CLINICAL SKILLS CENTRE USER GROUP MEETING
Friday 13th February, 2004
MINUTES
Present:Dick Churchill (Chair), Sarah Watson , Mandy Losinski
Roderick Cable, Helen Palmer, Nigel Gillson, Lucy Smith, Eunice Anokye- Mensah, Christine Haneline
Apologies for absence: David Sowden, Nick Allcock, Maggie Cooper, Claire Gelanos.
Welcome: DC welcomed Eunice Anokye-Mensah as the nursing student representative to the Skills Centre User Group.
Minutes of last meeting – approved
Matters arising.
Gas Taps
The cost of installing suction equipment in Zone 3 will be approximately £1,200 As this was within the original plan for the Centre it was agreed that this work should be carried out as a priority item from the capital equipment budget. SW reported that the cost of the two courses needed for technical training for the handling of the gasses and suction was £580.00. The group approved SWs attendance on these courses.
ACTION:
SW to order suction installation and attend courses.
Consumables and Staffing for nursing practicals outside of the Clinical Skills Centre
SW reported that consumables used over the previous three months totalled £267.00. This was for three sessions, two for SoN (major share of total cost) and one session for Midwifery, which was relatively minor. At this rate, over 12 months, the cost of consumables for outside sessions could exceed 10% of the total maintenance budget.
RC suggested the possibility of reusing certain consumables to keep costs down.
ACTION:
DC/CH to include advisory statement about reuse of consumables on the next edition of Policies & Procedures / Booking Form.
SW to continue to monitor and record expenditure.
DC to discuss with NA re charging for these sessions.
Provision of AV Equipment
Until recently the SoN technicians have provided AV equipment (data projectors etc) for sessions in areas where we do not have such provision. The majority of these sessions are in D109 and used by SoN. This is no longer happening, and teaching staff are requesting AV equipment to be ordered through the Skills Centre. DC is in contact with Jane Bennett (SoN) to try to find out reason for change in policy. The group agreed that the Skills Centre could not fund additional AV hire, and it is therefore the responsibility of session organisers to obtain their own equipment, where this is not available, until further notice.
ACTION:
DC to obtain response from Jane Bennett
Staffing Update
To date we still have no medical teaching staff in post despite advertising on two occasions and interviewing once. However there are now three people potentially interested as a result of informal contact. It was agreed that, if necessary, the funding for the post could be subdivided to create more than one position.
ACTION:
DC to have informal meetings with the three interested parties.
Terms of Reference
DC submitted the second draft of the Terms of Reference document which included minor amendments from the last meeting. No further amendments were suggested.
ACTION:
DC to submit to David James (Curriculum Policy Group) and Nick Allcock (SoN Executive) to gain approval for changes.
When approved, RC to post on website
Finance
ML reported on the current financial position:
Maintenance budget. The previous budget of £9,500 had been reduced to £7,500 in the current financial year because of recurrent underspend. However expenditure to date totals £10,962.00 (£6,107.78 actual, and £4,855.00 commitments). However £3,029 is due to be repaid by Medlink so that net expenditure is currently £7,884.
ACTION:
DC to report financial situation to Chris Smith
SW to endeavour to keep costs low for the remainder of the year (including deferring partition and hoist servicing
Capital equipment budget. £5,600 of expenditure has been used out of this years budget for items ordered in the last financial year. As a result we have a working budget of £7,900. The group agreed the following items of expenditure:
Item / Quantity / Approx Total CostBed / 2 / £3,600
Suction installation / 1 / £1,200
Multimedia PC / 2 / £1,300
Venepuncture arm / 2 / £ 600
Trolley for mannequin / 1 / £ 200
Gynae examination trainer / 2 / ??
Bed screen / 2 / ??
ACTION:
SW to obtain exact costings and place order.
Timetabling Issues
Early evening opening will be instituted in the next few weeks with opening three nights a week. These will initially be advertised on the web pages and outside the Centre. After piloting and sorting out any teething problems these can then be advertised by email to students and also on the NLE.
ACTION:
SW, HP and RC to staff evening sessions.
Staff need adequate time for setting up and taking down sessions and this needs to be taken into account when timetabling.
ACTION:
CH to continue to liase with SW and HP about appropriate timings between sessions.
Website
This is nearly ready to go live but needs some final amendments.
ACTION
RC and DC to meet and finalise prior to ‘going live’
Medlink
The advantages and disadvantages of hiring out the Centre for this external course were discussed. These include interference with normal use, extensive setting up / take down time, and wear and tear on equipment (and staff!)
It was agreed that Medlink could be allowed to use the Centre again this year subject to the following charges:
Technician cover @ £24.00 per hour (out of normal hours)
Hire Charge @£300.00 per day x 4 days, plus equipment charges.
Administrative charges also need to be included
Links with Other Centres
RC, SW and HP visited the new Skills Centre in Coventry and reported back. The QMC Trust is running a two–day conference on simulation, and the Trent Skills Centre Forum is due to have its first meeting on 18th February.
ACTION:
RC to attend both events on behalf of the Skills Centre User Group, and to report back.
Any Other Business
Business Planning
The group prepared and submitted a five-year business plan two years ago. An updated document is required to review progress and identify current budgetary needs.
ACTION:
DC to prepare draft document for comment.
Storage
RC brought to the groups attention how hard HP had been working on the Skills Centre store room which is now noticeably tidier and more easily accessible.
Cleaner
RC elated at the purchase of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner as he likes to have clean floors to roll around on during CPR sessions!!
Date of Next Meeting: Friday 21st May 2pm
CH17.2.04