council was updated on work that has been undertaken to define, embed and
disseminate key values throughout the Trust. A set of NNUH values were developed
following extensive discussion with staff groups and using information from professional
codes of conduct, patient survey feedback and similar work undertaken in other NHS
Trusts. There was challenge on the Trust’s core values and whether they should be
adopted by governors as part of its own working practices. It is intended that the Trust’s
values should apply across the Trust.
An update on the Trust’s core values, as discussed by the Council, will be circulated.
Action: Mr Over
(d) Financial Position
Mrs Cave reported that the financial position for the year ended 31 March 2015 is a deficit
of approximately £10m against a planned deficit of £15m. The Accounts are currently
being audited by the External Auditors and the Board will review the Auditor’s report in
May. The Annual Report and Accounts will be received at the joint Board and Council
meeting on 31 July 2015. The planned deficit for 2015/16 is expected to be approximately
£12.5m.
The Trust is expected to have approximately £70m in cash at 31 March 2015. This
enables the Trust to be considered a ‘going concern’ able to pay suppliers and staff
wages. It will also enable the Board to continue investing in some infrastructure projects
over the next 3-4 years. A significant proportion of the cash reserve is already committed
to capital investment projects, some of which were planned for 2014/15 but had to be
delayed.
There was challenge from governors as to the expected deficit in 2015/16 and it was
explained that the anticipated deficit of £12.5m includes the £10m carried over from
2014/15.
There was challenge on whether it is right that the Trust should continue to make savings
and take decisions to achieve financial balance when it appears that other trusts run into
deficit and then receive financial ‘bail out’ from central funds. It was explained that there
are many downsides to reliance on central funding in this way and it is a condition of our
Licence that the Trust should be managed in such a way that it is financially sustainable.
There was challenge on the changing demographic profile in Norfolk and the increasing
life expectancy and whether the Trust is preparing for this change. It was explained that,
Public Health are undertaking a review of emergency demand in Norfolk which will include
an analysis by demography. The review is due to be completed by June and will assist in
system wide strategic planning of future requirements for healthcare provision in Norfolk.
15/014
CLINICAL QUALITY AND SAFETY
The Council received a presentation from Mr Peter Chapman (interim Medical Director)
concerning clinical quality and safety and how we are assured that we are providing a safe
and high quality service.
Mr Chapman outlined the system of monitoring and reporting quality and safety
information through the Governance Framework and to the Board of Directors. Executive
Directors chair each of the governance sub-boards and the reporting arrangements are
intended to ensure transparency and provide assurance with regard to the management of
governance risk across the hospital.
The Corporate Governance Framework has been developed around the CQC’s
inspection/regulation structure and it incorporates recommendations made in external
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in public on 30 April 2015
Page 4 of 8
reports such as that following the public inquiry in to the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS
Foundation Trust.
The Council was informed that the schedule of reporting for each sub-board has been
designed to provide assurance in relation to its key priorities. Incidents, mortality and
never events are reviewed at divisional clinical governance meetings. The learning
outcomes from these reviews are then fed back to individual departments in order for
improvements to be made.
The annual GMC training survey monitors the quality of medical education and training in
the UK. Trainee doctors are asked for their views on the training/education they have
received and whether they have any concerns about patient safety in the workplace. The
scores of each Trust can be compared with that of other Trusts in the region and for the
last two years the Trust has been the highest ranked hospital in the region.
Periodically, external specialist associations/bodies in the UK produce reports focusing on
various issues including professional practice, training/education and research. National
reviews such as this help the Trust to identify best practice and opportunities for financial
benefit.
In addition, the Trust has been working on a unique initiative with Dr Foster Intelligence to
develop a system to record and compare consultant performance across a number of
clinical quality and efficiency metrics. The ‘My Practice’ system allows consultants to
compare their own performance with that of their colleagues and against national
benchmarks. Clinicians will be able to view their own data and that of their colleagues,
presenting an opportunity to learn and make changes regarding their practice. The My
Practice data is due to be published and accessible to the public on the Trust’s website
this year. It is believed that the Trust will be the first in the country to publish such detailed
and extensive clinical outcome information.
There was challenge on how the outcomes data reflects case mix and complexity. It was
explained that there is allowance in the data for age and one can also separate certain
classes of operation, for example primary as opposed to revision hip replacements. The
data does however require interpretation and consideration in its context.
Slides from Mr Chapman’s presentation will be circulated.
15/015
Action: Mrs Bradfield
PERFORMANCE UPDATE AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS
The Council received a presentation from Mr Richard Parker (Chief Operating Officer)
providing an update on performance and our operational improvement plans.
The Council was updated on progress towards the 95% A&E 4 hour target, cancer targets
and 18 weeks RTT target. To improve performance the Trust has consolidated existing
improvement plans in order to focus action and to facilitate robust governance to provide
assurance on delivery. Improvement plans and trajectories have been shared with
Monitor and the CCGs.
The Trust has adopted a Programme Management Office approach which is being led by
the Executive Directors and reporting regularly to the Improvement Board and Trust
Board.
One short term measure to improve performance and to assist Easter planning, was the
introduction of the ‘Breaking the Cycle’ initiative which was to increase focus towards
using enhanced, well-planned senior leadership support to engage frontline staff in the
recovery programme and to create a sense of positive action going forward. Daily
problem solving meetings, involving frontline clinical leads, have proved extremely
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in public on 30 April 2015
Page 5 of 8
beneficial and will continue as routine practice. The feedback from staff has been positive
and the meetings have helped to engage staff in addressing problems restricting patient
flow.
Improvement trajectories have been developed for six key work streams for: A&E; Acute
and ambulatory care; site operations; inpatient pathway management; governance,
leadership and processes (cancer and 18 weeks); and delivering increased capacity. The
fundamental principle underlying each is to put patient safety first.
There was challenge on use of the Day Procedure Unit and whether this can be
increased. It was confirmed that this is being actively pursued as part of the on-going
transformation and improvement work.
Monitor required the Trust to submit its recovery plan for A&E in April. Work is ongoing to
produce a trajectory and recovery plan for cancer and 18 week RTT targets and these are
due to be submitted to Monitor by 25 May.
The Council discussed the proposed redevelopment of the A&E department. In part this is
necessary to improve the experience and safety of the increasing numbers of patients
coming to the Hospital for emergency care. Adequate staffing in the Department is
however an essential part of maintaining patient flow, as is the availability of other beds
and services through the hospital.
There was challenge as to whether the proposed solutions would be adequate to
accommodate the peaks of demand. It was explained that the aim is to achieve a position
that is resilient in the face of variable but high demand. The Trust’s plans are subject to
external scrutiny and assurance and progress is reviewed both internally and in the
System Resilience Group meetings.
15/016
COMPLAINTS AND RELATED ACTIVITY
The Council received a presentation from Mr Garside concerning complaints and related
activity in 2014/15 and Quarter 4 in particular.
The number of Coronial inquests has increased from 26 cases in 2012/13 to 82 cases in
2014/15. This growth follows changes to the Coroners Rules and a change in the
threshold for holding inquests. Every family involved in inquest proceedings is offered a
meeting to give them an opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have following the
death of a patient.
The Council was informed that the number of claims for compensation received by the
Trust each year has remained relatively stable despite a significant increase nationally.
The cost of the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts has increased by 35% nationally
but the Trust’s contribution for CNST has fallen. It is speculated that this may be the
result of good quality care and good claims handling but the positive variance from the
national picture is notable. The Council was informed of support provided to staff involved
in claims.
The Council was informed that all claims and complaints are used as opportunities for
learning. Variation in the number of complaint reflects increases in Trust activity and the
number of complaints remains approximately 0.1% of total Trust activity.
We invited Healthwatch Norfolk to undertake a review of our complaint files to provide an
independent external view of our complaints processes. Healthwatch was asked to
review in particular whether the Trust’s response was caring, thorough and sensitive. The
audit was undertaken in April and was very positive about the Trust’s approach and
practice to handling complaints.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in public on 30 April 2015
Page 6 of 8
The Council was informed that the number of complaints relating to cancellation of surgery
and length of wait for treatment have increased reflecting recent operational pressures.
There was challenge with regard to the number of complaints regarding treatment errors.
It was explained that the data concerns the subject of the complaint – not a finding that an
error had taken place. Senior staff review all complaints in order to identify opportunities
for learning and to improve services to patients.
There was further challenge with regard to the number of complaints concerning
communication. It was explained that this is a broad category, covering both written and
face to face communication. It is apparent from some cases that communication is a twoway process involving not only what is ‘said’ but what is ‘heard’. There is a much
increased emphasis in teaching healthcare professionals about communication skills and
lessons from the Trust’s complaints are used in our teaching of medical students at UEA
Medical School.
15/017
MEMBERSHIP ANALYSIS AND UPDATE
The Council received for information a report from Mrs Bradfield outlining governor,
member and public activities across many areas of the Trust. The report detailed
Governors’ briefings and activities since February 2015.
A number of Governors will be attending the Tour of the Emergency Department on
20 May and a further date is being arranged for governors who are not able to attend on
this date.
Dementia Awareness Week events will take place in the week commencing 17 May. A
Medicine for Members talk on dementia will take place in the Benjamin Gooch Lecture
Theatre on Monday 18 May and the Trust and the Alzheimer’s Society will be holding a
dementia public information event at Chapelfield Shopping Centre on Tuesday 19 May
2015.
15/018
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Alterations to the schedule for future Council meetings were discussed. In particular,
Governors were invited to attend a joint meeting of the Trust Board and Council of
Governors on 31 July 2015 at 11am in the Boardroom. This will be to receive the Annual
Report and Accounts, avoiding the need for a further meeting before the AGM in
September. The meeting will be followed by a sandwich lunch at 1pm.
The revised dates for future meetings of the Council will be circulated.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
15/019
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Council of Governors will be at 2pm on Thursday 25 June 2015 in
the Boardroom of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Signed by the Chairman: ………….….……………………… Date: ……………………………………
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in public on 30 April 2015
Page 7 of 8
Action Points Arising:
15/013
15/013
15/031
15/031
15/014
15/018
Action
Arrangements will be circulated for governors wishing to visit A&E and the Minor Injuries
area.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
Details on how to join the QAA programme will be circulated.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
Information concerning nurse staffing and education will be brought to the next meeting
of the Council including figures on usage of agency and bank nurses and associated
costs.
Action: Mrs McKay/Mr Over
An update on the Trust’s core values, as discussed by the Council, will be circulated.
Action: Mr Over
Slides from Mr Chapman’s presentation will be circulated.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
The revised dates for future meetings of the Council will be circulated.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in public on 30 April 2015
Page 8 of 8
REPORT TO COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS
Report from: Janice Bradfield, Membership Manager
Subject:
Membership activities and analysis
Purpose:
Update and discussion
Date:
25 June 2015
Summary:

A summary of the Governor and member activities, plus an analysis of the Trust’s
Membership.
Summary of Key Recommendations:
The Governors are asked to note the activities taking place for both Governors and members
and comment on the Membership analysis.
1
Governors are expected to represent to the Trust the views of the Trust’s
Members and to communicate to the Members that they have done so. This paper
details activities undertaken in the Trust which contribute towards achieving
these aims.
A flavour of our recent activities is set out below:

Governors
A number of Governors have taken part in the quality assurance ward audits.

Seven Governors attended the #futureNNUH transformation launch briefing for staff on
16 June.

A number of Governors attended the tour of the Emergency Department and Urgent
Care Centre on 22 April and were briefed on the plans for the expansion of ED.

A small number of staff and public Governors are helping to judge the staff awards.
Members/Public
Events for members:

A talk on joint replacements took place on 30th April with attendance from governors
and about 160 members.

A talk on dementia took place on 18th May, with governors and about 140 members
attending.

The Open Day and Fete was held on Saturday 27th June.
Council of Governor meetings:

25 June 2015 - 2pm to 4pm

31 July - 11am to 1.30pm with lunch (venue to be advised)

24 September 2015 - 12pm to 3pm

26 November 2015- 2pm to 4pm
Documents/press releases sent to Governors since last CoG meeting:
Press release - Follow The Bear!
Press release - Hospital open day and fete
Press release - NNUH Gastro team challenge
Team Brief – May
Lead Governor Update
Press release - NNUH Volunteers employ new recruits
Press release - Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s a RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
at NNUH!
2
Press release - Volunteering success as first patient 'settles - in'
Press release - From Mouths to Miles
Press release - Last Chance to nominate Patient Choice Award 2015
Press release - Norwich Family's Promotion Push
Press release - Army Attends Hospital Fete and Open Day
Press release - Patients enjoy tea party to mark Dementia Awareness Week
Press release - Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust receives
prestigious accreditation
Press release - NNUH to host monthly Apprenticeship Twitter Q&A sessions
Press release - Study highlights the need for caution during festival season
Press release - Free health check at hospital open day and fete
Press release - NNUH Trust Board meeting in public – 22 May 2015
Team Brief - April
Press release - Join Dementia Research service taking off in the Eastern region
Press release - A spoonful of storytelling helps the medicine go down at the N&N
Press release - intu Chapelfield supports Dementia Awareness Week
Press release - Career opportunities to be showcased at NNUH Open Day and Fete
Press release - Help Make Our Playground Better!
Press release - Nurses Day
Press release - A new scheme to help patients with dementia has put out an urgent call
for knitters!
Press release - Pharmacy Innovation at NNUH
Press release - 12,000th patient celebration for NNUH Red Cross Service
Press release - Norwich Son Tackles Edinburgh Marathon For Hospital Charity
Press release - Children to enjoy frozen magic from previous paediatric patient
Press release - World first for NNUH mum
Membership analysis
The Trust has an obligation to ensure that its Membership is representative of the
population served by the Trust. The Trust has a Membership Strategy which has
previously been reviewed by the Council.
Number of Members by constituency:
Constituency
Breckland
Broadland
Great Yarmouth and Waveney
King's Lynn and West Norfolk
North Norfolk
Norwich
South Norfolk
Rest of England
Total
Number of members
2,561
3,395
881
409
3,037
3,059
3,282
97
16,721
As required by law, the Trust’s Membership is divided into constituencies which are
consistent with local authority boundaries. The breakdown below shows the number of
Members in each constituency, compared to the local population (Census data).
3
The table below shows that the main area where our Membership is under-represented
compared to the local population is in the younger age groups and amongst ethnic
minority groups.
Age
17-21
22+
Unknown
Age bands
22-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-74
75+
16,721
68
15,969
684
% membership
0.5%
95.5%
% of population
7.5%
76.2%
1,044
1,336
2,141
2,135
5,128
4,185
Gender
16,721
% membership
Male
Female
8,111
8,610
48.9%
51.1%
4
% of
population
49.1%
50.9%
Ethnicity
Asian
Black
Mixed
Not specified
White
16, 721
124
48
73
6,133
10,343
ONS/Monitor
Classifications
Affluent Achievers
16, 721
Rising Prosperity [2]
Comfortable Communities [
Financially Stretched
Urban Adversity [5]
Not available
Monitor
classifications
for socio-economic group
AB
C1
C2
DE
Total membership
5
0.7%
0.3%
0.4%
36.6%
62%
1.4%
0.5%
1.1%
96.7%
N/A
5,040
30%
382
7,601
2,290
1,262
146
2.2%
45%
13.8%
7.5%
4,657
4,735
3,687
3,559
16, 721
28%
28.3%
22.1%
21.2%
NNUH Leaders Forum
16th June 2015
#futureNNUH
#futureNNUH
OUR VISION
“Provide every patient with the care we want for
those we love the most”
OUR OBJECTIVES
1st Class quality services &
patient experience
Enable staff to reach full
potential
National reputation for teaching,
education & research
delivered through
OUR VALUES
People
Respect
Integrity
Processes
Dedication
Physical
#futureNNUH projects
19/08/2015
2
Excellence
Partnerships
OUR PLAN
OUR PLAN
People-focused
Our Values
People-focused
Respect
Integrity
Dedication
Excellence
People-focused
We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues to provide a
safe and caring experience for all
Respect
We act with care, compassion and kindness, and value others’ diverse needs
Integrity
We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do
Dedication
We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest
professional standards
Excellence
We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our
patients and our hospital
19/08/2015
3
#futureNNUH
OUR VISION
“Provide every patient with the care we want for
those we love the most”
OUR OBJECTIVES
1st Class quality services &
patient experience
Enable staff to reach full
potential
National reputation for teaching,
education & research
delivered through
OUR VALUES
People
Respect
Integrity
Processes
Dedication
Physical
#futureNNUH projects
19/08/2015
4
Excellence
Partnerships
OUR PLAN
OUR PLAN
People-focused
Our Plan: The 4Ps
People
Processes
Physical
Partnerships
• Ensure we have the right workforce and skills in place – now and in the future
• Establish best‐practice patient flow (with impeccable delivery of what we know works best)
• Commence the strategic implementation of an electronic health record
• With health and social care partners, in particular with CCGs, NCH&C and Social Services
• Implement effective & accurate capacity modelling
• We will design and rebuild A&E
• Work with UEA on workforce development and employment • Develop additional bed capacity and assess future needs
• With patients, carers and families
• Establish an effective risk‐assessed equipment replacement programme • With QEHKL and JPUH to ensure safe, higher quality provision of care for our population
• Review and increase diagnostic capacity • With UEA and NRP partners on developing research and development opportunities • Embed our values to help make NNUH the best possible place to work, and celebrate it!
• Interact with staff to get regular feedback, use it to take action, & communicate widely
• Use a structured project approach to managing our recovery & change
• Enable staff to reach their potential through developing their skills and supporting them in their work
• Optimise our use of day surgery and other surgical pathways
• Equip line managers to inspire their teams and provide the best leadership
19/08/2015
• Support local teams to implement their own ideas for change and improvement
5
#futureNNUH
OUR VISION
“Provide every patient with the care we want for
those we love the most”
OUR OBJECTIVES
1st Class quality services &
patient experience
Enable staff to reach full
potential
National reputation for teaching,
education & research
delivered through
OUR VALUES
People
Respect
Integrity
Processes
Dedication
Physical
#futureNNUH projects
19/08/2015
6
Excellence
Partnerships
OUR PLAN
OUR PLAN
People-focused
Our Plan: #futureNNUH Projects
#futureNNUH Board
Theatres
Patient Flow
Radiology
Coding
Workforce
Cancer & 18 weeks
#futureNNUH projects
Support
19/08/2015
Training for
delivery teams
7
Additional
resource
Urgent Care
projects
PATIENT #futureNNUH
FLOW
Patient Flow
Project Overview
19/08/2015
8
#futureNNUH Patient Flow Project
Vision
Ensure every patient gets the right care at the right time in the right place
Principles
19/08/2015
1
See every patient as an individual every day
2
Know exactly where every patient is in real time at all times
3
Know that for every patient the next step is the right step
4
Drive this through joined up working and empowerment
9
#futureNNUH Patient Flow Workstreams
SITE OPS
WARD PROCESSES
(Lead: Lucy Weavers)
(Leads: Tanya Moon & Julie Fox)
AIMS:
• To reduce boarders
• To manage our occupancy
AIMS:
• To improve visibility of patient next steps
• To reduce the delays in a patient’s pathway
COMPLEX DISCHARGE
ALTERNATIVE LOCATION OF CARE
(Lead: Tracey Fleming)
(Leads: Frankie Swords & Tracey Fleming)
AIMS:
• To reduce the length of time a patient waits to be discharged through Social Services, Continuing Healthcare and Community Liaison
19/08/2015
AIMS:
• To reduce the length of stay in the hospital for patients who could complete their treatment in the community
10
WARD PROCESSES
•
N&N Workstream Leads
–
–
Tanya Moon
Julie Fox
Visibility of next steps
?
•
Workstream Aims
–
–
•
?
Visibility of next steps for every patient
Reduce delays in a patient’s pathway
How we’ll achieve this
–
–
–
Reduce
Delays
Capture the next steps for every patient
on the wards
Identify the biggest delays for a patient
on the pathway and capture why these
delays occur
Review best practice and possible
process changes to reduce waiting
times and as a result length of stay
Currently the next step capture is tested on 2 medical and 1 surgical pilot wards.
•
19/08/2015
11
NEXT STEPS:
• Review biggest delays
• Assess potential to reduce them
Workshop how these delays can be reduced for each ward
#futureNNUH Projects
Patient Flow
• This project will improve inpatient length of stay, time of discharge and flow. Focus on improving visibility and control of capacity, reducing delays along the pathway and at discharge.
Theatres
• This project will improve capacity in theatres through in session processes and booking across DPU and main theatres. Targeting a reduction in delays in current process and improved scheduling. Radiology
• This project will improve capacity in radiology through in session processes in all modalities. Targeting a reduction in delays in current process and improved scheduling. Workforce • This project will improve workforce management processes including appropriate and efficient use of temporary staffing Coding
19/08/2015
• This project will improve complete and accurate coding of hospital activity to ensure we receive the right income for the work delivered
12
#futureNNUH Projects
Urgent Care: Emergency Department
• This project will improve processes, establish an appropriate delivery model and expand the physical infrastructure to ensure emergency patients are treated promptly, in line with national A&E waiting, service access and quality targets.
Urgent Care:
Acute and Ambulatory
• This project will improve processes and establish an appropriate delivery model to ensure NNUH delivers the best possible outcomes to patients receiving acute and ambulatory treatment by ensuring they are treated promptly, in line with national best practice.
Cancer & 18wk: • This project will improve processes & training to deliver the best possible outcomes to patients receiving elective and cancer care in line with national waiting, service Governance access and clinical quality targets.
and Leadership
Cancer & 18wk: • This project will ensure we have the necessary resource and physical capacity to deliver elective and cancer care services, ensuring patients are treated promptly Capacity and and in line with national waiting, service access and clinical quality targets.
Delivery
19/08/2015
13
#futureNNUH
•
There are challenges ahead for NNUH and the NHS as a whole – which we
need to plan and prepare for
•
We have to make changes to maintain and improve our services through
which we provide care to patients; to be a sustainable success
•
#futureNNUH is how we are coordinating our transformation programme it’s our future and we need to work together to get there
– Get involved in the projects
– See our intranet page
– Email us: future@nnuh.nhs.uk
•
We will be holding regular open forums and roadshows so you can see
what’s going on and share your own progress and achievements with others
– Please encourage your teams to attend
•
Q&A
19/08/2015
14
#futureNNUH
OUR VISION
“Provide every patient with the care we want for
those we love the most”
OUR OBJECTIVES
1st Class quality services &
patient experience
Enable staff to reach full
potential
National reputation for teaching,
education & research
delivered through
OUR VALUES
People
Respect
Integrity
Processes
Dedication
Physical
#futureNNUH projects
19/08/2015
15
Excellence
Partnerships
OUR PLAN
OUR PLAN
People-focused
Council of Governors
25 June 2015
Nursing workforce: temporary supply
NNUH Nursing utilisation: May 2015
Registered Nurses
(front line areas)
Healthcare Assistants
Employed
Employed
Bank
Bank
Agency
Agency
Employed
Bank
Agency
TOTALS
19/08/2015
RN
WTE
1312
35
69
1416
%
93
2
5
2
HCA
WTE
458
170
27
655
%
70
26
4
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS IN PRIVATE
THURSDAY 25 JUNE 2015
Part 2 of Council of Governors’ meeting – representatives of the media and the public are
excluded due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
AGENDA
1
Minutes of the meeting held in private on 30 April 2015
Enclosure
2
Proposal for appointment of Non-Executive Director
Enclosure
3
CQC report
4
Advance notice questions
5
Any other business
Presentation
P.R.I.D.E. in Our Values – People-focused. Respect. Integrity. Dedication. Excellence
Distribution: Council of Governors and Board of Directors
Contact details: Janice Bradfield, Membership Manager, Norfolk and Norwich University
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, tel 01603 287 634, e-mail membership@nnuh.nhs.uk
Following its public meeting on 30 April 2015, the Council of Governors held a meeting from which
representatives of the Press and other members of the public were excluded having regard to the
confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
MINUTES OF COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS MEETING
HELD ON THURSDAY 30 APRIL 2015
Present:
Mr J Fry
Mr E Aldus
Mr N Brighouse
Ms S Burt
Mr B Cushion
Ms P Ford
Professor J Gazzard
Cllr D Gihawhi
Mrs I Grote
Ms E Hinks
Mr K Jarvis
Mr J Labouchere
Rt Rev J Meyrick
Mr T Nye
Mr P Postle
Ms J Scarfe
Mrs F Sharples
Mrs V Worman
- Chairman
- Clinical Support (staff)
- South Norfolk (public)
- Nursing and Midwifery (staff)
- Broadland (public)
- Norwich (public)
- University of East Anglia (partner)
- Norfolk County Council (partner)
- Great Yarmouth/Waveney (public)
- Breckland (public)
- North Norfolk (public)
- Breckland (public)
- West Norfolk (public)
- Broadland (public)
- Norwich (public)
- South Norfolk (public)
- Breckland (public)
- Admin & Clerical (staff)
In attendance:
Mrs J Bradfield
Mrs A Dugdale
Mr J P Garside
Ms V Rant
- Senior Communications & Membership Manager
- Chief Executive
- Board Secretary
- Assistant to Board Secretary
P15/009 MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 26 FEBRUARY 2015
The minutes of the meeting of the Council of Governors held in private on 26 February
2015 were agreed and signed as a true record by the Chairman.
P15/010 MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 18 MARCH 2015
The minutes of the Extraordinary meeting of the Council of Governors held in private on
18 March 2015 were agreed and signed as a true record by the Chairman.
P15/011 MONITOR INVESTIGATION UPDATE
The Council received a presentation from Mr Garside providing an update on the Monitor
investigation process.
The Council was informed that Monitor has confirmed that it has concluded its
investigation regarding the Trust’s performance against key targets. It intends to keep
open its investigation into the Trust’s financial performance until conclusion of the annual
planning process.
Monitor has indicated that it will accept voluntary undertakings from the Trust to ensure
compliance with the Trust’s Provider Licence. The undertakings require the Trust to
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in private on 30 April 2015
Page 1 of 3
develop and deliver an improvement plan for achievement of the A&E 4-hour target and
similar plans in relation to the cancer and 18 week RTT targets.
The Trust has commissioned PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to undertake a review of
governance and this is due to be completed at the end of May. This review provides an
opportunity for the Trust to learn from experience elsewhere and will inform the
development of a governance action plan which will be submitted to Monitor by 30 June
2015.
In the longer term, Monitor requires the Trust to work in partnership with local
commissioners to develop a cohesive, long term strategy which will address the
increasing demand for services and capacity to meet demand in the local health economy.
This system-wide strategy is required to be developed by 30 September 2015.
The Undertakings also require the Trust to ensure that it has an effectively functioning
Board and Board committees in place. There should also be sufficient and effective
Board, management and clinical leadership capacity and appropriate governance systems
and processes in place. It was noted that the Council has already agreed to the creation
of an additional Executive Director post and Mr Parker has been recruited on an interim
basis.
Monitor is expected to release a Press Release regarding the Trust’s Undertakings and
the Trust will be issuing a statement to reassure the public of the work being undertaken
to address the issues raised by Monitor.
There was discussion regarding capacity and demand and the difficulty with planning in
the context of changing political and commissioning landscape. The Council discussed the
advice of the then lead commissioners in February 2014, that the Trust should plan on the
assumption that emergency demand would fall by 15% over 2 years. This has proved
very inaccurate and against that background, the commissioning of a system-wide
strategy is particularly helpful. The Council will be updated as matters develop and with
regard to achievement of the Undertakings. `
P15/012 FEEDBACK FROM APPOINTMENTS AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
The Council received a report from Mr Fry providing the Council with an update on behalf
of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee following its meeting on 9 February.
A recruitment firm has been appointed to search for suitable candidates to replace Mrs
Ollier (Non-Executive Director) following the end of her Term of Office in June. Following
consideration of the current balance of skills and experience on the Board, the Trust is
looking for candidates with a Norfolk/East Anglian connection; healthcare
experience/knowledge; and prior experience as a Non-Executive Director and/or the
operation of boards. Following this search, a short-list will be prepared by the NonExecutive Directors, for interview by the Council’s Appointments and Remuneration
Committee so that a recommendation for appointment can be made to the Council.
The Council was informed that there has been no change to the level of Non-Executive
Director remuneration since December 2008. The Committee has reviewed comparative
data and noted that the current remuneration is consistent with that offered in other Trusts
nationally. The Committee agreed that no recommendation would be made for change to
Non-Executive Director remuneration.
P15/013 COLLECTIVE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
The Council received the results of its Collective Performance Evaluation for 2015.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in private on 30 April 2015
Page 2 of 3
The Council of Governors is required by Monitor’s Code of Governance to periodically
assess its collective performance and this was performed in April using the standard
questionnaire, used previously by both Board and Council.
Of the 23 questionnaires distributed, 15 were returned. Governors ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly
agreed’ with most statements in the questionnaire. The message from governors that
they would like greater contact with both executive and non-executive directors was noted
and this has been relayed to all members of the Board. Governors expressed how helpful
they had found it to have both executive and non-executive directors present at today’s
Council meeting.
The Council was informed that the Board is required to certify that Governors receive
adequate training and information to fulfil their role. As part of the collective evaluation,
Governors were specifically asked to identify if they feel they need any additional training
or information in any specific areas. Governors confirmed that they find the updates via
the Lead Governor very helpful and informative. Options for future training or briefing
sessions will be identified and circulated.
Action: Mr Garside
P15/014 ADVANCE NOTICE QUESTIONS
(a) Recovery and Transformation Plans
A number of briefing sessions have been arranged to inform staff about the Trust’s
recovery and transformation planning. Forthcoming dates will be circulated to those
Governors wishing to attend.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
A synopsis will be prepared following the meeting for those governors who are unable to
attend. Mr Nye will circulate performance updates via the Lead Governor’s report.
(b) Feedback
Governors reported that they had been pleased with the revised format of the Council
meeting, welcoming the presence of all the Executives.
Some concern was expressed regarding the adequacy of facilities in the Boardroom to
accommodate large numbers of people attending meetings. The audio facilities in the
Boardroom are being reviewed to see if improvements can be made.
A joint meeting of Council of Governors and Board of Directors has been arranged to take
place in July in the Bob Champion Research and Education Building and the facilities in
the new building may be appropriate to accommodate future Council meetings.
P15/015 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Signed by the Chairman: ………….….……………………… Date: ……………………………………
Action Points Arising:
P15/013
P15/014
Action
Options for future training or briefing sessions will be identified and circulated.
Action: Mr Garside
A number of briefing sessions have been arranged to inform staff about the Trust’s
recovery and transformation planning. Forthcoming dates will be circulated to
those Governors wishing to attend.
Action: Mrs Bradfield
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unconfirmed minutes of the Council of Governors Meeting held in private on 30 April 2015
Page 3 of 3
REPORT TO COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS
Report from: Mr John Fry, Chairman of the Trust
on behalf of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee
Subject:
Appointment of a non-executive director
Purpose:
For Decision
Date:
23 June 2015

As discussed by the Council on 30 April, a process has been underway to recruit a nonexecutive director to replace Mrs Ollier at the end of her term of office at the end of June.
This is necessary to maintain the Board at an appropriate balance of executive and
independent non-executive directors.

In accordance with our Constitution, the Non-Executive Directors are required to identify a
shortlist of suitable candidates who are then interviewed by.

Having reviewed the current skills and balance on the Board, the Appointments and
Remuneration Committee of the Council considered it desirable that we should look for
candidates preferably with:
o A Norfolk/East Anglian connection;
o Experience/knowledge of the health system;
o Previous experience as a Non-Executive Director.

Recruitment consultants were instructed and a shortlist of three candidates was prepared
and interviewed on 17 June 2015. The interview panel comprised the members of the
Council’s Appointments and Remuneration Committee (John Fry, Terry Nye, Ed Aldous,
Jim Gazzard, Evelyn Hinks and Nick Brighouse) and Mrs Dugdale.

Following interview, the Committee was unanimous in deciding to recommend to the
Council that it should appoint Mrs Sally Smith QC as non-executive director, for a three
year term. A copy of Mrs Smith's cv is attached.

It is proposed that the appointment would be on the standard terms and conditions, for an
annual salary of £12,500 for an indicative time commitment of 2 days pcm. It is possible
that Mrs Smith will be asked to be a member of the Audit Committee or of a Quality
Committee that is currently under consideration.

Concerning the Fit and Proper Person Test Mrs Smith has confirmed that none of the
specified exclusions apply. Appointment will be conditional upon the satisfactory outcome
of the standard pre-appointment checks, including DBS.
Summary of Key Recommendations:
The Council is recommended to consider the recommendation of its Appointments and
Remuneration Committee and to appoint Mrs Sally Smith QC for a three year term as nonexecutive director.
SALLY SMITH QC
Barrister, One Crown Office Row
Non-Executive Career
2005 – 2009 UK Biobank
Member, Ethics & Governance Council
2004 – 2009 Medical Research Council
Member, Ethics Committee
2000 – 2009 Royal College of Physicians
Member, Ethics Committee
1994 – 2001 St Thomas' Hospital
Member, Research Ethics Committee
Executive Career
1977 – date One Crown Office Row
Barrister (QC since 1997)
Education
Bar Examinations (1977)
LLB, London School of Economics (1976)
RELEVANT FACTORS
A Law graduate, Sally was drawn to the Bar early in her career, attracted by the advocacy in
the role. She joined a generalist set of chambers and began her practice in crime and
matrimonial law before being drawn into working on her chambers' long-standing contract with
the Medical Defence Union. Finding medical negligence work more intellectually stimulating,
she became increasingly specialised, and has ultimately become a leading, if not the leading,
practitioner in major and high profile legislative actions in both medical and healthcare
negligence. She represented the hospital in the Alder Hey Inquiry, and then the NHS as a
whole in the actions that followed it, and NHS West Midlands and its predecessor
organisations at the Mid Staffs Inquiry which, critically, looked beyond the well-charted failings
of the hospital to understand the wider health system in which it operated, and the
circumstances that had allowed such consistent failure. She also prosecuted Dr Wakefield on
behalf of the GMC, work which culminated in his being struck off.
Sally took a year's sabbatical from practising following the Mid Staffs Inquiry, and has written
a biography of a major 19th century legal figure. She is involved in the leadership of her Inn of
Court, the Inner Temple, serving on a number of committees there, and will continue with that
work while planning a different rhythm to her writing and legal work in the future.
As an eminent barrister with limited management and leadership experience, Sally is an
unusual candidate for a board appointment, and is quick to recognise she does not bring the
career-long experience of NHS management of some candidates in this field. She has a good
track record contributing to boards and committees effectively as a non-executive however,
for a range of organisations including UK Biobank, the Royal College of Physicians and the
Medical Research Council: each of these experiences was slightly different, but all required
her to contribute both her particular legal and ethical expertise, and her wider non-executive
Strictly Private & Confidential | YUXJ
skill set. Describing her contribution amidst an array of leading scientists and medics, Sally
developed her ability "to question as an intelligent lay person", to make an objective
contribution, and to contribute, "quite assertively" when appropriate on a wide range of issues.
To these skills, are added her tremendous insights on patient safety, internal infrastructures,
and leadership cultures, drawn from the depth of exposure she's had to the failings at Mid
Staffs and at Alder Hey. As a result, whilst not a perfect fit with this brief as initially outlined,
Sally presents as a strong contender for a differently-nuanced non-executive role on the Trust
board.
LEVEL OF INTEREST
High. Sally has the capacity to take on this commitment, and feels this role draws well on her
historic roots in, and current affection for, Norfolk, and her interest in healthcare.
Sally's husband is employed by NNUH on a limited basis, to deliver 30 clinics a year and to
teach a number of medical students.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Address:
Telephone:
Email:
1 Crown Office Row, London, EC4Y 7HH
07765 771423
sally.smith@1cor.com
Strictly Private & Confidential | YUXJ
Sally smith QC
Application for NED N and N University Hospital.
My family have lived in Norfolk for more generations (at least twelve) than we have been
able to count. I was brought up near Norwich and educated at Norwich High School
between the ages of four and eighteen. Although I now live and work for some of the time
in London my husband and I have had a house in Norfolk for the last twenty years and
spend more than half our time there.
I have had the usual family experiences at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital over the years,
more intensely in the last five during my father’s last illness. In addition my husband
(Professor Roger Hall) worked as a Consultant Cardiologist at the hospital between 20032011. He then retired and was reemployed in 2014 to teach medical students and do thirty
out- patient clinics a year. He has no administrative responsibilities. I do not think this
causes any conflicts of interest.
As my CV indicates, my career at the Bar has been exclusively concerned with medical law
for many years including most recently in the Mid Staffs Hospital Public Inquiry representing
the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority who were very central players in the Inquiry.
In addition I have served on a number of ethics committees including several years at the
coalface on St Thomas and Guys Research Ethics Committee. I believe I have a good
understanding of the way the Health Service works but equally I make a valuable
contribution as an outsider. I have found sitting on ethics committees that there is a very
helpful role to play for the reasonably well informed, hopefully intelligent, reactions of
someone who is not intimately involved in the system. It causes everyone (including of
course myself) to look at things from new viewpoints.
Inevitably as a barrister my professional experience has been of things going horribly wrong;
I have been instructed in the Benzodiazepine litigation, Breast Radiation litigation, Alder
Hay body parts Inquiry and Nationwide organ retention litigation, Dr Wakefield (MMR)
hearings in the GMC, Mid Staffs Public Inquiry. I have increasingly felt that I would like to be
involved in a role in a hospital which entailed keeping the ship sailing smoothly rather than
being sent out in the lifeboat as I have been for so many years.
I have carefully considered the person specification and I believe I have the qualities
required. I have had a lifetime of getting to know other peoples worlds and of constructive
debate. I hope and believe I am sensitive to the views of others; perhaps more than many
barristers, as a result of my involvement in huge class actions I am very used to being a team
player.
I would very much like this post and am eager both to help and to learn.
CURRICULUM VITAE FOR SALLY SMITH QC
Name:
Sally Elizabeth Smith
DOB:
3 June 1954
Status:
Married. 3 (grown up now) step children
School:
Norwich High School for Girls GPDST
1958 – 1972
University:
1973 – 1976 London School of Economics
Graduated 1976 with law degree (LLB Hons)
Post-graduate:
1976 – 1977 Bar examinations
Called to the Bar:
1977 by Inner Temple. Practising Barrister ever since.
Appointed Queen’s
Counsel:
1997
Currently:
I am presently researching and writing a legal biography which
is to be published at Christmas and am not in practise at present
to enable me to work on this.
Nature of practice at the
Bar:
After 10 years in the general common law fields (including
matrimonial, crime, personal injury, general civil) I specialised
in medical law with a particular interest in class actions.
I have represented the National Health Service in the
Benzodiazepine drug litigation and the Radiation for breast
cancer (‘Rage’) litigation. I also represented the Alder Hey
Hospital in the Redfern Inquiry into the retention of body parts
at that hospital and I then represented the NHS nationwide in the
organ retention litigation (over 2,000 Claimants) in which most
of the hospitals in England were sued in relation to the retention
by their pathology departments of tissue from deceased persons.
I led the prosecution in the GMC of Dr Wakefield and Others in
relation to their MMR research. I then represented a lead
participant in the Mid Staffs Hospital Public Inquiry.
I have been involved in the drafting of the self regulatory rules
for the medical veterinary and solicitors professions.
Directory Entries:
‘A first rate and effective Silk …’
‘Has distinguished herself time and again in some of the most
controversial and heart rending GMC hearings of the last
decade’
(Chambers and Partners 2012)
‘Supremely professional in her approach and an authoritative
character’
‘A calming yet authoritative manner in Court’
(Chambers and Partners 2013)
Professional and other
appointments:
1994 – 2001
I was a member of the St Thomas’ Hospital Research Ethics
Committee, the last two years as Vice Chairman. This
Committee considered applications in respect of all proposed
projects which involved research on human subjects whether
patients or members of the public.
2000 – 2009
I was a member of the Royal College of Physicians Ethics
Committee. This Committee’s Terms of Reference are to
identify and advise the College on matters of ethics of particular
concern to physicians and the public and to respond to requests
for guidance from individuals and public bodies on general
ethical issues in medicine.
2004 – 2009
I was a member of the newly formed Medical Research
Council Ethics Committee. The Medical Research Council is a
national organisation funded by the UK tax payer. This
Committee sits on an occasional basis to advise the Council on
ethical issues of concern involving proposals on human subjects,
personal information and human biological materials.
2005 – 2009
I was a member of the Ethics and Governance Council of UK
Biobank. This is funded by the Medical Research Council, the
Wellcome Trust and the Department of Health.
UK Biobank will be the world’s largest study of the role of
nature and nurture in health and disease. It will be looking at the
genetic information, medical records and environmental factors
for 500,000 volunteers aged 45-69. It is hoped that information
from the study will lead to improved diagnosis treatment and
preventative strategies.
(NB-I gave up these appointments in 2009 when work on the
MMR prosecution was so demanding I was unable to give them
the time they deserved.)
2
Publications and Lectures:
I have published a number of articles (including articles on
ethical issues and on the subject of my biography) and am the
co-author of a chapter of a book on Personal Injury damages.
I have also lectured widely on subjects relating to medical law.
I also appeared on television last Summer talking about the
subject of my biography (BBC4 ‘The Strange Case of the Law’).
4