Royal Edinburgh Hospital Patients Council (PC)
Progress Report
October November December 2010
MAIN POINTS / SUMMARY
Introduction
These quarterly reports are very detailed. This section offers a quicker, less detailed option
to the reader. For months some members have been writing their own accounts of meetings
and work they have been involved in. We called them ‘mini reports’. In this report we have
included our member’s mini reports. Where members have reported, we have put their
initials in brackets at the end. One reason for producing quarterly reports has been to always
give as full and transparent account as possible of the work of the Patients Council. We feel
the inclusion of our members’ experiences, in their own words, improves this and provides
further insight into the rich tapestry of talent we have within all our volunteer and co-opted
members. Accompanying this report is Maggie McIvor’s report on the work in Older and
Younger services.
Acronyms (names or phrases shortened to first letter of each word, to make report less
wordy) you may come across in this report are:
Patients Council
PC
Collective Advocacy Meeting
CAM
Orchard Clinic Collective Advocacy
OCCAM
Service
National Health Service
NHS
West Lothian Advocacy
WLA
Releasing Time To Care
RTTC
Royal Edinburgh Hospital
REH
Consultation & Advocacy Promotion
CAPS
Service
COMMUNICATION
Main areas to highlight - regular meetings with Chris Mackie Director of Advocard to discuss
finances and other topics continue to be very helpful. Also we have been in regular contact
with other services and staff regarding the review of advocacy services in Edinburgh.
COLLECTIVE ADVOCACY MEETINGS (CAM’s)
It is always good practice to look at more efficient ways to work and with uncertain times
ahead it may be prudent to prepare for a more flexible way of working. CAM’s are taking a lot
of setting up. It involves setting dates, producing posters and organising volunteers for those
dates. We may, where possible, look to sit in on ward community meetings and gather
feedback there. The main report below has a great mini report by Patricia Whalley on the
Kaizen which took place in November 2011.
USER INVOLVEMENT WORK
We assisted NHS to carry out questionnaires on Acute and IPCU at the REH and St Johns.
A report will be produced. This was a great piece of work to be involved in. It may be
something we look to move towards as a way of gathering feedback for the Patients Council
in 2011.
USER INVOLVEMENT WORK
Hours attending Joint Working and Collective Advocacy Meetings
October
219
November
91
th
Up until 10 December
131
Total
441 (634 last quarter)
There was a drop of 193 hours compared to the last quarter. This is likely caused by the
festive period and the project being closed for the holidays. The drop in November is unusual
and likely due to Maggie and David taking annual leave at different points and a drop in
activity.
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PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Unfortunately the website was not available to launch at the AGM. It will go live in 2011 and
we think the new format will be very informative and helpful to all who are interested.
OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) Return / Audited Accounts
Although we had a few challenges getting our financial information for the end of this year, it
was much better than previous years. Accounts covering what were two separate host
agency periods over the one financial period were sent to OSCR and we anticipate they will
be accepted.
RE-PROVISIONING (Hospital re-build)
The biggest news is that the NHS announced they will retain the entire existing site for the
new hospital rebuild. Our volunteers were also invited to a Design Statement Workshop to
give opinion on aspects of a new design they felt were important to include in future
architectural designs.
Royal Edinburgh Hospital Patients Council (PC)
Progress Report
October November December 2010
Main mini reports
COMMUNICATION
01/10/10 David met with Chris Mackie at Leith Walk. Clarifying PC account information with
accountants Alexander Sloan and the Advocacy review were on the agenda.
David and several members attended the launch of the ‘Oor Mad History’ book. The event
was really well attended and it was a great opportunity to meet up with faces old and new
and celebrate this important work.
05/10/10 David met with Andy Wills. Andy gave feedback on:
● Identifying on site secure storage, to answer the concerns over security of patient personal
belongings brought onto wards. This will also be tackled through social work finding off site
storage before admittance and nursing staff discouraging patients bringing many expensive
items on site.
● Reception areas for Balcarres (across 2 wards) and Merchiston and Meadows
● Change in size and function of acute duty rooms
● Smoke rooms will be closed by the end of the year supported by smoking intervention
therapy
05/10/10 David and PW attended the Environment and Experience Bi-annual meeting.
Updates were received from all the sub groups involved including:
● Art Link
● Community Gardens
● Spiritual Care
Jan Bert from Artlink informed Frances McKee from the Centre of Contemporary Art in
Glasgow will assist with the curatorial process and pulling together a coherent story.
07/10/10 David met with Katie James and Chris Mackie to further clarify a uniform approach
when presenting an update on advocacy services to the senior management team
18 and 19/10/10 David assisted with interviewing candidates for the Community Links
Project worker post at The Hive.
05/11/10 David met with Chris at Advocard. Topics included the finance reporting for the
annual report and AGM and an update on the participation toolkit event David attended.
15/11/10 The Management Committee had their Monday planning meeting. Some points
covered were:
- Advocard AGM
- Design Workshop – Draft statement feedback
- REAS Acute care rapid improvement event
- Guests Christine and Kate collected feedback on respite services
01/12/10 Members and staff attended Advocard’s AGM.
COLLECTIVE ADVOCACY WORK
04/10/10 DB and AN attended the North Wing CAM.
11/10/10 David conducted the Orchard Clinic Collective Advocacy Meeting OCCAM and
John McMahon attended. Although we unusually only had one person attending they offered
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lots of feedback proving one person can contribute a great deal to collective advocacy in the
REH with benefit to all.
12/10/10 in Tim Montgomery’s office. Smoking Cessation Steering Group.
Dear, oh, dear! Today we went round the same points of contention.
a.
There is still a ‘legal exemption’ for psychiatric hospitals to go smoke free under
NHS guidelines.
b.
That the new REH and any refurbished existing wards will have smoke free buildings
but smoking is still permitted on the grounds within the designated shelters.
c.
That there is still an inequality within the hospital as some wards/buildings are already
smoke-free, e.g., Jardine Clinic and Ritson Clinic.
d.
That staff will find it difficult to get the time to take patients out for a cigarette when all
the buildings go smoke free in December?
e.
That staff are concerned about dealing with aggression or frustration from patients
who do not have pass to go out for a ciggy.
f.
Staff will find it difficult to give up smoking whilst doing a stressful job and the
perimeter of the hospital is too far away for break-time ciggies.
g.
That James Barbour has not made any definite decision to lift the ‘legal exemption’.
h.
That ‘a patient’s right to choose to smoke’ is no longer considered a legal human right
and that the ‘right of others not have to have to breathe exhaled smoke’ overrides
this.
i.
This means that staff who are non-smokers have the right to refuse to escort patients
outside to smoke - dilemma.
j.
That NRT will always be provided for people who need it. However, are there enough
trained staff to cope and support patients with this?
k.
That if the Royal Ed went smoke free in the grounds, then it would seem very unfair
to all if smoking was tolerated on other NHS sites.
Eventually it was agreed that fairness and consistency across all NHS sites would help to
alleviate some of these concerns. The group have decided to await a more final decision
from James Barbour before proceeding - or not - with smoke free grounds also on the REH
site. JB could still uphold the exemption folks! But I doubt it. Meanwhile it looks like all
buildings will go smoke free in December and staff and patients will be forced to deal with the
problems of time, ‘rights’ and frustration as outlined above. I agreed with Sue to ask Artlink if
they could design some posters to announce this decision in December. (AR)
12/10/10 Smoking Cessation in Mental Health Steering Group. David and AR attended. Tim
reported the Senior Management Team overwhelmingly voted for a building and grounds
smoking ban. A Literature Review (it’s like a handy guide based on things already written
about smoking bans) by Dr Lindsay Thomson was provided. We were informed that Sue
Kheda’s role would be changing. This includes more focus on supervision of staff trained to
deliver smoking cessation to patients. Targets for staff training and awareness of smoking
cessation have been set. By attending meetings and writing reports we have emphasised the
need for appropriate support and consideration of patient needs before and after the hospital
decided to go smoke free. We will continue to push for the hospital to put everything in place
that patients need to support them.
13/10/10 Ward 14 Maggie and Albert visited with male customers who have Alzheimer’s.
The first chap I spoke to was in the air force in India during the Second World War. I told him
my father was in the Army Medical Corp there, from 1942 to 1945. The second resident I saw
had been in the Royal Navy for 30 years as an engineer. They were both very articulate
losing the place on a number of occasions but were fine. In the paper today there is an
article stating that walking for a mile a day can hold back the onset of Alzheimer disease. In
view of this latest finding I would imagine this service should be provided for customers,
weather permitting. (AN)
14/10/10 David and AN attended a Swanston Collective Advocacy Meeting. Issues were
recorded and passed on to the charge nurse. Terry O’Malley joined the meeting to explain
key workers would be changing and people had the chance to ask questions and clarify.
14/10/10 Swanston Ward David and Albert attended. At maximum we had seven residents
in attendance. A new customer gave a very critical account of his experiences. P who upon
occasions has been very guarded with his comments in the past was very clear about the
shortcomings he observed from his presumed carers. When the charge nurse was in to
update us all upon the fact the key workers were going to be changed I mentioned that
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compassion is being currently taught at Napier University. I didn’t have the temerity to ask
why. The meeting overall turned out to be very active and productive. (AN)
14/10/10 David attended an appointment with a patient in IPCU. They offered feedback on
their experience there and whilst in the acute wards. Feedback included issues about storing
of personal belongings. It was reassuring David was able to inform that all of the issues were
things the Patients Council were working on.
15/10/10 Rehabilitation Executive Meeting. Albert and David attended which I found
unproductive in many ways. David however had nothing but praise for me in the way I can
break the ice with patients due to my 50 year experience with psychiatric services. The
service has still not cottoned on to the absolutely vital part spirituality has played in a very
high percentage of customers in the past and present only to be stifled with drugs. This has
been highlighted by only having one church service a month. Involving ex-patients with staff
for the user friendly betterment of the service to me is paramount. This in effect was the
impression I hope David managed to get across. (AN)
15/10/10 David and AN gave feedback to the rehab executive meeting. Feedback included:
- Ward differences
- Running the meetings (importance of link workers etc.)
- Local and wider advocacy themes (staff attitudes, reprovisioning)
- An update of a possible change to the current model of collective advocacy provided.
Six weekly collective advocacy meetings ended and six monthly review events
introduced.
An important clarity was made in that the rehab wards could be discussed with Andy Wills
during the established regular meetings. This had not occurred to David and will be included
in future feedback.
25/10/10 The PC Management Committee had their meeting. The agenda included updates
on the CAMHS and older peoples services, finances, setting and re-establishing sub groups,
new website update, the advocacy review, a history of the patients council project, acute
wards survey and new issues.
02/11/2010 David accompanied Maggie to Nile Ward. Feedback collected last week
generated by set questions was read to patients to confirm we got it right. Some minor
adjustments were made to make sure feedback was anonymous as much as possible.
04/11/10 Advocacy Meeting – Lesley Boyd’s office Review of AdvoCard’s fitness as a
support agency. Chris, Katie, Lesley, Patricia, Albert and a social work representative were
present. Lesley chairing went over detailed reports of AdvoCard’s involvement with
customers of the service. She seemed to be very satisfied with the results. Their light touch
support of the Patients Council was commended. David is going to forward a definition of
“light touch” to all interested parties. Our cost effective contribution to the overall wellbeing of
staff and patients was applauded. (AN)
08/11/10 Patients Council had their regular Monday planning meeting. A very busy agenda
included a CART regarding Balcarres Ward from individual advocacy, update on NSF name
change and deciding other collective advocacy priorities.
08/11/10 AN and David held the Orchard Clinic Collective Advocacy Meeting with help from
the staff.
14/11/10 Ward 14 Collective Advocacy Meeting. Ruth, Maggie and I attended. We were
shown into a room which was part of the veranda of the ward and left. Ten minutes on
Maggie went to see what was happening and came back with a lady in her eighties whose
husband had been admitted a few days before. By the end of our conversations Ruth who
fronts up The Carers Council had given the lady her card and information leaflet. When she
left us she met Rosemary the nun who took her and her husband up to the main corridor in
quite a jovial mood. You talk about being in the right place at the right time. Coupled with
this a sequence of events you couldn’t believe. (AN)
15/11/10 David, PW and Katie James (Advocard Individual Advocacy) met up to prepare for
the meeting with NHS Lothian Chair on 17 Nov.
17/11/10 David, PW and Katie James (Advocard individual advocacy) attended a meeting
with Dr Charles Winstanley – Chair of the NHS. Also there was Tim Montgomery – Director
of Operations - Lorna Martin and Andrew Wills. PW and Katie gave enormously valuable
feedback in response to Dr Winstanley’s questions. This was a piece of excellent joint
working between Collective and Individual Advocacy providing excellent patient perspective.
22/11/10 At today’s drop in Leah and Emma gave feedback on the questionnaire work at St
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Johns. We also organised the dates, times and volunteers for the next acute ward
questionnaires. We also looked at requests and discussed up and coming work.
25/11/10 Commissioning Strategy For Social Care 2012 – 2016. Looked through draft
strategy. Copy on the council website. A consultation document is online. Includes phone
number and the council would appreciate feedback. Consultation runs till February 2011 with
the outcomes announced in May. I will be attending a monthly meeting and can give
feedback and deliver filled in questionnaires.
23 to the 25/11/10. Adult Kaizen. Revisited Kaizen to see last outcomes. IHTT recognised by
Royal Collage of Physicians as best national team of the year. MHAS received
commendation. Inpatient admissions down by a third. Variation in patient care now driven by
patient ICP. RTTC in progress. White boards now on wards but an effort needs to be made
to keep them up to date. Uptake of Patient Recovery Folders not a great success – maybe
patients are too ill. Therapeutic environment some success, needs more work. Especially
community meetings and one to one patient programme plans. Greater emphasis should be
given to using staff skills particularly as there has been a lot of training in Recovery
Techniques. Psychologists going to work together to look at how they can give more input
into the wards through groups and working with staff. More emphasis on trying to get patients
out at least once a day. Physio department going to look at health of patients and introduce
activities on wards and encourage gym use. More patient-nurse contact with the introduction
of housekeepers on wards. Moving towards greater flexibility of accommodation. Co-locating
4 wards North and South. Single sex with a mixed communal space for recreation and some
activities. Flexibility of accommodation between male and female – able to adapt to extra bed
needs of both. PIMMS STYLE bed management (central service) so that any time bed
occupancy will be known immediately and patients won’t need to wait around. Will be a quiet
admissions area where a patient will be welcomed by a nurse, brief details taken and if
possible seen by a duty doctor. Patient should see inpatient consultant within 24 hours.
Inpatient consultant only service should be up and running by February. This should mean
consultants will be more available as they won’t be dealing with outpatients. Greater liaison
with IHTT and community teams so communication is improved and there is no duplication of
information for patients. Also risk assessment will happen within 24 hours to identify patient’s
needs. Discharge process will start at admission. 3 levels.
1) Patients admitted and will probably be discharged to GP or a community team.
2) Patients with more complex need for multi disciplinary involvement. e.g. social worker,
community services etc.
3) Complex, ongoing severe illness often requiring services for life. This allows all areas of a
patient’s life to be identified on admission so that the process for intervention can start
immediately.
The discharge process was looked at carefully. Transport, home, weather, the patient had
food etc and support either from family, friends or support services. Patients who selfdischarge but are not sufficiently unwell for detainment will trigger communication to a
community service to make sure they are not lost. There will be daily clinical reviews taking
up no longer than an hour so that patients will not have to wait for a week for decisions on
medication, discharge etc. A pharmacist will be present, able to take daily prescriptions and
meds. They will return on the trolley at 4pm. Meds for discharge and passes will be done the
day before, so as not to keep the patient waiting. Advocacy will be informed throughout the
process and given appointments with the patient and team members so they are using the
time efficiently. The daily review will inform if the beds are becoming full so the consultants
can look at patients ready for discharge.
Hermitage. (East and Mid Lothian) will retain their consultants as inpatient / out patient
services and if their beds run out their own consultants will see them on the other North or
South wards. There will be no more lodging out. Patients will stay on the ward they are
admitted on and treated by that team. Also looking at video conferencing so community
teams do not have to travel across town. Most of this to happen around February. For this to
happen there will be a 60 day trial and report out. Reception areas will be set up where there
will likely be a buzzer in and out of wards. Reception area will deal with phone calls, visitors,
patients coming and going and will release the ‘door nurse’ for more contact with patients.
Duty room and admin will be in the corridor off the ward area allowing staff to work
undisturbed releasing more time for patient care. Andy Wills sub group will be looking at a
drugs and alcohol (Smoking!) policy over the next 60 days. Andy wants greater use of the
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police especially if staff and patient safety is a concern. A small survey to be carried out by
sub-group (PW is in it) into debriefing of patients after restraint and also “how staff feel”. Felt
by the psychologists that some patients and observers may feel traumatised especially if
they have experienced abuse in their own lives. Ward numbers in the first instance will be
reduced to 20 beds and then to 15. It is hoped that the above measures will lead to fewer
restraints, more visible staff, greater patient safety and a more improved patient experience.
Also improve in-reach of IHTT and CMHT to wards. Patient will be offered a patient
evaluation form on discharge. (PW)
29/11/10 The Patients Council held their AGM today. Unfortunately our guest speakers
pulled out, but fortunately Dick Fitzpatrick was able to stand in and gave an informative
presentation on the history, current work and future reprovisioning of the REH. We were also
able to present clear financial information. Although the snow meant we had a lot of
apologies we still had a full room and were so glad so many had made it.
30/11/10 MM, AN and DB attended Advocard’s AGM.
02/11/10 David and AN attended the Swanston Collective Advocacy Meeting. Patients
asked for 7.00 pm Tea to be reinstated. (Stopped 2 years ago) and raised issues about
feeling trapped on the ward due to lack of pass and the bad weather. These issues were
passed on verbally to staff. Football and Movie nights could be started up to relieve some of
the boredom.
02/11/10 A meeting with the Ettrick charge nurse to review the collective advocacy meetings
and book dates for next year was cancelled due to poor weather.
07/12/10 David met with Andy Wills. Promoting joint working Laetitia Jan from CAPS also
attended to pass on issues raised by East and Midlothian patients. David went over issues
covered throughout the year including patient storage, smoking and night shift staff. Some
new issues raised included temperature climate of wards and privacy in the family room.
14/12/10 David attended a review of collective advocacy meetings on North Wing. Most of
the meeting was used to discuss the smoking ban announced as 5 January. Rather than the
Patients Council arranging and promoting a separate date for a collective advocacy meeting,
we will join the wards community meetings once a week. As demand on the PC increases
this new arrangement suits both the PC and will work for North Wing. David will get back to
the ward with dates.
COLLECTIVE ADVOCACY MEETINGS (CAM’s)
Patients who have attended collective advocacy meetings
Ettrick
12
Craiglea
0
Swanston
14
North Wing
4
Orchard Clinic
7
Patients Council (Open Board Room)
32
Meetings
Total
69
We record 0 people consulted on Craiglea as we have still to find a volunteer to regularly
attend these meetings.
USER INVOLVEMENT WORK
07/10/10 David attended a presentation of the Physical Health Improvement Team study into
barriers to physical health improvement in psychiatric patients and what approaches nurses
take. A discussion at the end identified practical steps to put into action ideas generated by
the study. Ideas included:
● Further education and training
● Remember the basics, the simple things that work
● Physical health champions for each ward
11/10/10 David attended the Releasing Time To Care Mental Health Steering Group. Agenda
items included:
- Two new Releasing Time To Care (RTTC) facilitators have been recruited, part time
and will be allocated areas after induction
- Discussion about sharing process modules between areas
- Staff reflection groups assisting staff in meaningful engagement with patients
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-
Links with the patient safety programme and RTTC in relation to medication, violence,
aggression etc.
22/10/10 David and AN attended the stakeholder project board. (This board discusses the
hospital re build.) Dick Fitzpatrick informed everyone that the NHS has said the entire REH
site (Myreside and Morningside) will be retained for the new hospital development. A small
section may be used for the building of a new school. In addition we went through the Long
List of Options, altering it to drop options which were no longer available. We also re-visited
the Investment Objectives, business needs, critical success factors and main benefit criteria,
all important for the Initial Agreement to go forward. This was all great news and a very
positive, upbeat meeting.
01/11/2010 David joined Anne from Artlink and OT Jenny Simpson to present the work they
did to research and design a children’s play area for the REH to Tim Montgomery and Dick
Fitzpatrick. This included photo’s, drawings and a scale model. The concept was agreed and
ways to progress the work were discussed.
02/11/2010 David and PW attended the Strategic Development Group for Mental Health.
The packed agenda was chaired by John Armstrong. Some of the items were:
- Joint mental health and wellbeing strategy and Edinburgh Implementation Plan. Linda
Irvine presented a draft report and took comments from people. It has support of NHS
boards.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing support services. PW volunteered to attend a short life
working review group.
- Advocacy review, Option appraisal has taken place. A report will go to the council in
December.
02/11/10 Christmas Fair Advisory Group There will be tables in the carpeted section of The
Hive to accommodate interested parties with a table each for stalls. Individual and Collective
Advocacy will share a stall. Apart from information about our services, Kate suggested we
have a shoebox raffle to collect monies for PC funds. Albert and Kate attended. (AN)
09/11/10 The Patients Council were asked by the NHS to help carry out questionnaires on
various wards. As part of this LM, and KC attended a meeting with West Lothian Advocacy
(WLA) to look over information and questionnaires to be carried out at St Johns and the
REH. This was a preparation meeting also attended by Emma Doyle. This work involves
joint working with WLA.
18/11/10 David attended the Smoking Cessation Steering Group. Below are some main
points:
- Smoking will stop in Balcarres ward on 5 Jan 2011
- Other wards should follow in March, giving time for staff to be trained in smoking
cessation
- Smoking in shelters in the grounds will continue
We asked smoking to continue in areas where enclosed garden space is available – IPCU
and Orchard. We think this space is equivalent to shelters in the grounds. We emphasised
the importance of staff training and awareness of cessation and symptom relief. A time table
will be created to list which wards will be trained up first. The order will be planned by senior
management team. Alex from Advocard shared article on Canadian Psychiatric hospital. It
gave stats on smoking ban impact on admissions. We raised concerns about the time to train
staff.
24/11/10 David and AN attended The Hive advisory group. There was a packed agenda.
Amongst a lot of issues David and AN were able to update staff on the smoking cessation
steering group work and recent developments.
25/11/10 The Greenhouses Project. Anne Elliot, John McMahon, Ronnie Jack and myself
and various other dignitaries were there. This was basically a first step to get people thinking
as to how the space could best be used to serve the needs of patients to progress their
journey while on the premises. (AN)
25/11/10 Spiritual Care Group John, Lynn, Bill, I and three other staff members attended.
The Chaplaincy is having a growing involvement and influence with staff and patients which
is progress and only right. For far too long the spiritual right of patients never mind staff was
not even on the agenda. (AN)
27/11/10 27 Story Telling Centre. A user led, user audience sharing session was the order of
the day. Coping skills and strategies used to combat the onset of mental health problems
was the main thrust of the experience. Flip charts coupled with individual post it notes were
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put on the wall, for future assessment. From the experience, we all left brighter bushy tailed
bunnies. (AN)
27/11/10 November – Bioethics “The Filmhouse”, Lothian Road
I was privileged to be asked to attend the showing of two films on Sunday. Coupled with this
privilege I joined the panel of three other professionals at the end of both films to be asked
questions by the audience and panel of my thoughts and personal experiences from the
other side of the fence. There were fifty in the audience at the first performance and thirty at
the second. The Television company films were, Steven Fry: The secret Life of the Manic
Depressive, followed by The Madness of King George. I could empathise with both
characters as I have been misunderstood most of my life. In the King George film I pointed
out that the doctor who treated the king was a chaplain first and a doctor second. I also
raised the point that nurses have been taught compassion at Napier University for the past
two months.
30/11/10 LM and SG did questionnaires on IPCU.
03/12/10 LM and SG carried out questionnaires on REH IPCU.
03/10/10 Balcarres Ward Patient Treatment Questionnaire
Emma Doyle organised an expedition into the acute wards. Ronnie and I managed to get
five patients to fill in the forms. Leah and Shirley who did Hermitage got seven candidates.
(AN)
RJ and AN carried out questionnaires on Balcarress.
07/12/10 David and AN carried out questionnaires on Merchiston ward.
08/12/10 AN and LM carried out questionnaires on Meadows ward.
14/12/10 David attended the Releasing Time To Care meeting. Staff gave updates on the
work so far and asked for feedback.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
14/10/2010 David attended the Advocacy Implementation Group meeting held at the Carers
Council.
15/10/10 David attended the senior management team meeting with Chris Mackie (Advocard
Director) and Katie (Individual Advocacy Project Manager). During feedback about collective
advocacy in the REH David’s main focus was on Maggie McIvor’s development role, the
excellent work Maggie had done in Older and Younger services and the request for
continued funding to keep this vital work going.
21/10/10 David and KC attended the advocacy services consortia meeting. This was a very
productive meeting which established steps the services could take as a group in response
to the review and investing in a preferred way forward. The next meeting will be at the REH.
28/10/10 David and Maggie attended the Mental Health Improvement Planning In the Current
Economic Climate event. Speakers included:
Basil Haddad, Head of mental health improvement for the Scottish Government. (Scottish
Government Perspective)
Dr Lynne Fridli, Mental Health Promotion Specialist. (Best buys for high risk groups)
Colin Mair, Chief Executive, the Improvement Service. (Micro level planning)
Stuart Has Hagen, Scottish Community Development Centre. (Community asset based
approaches)
After talks covering a range of topics from Outcomes focused working, building stronger
alliances and social value/local assets we contributed ideas on content and structure of a
briefing paper. The paper will be used in various ways to promote investment in Mental
Health Services. A very interesting event.
02/11/10 David attended a meeting held by Alasdair Watt (Policy and Partnership
Development Officer) and John Armstrong (Joint Programme Manager) to talk to advocacy
services about the final report on advocacy recommendations. Below is a very brief
summary. Option 4 is recommended. Three independent advocacy contracts for:
1 Individual and collective advocacy for people with mental health support needs and
carers.
2 Individual and collective advocacy for people with learning disabilities.
3 Individual and collective advocacy for older people and individual advocacy for people
with physical disability
David asked questions on behalf of the Patients Council. These included asking how the
financial assumption of saving £130,469 was arrived at. The figure is based on financial
8
framework type tools to give a guessed value. David raised concerns this figure would not
stand up to reality further along the process. David also raised concerns about the
procurement process throwing open the doors to services not suited to providing advocacy.
Alasdair gave reassurance that they would seek references for any potential providers. Many
other questions about the process were asked. Alasdair explained work needs to be done to
clarify how the next phase of how to ‘procure’ (provide and purchase services at the right
price at the right quality) will be done.
04/11/10 David attended the Scottish Health Councils Participation Toolkit Launch in
Glasgow. David attended workshops on techniques for capturing patient feedback, using the
teach back technique for clarifying and conducting Public Meetings. The day was also a
good opportunity to network.
09/11/10 The website sub group met. The group briefly looked over what had been
developed and discussed so far and looked at the test site. We went through each section
on the site and volunteers offered to put information together. Unfortunately it’s unlikely we
will have the site content ready for the AGM but it will be launched in the New Year.
10/11/10 David met with a student placement OT to explain the work of the Patients Council.
10/11/10 David spoke to a member of the Citizen Commission on Human Rights after they
called to find out about the work of the Patients Council.
18/11/10 David attended the Advocacy Implementation Group. On the agenda was:
- Service specification for advocacy services
- Health Inequalities legislation. BME, Disability and gender work.
- Commissioning strategy
22/11/10 Our finance sub group met. Our co-opted member Cathy attended the group and
helped us review finances and the management accounts.
23/11/10 Diversity Training at Napier University
The new Mental Health Act was highlighted as the keystone on how to act with people of all
persuasions, colours, creeds and ethnic groups across the board. It was a very concentrated
session during which you had to really think. Inhibitions, delusions and fantasies were fully
covered dispelling many myths and old wives tales. Mohammed the instructor was very
forthcoming about his own family’s second generation’s attitudes, as opposed to his first and
his father’s as an immigrant. There were ten ladies there who seemed to be all in senior
nursing positions. (AN)
09/12/10 David attended a consortium meeting in partnership with CAPS, Carers Council
and Advocard. Keith from CAPS updated us on the deputation at the Health, Social Care
and Housing Committee meeting. Points were raised at this meeting saying why the
advocacy contracts going out to tender would be a mistake. The decision was made to keep
the report and its recommendations as it stands, but give existing advocacy services until
January to propose a consortium of existing providers.
10/12/10 KC organised a stall and items to sell at the REH Christmas Fair. K raised money
which will go towards buying books for the PC office resource. Well done Kate. David had
the pleasure of being Santa, greeting guests, handing out presents and drawing the raffle.
13/12/10 The management committee had their Christmas meal today. Thank you to all our
members for all their hard work. During coffee members were updated and discussed the
results of the advocacy review report and gave David instruction from members on what to
say and do and members opinion on the outcome so far.
15/12/10 A second consortium meeting of PC, CAPS, Advocard and the Carers Council was
held. We discussed further updates and sketched out how a consortium might work.
16/12/10 David and Maggie attended the Glasshouses Christmas lights event. The ideas for
the buildings are varied and exciting. The cakes were delicious.
OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) Return / Audited Accounts.
Our OSCR forms were sent to OSCR the second week in December by recorded mail.
RE-PROVISIONING (Hospital re build)
26/10/10 Tim Montgomery’s office &
28/10/10 Architect & Design Scotland, Canongate.
Present: TM, DF, NHS Lothian Rep, Project organiser, W.L. Service Users Rep, AN,K,AR,
An opportunity to be involved in the crucial design features of the New REH.
There were 3 members of the PC at these meetings and a Rep from West Lothian Service
Users. As such there was a good representation of patients’ views and thus what is
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important, crucial and non-negotiable when it comes to building the new hospital from a
patient’s point of view. We had to give our ideas on what we would ideally like to see the
new REH provide as an absolute minimum standard, which we all agreed should be high!
We also contributed to what was needed for Good Hospital to provide a pleasant and safe
work environment and for staff as well as an accessible and well facilitated building to
welcome visitors and the wider community - where appropriate. By the end of the two
meetings the group had come up with a list of minimum standards and non-negotiable
requirements which will begin the process of submitting a Business Plan for the building of
the New Royal Edinburgh Hospital. (AR)
26 and 28/10/10 Design Statement Workshops Tim Montgomery’s office
(The Centre of Architectural Design on 28th October)
We were shown proposed preparatory plans for the site with a possible positioning of the
new units to be built. The school that was proposed on the site of the Andrew Duncan Clinic
is no longer on the cards. The Kennedy Tower is apparently staying.
The rebuild of the hospital will start at the Myreside end of the site. I couldn’t understand how
this could be viable for pedestrians with a 500 metres walk to Morningside Park both ways.
At the present time there is no plan for the rerouting of buses as this would cost NHS
£47,000 a year to maintain. There will be a right of access to the general public and cyclists.
(AN)
BEST WISHES FOR 2011
FROM THE
Patients Council
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