West London Mental Health Trust Service User Involvement Forum
Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 18th January 2010
Held in the Conference Room, Regional Secure Unit, Ealing Site
Present:
Mr Ian Kent Deputy Chief Executive
JTEaling Service User / Chair
Mr Steve TrenchardDirector of Nursing and Patient Experience
Ms Sue CummingHead of Patient and Public Involvement / Minutes
Ms Anne ChapmanNon Executive Director
Mr Kieran McCannService Manager, Ealing SDU
Mr Paul SummertonHounslow LINKs
Mr John Viner Hounslow User Involvement Project
ADService User Ealing Older People’s Service
AMEaling Service User
Mr Andy WeirDirector, West London Forensic Service
Ms Tara Ferguson-Jones Deputy Director of Communications
Ms Lucy McGeeDirector of Communications
Ms Lynne ReadAssociate Director for Primary Care
Mr Mike LoosleyEaling User Involvement Project
Ms Maria HarringtonAssociate Director of Clinical Governance
RSService User High Secure Services
POService User West London Forensic Services
PDService User, West London Forensic Services
CRService User, Hammersmith and Fulham
Dr Tim BullockConsultant Psychiatrist / Clinical Director
Mr Allen HoweAssociate Director, Estates and Facilities
JCService User, Hounslow Older People’s Service
Mr Mark BallentineHammersmith and Fulham MIND
Ms Serina JuraEscort User High Secure Services
Mr Duncan McDougallEscort User High Secure Services
Mr John Brereton Ealing CAMHS
Ms Margaret Rioga Service User and Carer Co-ordinator West London Forensic Services
Mr Vushe Hove Service User and Carer Co-ordinator West London Forensic Services
Apologies:
Mr Peter CubbonChief Executive
Ms Laura HurleyHammersmith and Fulham MIND
Ms Barbara ByrneDirector of Finance
Mr Mike HumphreyDirector of Security
Ms Wendy MyersonEaling LINKs
Ms Anne AiyegbusiHead of Nursing – West London Forensic Services
Mr Cubbon wanted Forum attendees to be aware that as the Responsible Officer for Broadmoor Hospital (until the new Director of High Secure Services joins on 1st February 2010) he must be at Broadmoor Hospital on Mondays to attend the Directors meeting but that from February he is able to attend every Forum in 2010.
Item / Minutes / Action1. / The meeting was opened and chaired by JT.
2. / Minutes for the previous meeting held on 2nd November 2009
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record.
3. / Matters Arising
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7 / Christmas Card Competition
Ms Ferguson-Jones thanked everyone that entered the competition and reported that over 100 entries were received from across the Trust. The winner was a service user from Mott House. The cards have been sold and a small donation made to Hammersmith and Fulham MIND. The judging panel included JT.
Ms Ferguson-Jones said that there may be other opportunities for service users to be on a judging panel for future competitions and also to rotate with JT on the panel that judges Trust employee of the month. Any service users that are interested can contact Ms Ferguson-Jones directly () or via Ms Cumming.
West London Forensic Service - Vacancies
Mr Weir fed back that with recent recruitment there will only be 12 vacancies in the Service.
PD said that on paper looks like things are improving but in practice they are not. The use of agency staff who do not have keys and cannot escort service users on town leave etc is a problem. Mr Weir said that a lot of work is being undertaken with Human Resources Dept to speed up the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks as this delays new staff starting work as well as obtaining references. Mr Weir said that he is happy to monitor The Orchard given PD’s comments if it remains an issue.
RS asked if Mr Weir had information on the staffing numbers for High Secure Services. Mr Weir said that he did not.
AM asked if there is an underlying problem. Mr Weir said that compared to other Londonforensic services (excluding The Orchard) the Trust compares well and reminded the Forum that recruitment issues are included in the Care Quality Commission action plan.
AM asked why in Consultant Psychiatrist recruitment service users are not part of the formal interview panel. Dr Bullock said that the Trust made a decision for the recruitment which includes service users meeting potential candidates prior to interview. The comments from service users are given to the Chair for consideration.
Following some discussion Mr Trenchard agreed to discuss with Executive colleagues and report back to the Forum.
The Manner in which Diagnosis is given to Service Users
Dr Tim Bullock attended the Forum to discuss this issue raised previously by JT.
Dr Bullock said that psychiatrists are under pressure to make a diagnosis early for coding of case records. Dr Bullocks accepts that this is stigmatising and frightening and that at times a diagnosis may be noted in a letter copied to a service user.
Dr Bullock said that generally only after a second episode of illness does the diagnosis become clear.
RS said that different psychiatrists seeing the same service user over time will suggest different treatment regimes. This is stressful for the service user and produces a sense of hopelessness. RS asked what the governance structure is. Dr Bullock responded that many psychiatric problems are chronic and do not completely resolve completely and how this is addressed varies between doctors. Dr Bullock acknowledged the shortcomings in the system although the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines produced describes treatments and are seen as the best in the world.
CR said that the second opinion doctor often seems to say the same as the initial doctor and that challenging the status quo is difficult.
Mr Trenchard said that the system of diagnosis privileges the doctor’s voice and that it will be important to explore recovery options with service users and that a full and robust discussion within multi-disciplinary teams is important.
Access to Information Technology (I.T) for service users
Mr Kent fed back that in Ealing it is going well. Mr loosely hoped that the March 2010 time frame will be adhered to given the long wait.
RS asked about access within High Secure Services. Mr Kent said that he does not have the detail but will get for the next Forum.
Laptop computer issue in High Secure
Ms Harrington said that she understands the issue is resolved with regards to costings for lap tops. RS said that he is not sure and would check.
Recruitment and Retention Forum minutes
The most recent agreed set (August 2009) were distributed by Ms Cumming as previously requested. These will be attached with the minutes.
Fresh Air Policy
In Ms Scott’s absence Mr Trenchard agreed to liaise with Ms Scott and feed back at the next Forum. Mr Trenchard said that fresh air is a basic human right. / All Service Users
Mr Weir / PD
Mr Trenchard
Mr Kent
RS
Ms Cumming
Mr Trenchard
4. / Care Quality Commission Report Update
Mr Kent said that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) were to return at the end of January but this will now be end of March 2010.
Mr Trenchard said that he is the Lead for the Trust regarding the CQC and that he is planning to map all previous action plans so that the patient experience is at the centre. The new CQC system of inspection focus not on policies and processes but on service user (and staff) experience.
5. / Feedback from the November 2009 Service User Meeting
Mr Loosley fed back the highlights. Minutes were circulated for information. / .
6. / Patient Experience Sub Group
Ms Aiyegbusi was not able to be at the Forum so Ms Harrington reported on progress.
The Group has met 2-3 times and the remit is not yet clear. Work needs to be brought back to the Forum for discussion.
There are four discreet pieces of work from the mapping exercise that the group completed. The action plan was circulated at the Forum and will be attached to the minutes.
Mr Trenchard said that he is meeting with Ms Aiyegbusi on the 20th January 2010 to discuss further work. / Ms Cumming
7. / Physical Healthcare Strategy
Ms read presented the strategy and listed the eight aims. It was agreed to attach the strategy to the minutes for comments form service users.
RS asked if the items listed had not been done previously. Mr Read said that the aims were about pulling together what we are doing. Some items on the list are simple such as walking groups.
CR asked about management of medication side effects and RS asked about minimising side effects. Mr Trenchard said that rather than side effects these are direct effects. There are pros and cons of medication and a dialogue needs to happen between service users and clinical teams.
Ms Read welcomed comments on the strategy. / Ms Cumming
All
8.
8.1
8.2 / Any Other Business
PD reported that smoking areas on site need to be cleaned. Mr Howe said that the problem of the recent snow meant that accessing the area was a problem. Now that the snow has cleared this will no longer be a problem.
Mr loosely asked if the allowance of half an hour after meal times to smoke was accurateand about designated smoking areas. Ms read clarified that each Service Delivery Unit (SDU) is responsible for implementation in their areas and times and that this will vary between SDUs. A handout was circulated at the meeting and will be attached to the minutes. / Ms Cumming
Date of Next meetingTuesday 16th March 2010
Time 12.15pm - 2pm Main Forum, 2 - 3pm Service User Meeting
Venue: Conference room, Regional Secure Unit, Ealing site
If you have anything for the agenda please let Ms Cumming know as soon as possible: Telephone: 020 8483 2073 Email:
Address: Clinical Governance Department, Magnolia Way, Uxbridge Road, Southall, Middlesex UB1 3EU
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