Mid Suffolk Disability Forum

Minutes of the Meeting held at the Salvation Army Centre, Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket, IP14 1NE, on Wednesday, 20th April, 2016,

from 10.30am-1pm

Present:

Linda Hoggarth-Resident / Avenues East / Chair

Terence Carter-Resident / Vice-Chair

Mark Cross-Building Control Surveyor, Babergh Mid Suffolk District Councils

John Grayling-Corporate Manager Food and Safety,

Babergh Mid Suffolk District Councils

Cllr Derrick Haley-Chair of Mid Suffolk District Council

Brenda Joyce-Suffolk Coalition of Disabled People

Ann Squirrell-Resident

Christine Steward-Sensing Change

Helen Toffanello-Resident

Elizabeth Turner-Resident / Mid Suffolk Axis

Guests:

Christian Bone-Head of Community and Member Services,

East of England Co-operative Society

John Clitheroe-Security, East of England Co-operative Society

Amy Nettleton-Agent for Change, New Wolsey Theatre

Carol-Amy's Personal Assistant

Apologies

Ray Cattermole-Resident

Agnes Hallander-Friends of Avenues East

Jan Hardcastle-Mid Suffolk Axis

Cllr Diana Kearsley-Mid Suffolk District Council

Rosemary Pooley-Resident

Dawn Spurling-Needham Market Town Council

Gary Starling-Corporate Manager-Building Control,

Babergh &Mid Suffolk District Councils

Elizabeth Storer-Healthwatch Suffolk

Doug Swayze-Resident

Sue Swayze-Resident / Mid Suffolk Axis

1.Welcome and Introductions

Linda Hoggarth welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made.

2.Apologies

The above apologies were noted. Linda said that Ray Cattermole had contacted her to say that he no longer felt able to attend Forum meetings but it was hoped he would continue to stay in touch. The Forum thanked him for his support of and commitment especially with respect to the Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre.

  1. East of England Co-operative Stores

3.1Linda welcomed Christian Bone, Head of Community and Member Services and John Clitheroe, Security, from the East of England Co-operative Stores, to the meeting.

3.2Christian explained that as part of the Assisted Shopping project, three Focus Groups consisting of people with a range of disabilities such as dementia, mental, physical and sensory impairments had been held at the Rosehill Store in Ipswich to assess the store and see what further changes could be made to improve the shopping experience for a disabled person.

3.3A handout of a ‘shopping wheel’ was distributed and this illustrated the problems identified and the possible solutions including the feedback received and suggestions for improvement. There were a number of challenges to be considered.

3.4Those suggestions included clearer signage, avoiding black doormats for people with dementia, a less shiny floor as it was too overwhelming, less clutter and obstacles such as cages and pallets and quieter music. The new freezers had also proved to be too tall with the top door too hard to access and the coffee machines needed safe seating.

3.5The aim is to refurbish all 140 East of England Co-operative Stores within the next 18 months. The changes made to each store would depend on their size and layout but would reflect the solutions to problems identified in the Assisted Shopping project.

3.6Rosehill was to have been the Flagship store where all the Assisted Shopping initiatives were to have been implemented. However, due to redevelopment of the site, the East of England Co-operative Stores were looking for an alternative Flagship store.

3.7As part of the Dementia Friendly Retail initiative, the East of England Co-operative Stores were taking part in a national business pilot and the feedback from this would benefit their own stores. Their aim was to have the most dementia friendly stores across the UK.

3.8Further suggestions were made by members of the Forum as follows:

  • Staff whose role is to assist customers could wear a different uniform so they could be easily identified;
  • A call button system could be located throughout stores to summon assistance;
  • Whilst staff are very helpful and friendly at the Needham Market Store, cars parked in front of the Store prevent people using mobility scooters and wheelchairs from accessing it;
  • It might be a good idea to only allow blue badge holders to park in front of the Needham Market Store. Christian noted that the bollards currently in place would be difficult to remove;
  • Whilst parking at the Combs Store, in Stowmarket, had improved, cars were still being parked on the kerb outside the pharmacy. It would be better if all the spaces in front of the store were reserved for blue badge holders, moving the mother and baby spaces to the main car park.
  • Signage could be used in car parks to say that the blue badge spaces were being monitored by CCTV to dissuade disabled people from using them, even if the spaces were not actually being monitored;
  • I-viewers have short leads and are often located in illogical places in stores and customers do not know that these exist for their use. Christian said that another solution was for the Stores to have portable credit card sized I-viewers available for customers to use;
  • Sliding doors are better on the freezers for scooter and wheelchair users to open;
  • Members felt that it would be useful for the East of England Co-operative Society to produce leaflets explaining to customers the facilities and services in place to assist disabled customers such as I-viewers, blue badge parking, hearing loops, and staff to assist. These should be produced in a large font, using clear text and avoiding the use of symbols for facilities and services which can be confusing. This same information should be available on the website. It was suggested that a ‘You said…….We did’ format would be ideal. The Forum offered their services to comment on any such draft leaflet.

3.93000 colleagues were now trained as part of the Dementia Friendly initiative. The aim was to train 80% of the staff by Dementia Awareness week. They were also working with Norfolk on the initiative.

3.10There will be a 'Walk in their Shoes' stand at the Suffolk Show where visitors can use different equipment to try to experience shopping as a disabled person.

3.11Linda thanked Christian and John for attending the meeting and for listening to our suggestions. She asked Christian to keep the Forum up to date as their improvements progress.

  1. Sharing Ideas and Activities
  • It was agreed that it was difficult to find accurate information on what is available in the area, despite the fact that there are many activities on offer for disabled people.
  • Suffolk County Council has a portal which provides a considerable amount of information. Members were asked to look at this to see if it was helpful and provided useful information.

Action: All

4.3It was felt that there were three important questions to consider:

  • What would disabled people like to do?
  • Where do disabled people look for information and how do they find out where to look?
  • What stops disabled people from doing the activities available?

Brenda offered to create a paper survey that could be distributed to members, and printed off or emailed to other disabled people.

Action: Brenda Joyce

4.4The Indoor Bowls Club at the Meadlands in Stowmarket has an accessible toilet but there is no equipment available for disabled people. Ann offered to check this out.

Action: Ann Squirrell

4.5Regarding the Regal Theatre in Stowmarket, it is thought that the hearing loop symbol is still not included on their advertisements. There is still nothing on the website to advertise their facilities for disabled people. There seems to have been no progress in providing a temporary arrangement to improve the access for wheelchair users or those using mobility walkers while the refurbishment plans are awaited. It was agreed that that the Forum should ask David Blackburn to return to a future meeting to give an update on both the provisionof access information and the progress on the plans for refurbishment.

Action: Linda Hoggarth

4.6Members noted that the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket is not fully accessible.

  1. Minutes of the Meeting held on the 14th October, 2015

The minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record.

  1. Matters Arising

6.1Item 3 Suffolk Disability Sport and Physical Activity Strategy 2014-2019: Adam Baker had forwarded all the information to Linda which had been distributed as agreed.

6.2Item 4 First Bus: Stephen Fountain had not provided any update on installing Talking Buses and he had not emailed any information about timetable changes to Linda for distribution to members.

Action: Stephen Fountain

6.3Item 6.4 Morrisons: The future use of the recently closed Morrisons Supermarket was not yet known.

6.4Item 6.7 Gipsy Lane Crossing: Gordon Crosby had provided a detailed update which was distributed with the minutes. No further information was available for this meeting.

6.5 Item 6.8 Mr Allard's Post Office, Stowupland: Gary had been to the Post Office and discussed the improvements to enable access for disabled people to be easier and these included marking out the accessible parking bays adjacent to the entrance and signage to the accessible toilet. Members reported that these improvements have still not been made.

Action: Gary Starling

6.6Item 7.2.1 Stowupland High School: Linda had received a reply from the school addressing the issue of why a lift was not installed to the upper floor of the new 'G' Block. The school had felt that no lift was needed as there were no specialist rooms on the upper floor that would need to be accessed by disabled pupils. Their lessons could be accommodated elsewhere in the main building. Despite this explanation, the Forum remained concerned that new facilities could be built at schools such as this without full access. Linda will raise the issue with Concertus and the Suffolk Director of Education.

Action: Linda Hoggarth

6.7Item 7.2.2 Needham Market Railway Station: Concerns remain that the ramp to the Station is hard to access even using a mobility scooter. This would be referred to Abellio.

Action: Linda Hoggarth

  1. Access Issues

7.1 Report from Avenues East: The report covered the following planning applications:

  • Erection of a training building for the ATC Squadron at Thurston Upper School and creation of a new car park: some small alterations will be required to ensure this complies with Approved Document M;
  • Chilton Woods Development, Sudbury: this is an outline development for a large development including 1100 dwellings, shops and a village hall;
  • R & D Construction Depot, Walsham Le Willows: erection of a single storey extension incorporating office space and toilets.
  • Secondfix Timber Ltd, Wetherden: erection of new detached single storey building, where the floor plan needs revising to ensure there is a large enough space to the side of the main entrance door from the inside.

7.2 Access Officer's Report

Outstanding items were covered in Matters Arising.

7.3 Any Other issues

7.3.1Tall Orders Café, Stowmarket: A member had reported that there is a big step up to the entrance and consequently access was difficult. Members noted that there is a ramp available but it is not offered or mentioned to customers with mobility difficulties. Members were advised to request the ramp when wishing to this café.

7.3.2Coffee Shop, Needham Market: Members noted that there is no ramp or handrail to assist people to access this shop. However, it is understood that it is to be sold so no action was proposed at this time.

7.3.3Needham Market: It was reported that the housing development at Hill House Lane is to be approved but local residents are concerned that access is poor and the location is prone to flooding. The greenfield site by the doctors' surgery in Needham Market is also planned for housing and prone to flooding. Needham Market Town Council have raised their concerns but Mid Suffolk District Council appeared to be unaware of the potential problems. John will look into the issue.

Action: John Grayling

7.3.4The three car parking spaces for Blue Badge Holders outside the Post Office in Stowmarket are prone to misuse. However, it would appear that no enforcement is undertaken.

7.3.5Members noted that the alarm cords within accessible toilets are often left tied up so that they cannot be reached in an emergency.

  1. Updates on Specific Issues

8.1Disability Focus 2016: The provisional date for Disability Focus in 2016 is Tuesday, 25th October. It will take place at One, Scrivener Drive, Ipswich. Further details will be made available as plans progress.

8.2Healthwatch Suffolk: Elizabeth Storer, Community Development Officer, provided the following update:

“We help you to get the best out of health and social care services in Suffolk; improving them today and helping to shape them for tomorrow. We are all about local voices being able to influence the delivery and design of their services – not just people who use them, but for anyone who might need them in the future. We also provide information and signposting to help you navigate the health and social care system and understand what to do when things go wrong.”

“You can rate and review services on our website, by emailing or calling the office on the details below. We have recently relocated from our offices on the Lion Barn Industrial Estate in Needham Market to the Hillview Business Park in Claydon. The move will mean that we are located closer to some of our key partners including Age UK Suffolk (with whom we are sharing a building) and Suffolk Family Carers. It will also mean that we can save money, have more accessible parking for our visitors and a greater focus on linking into Voluntary and Community Sector networks.”

“Our new details are:

Address: Freepost RTTY-CEUT-LCRH, Healthwatch Suffolk,

Unit 14, Hillview Business Park, Old Ipswich Road, Claydon,

Ipswich, IP6 0AJ.

Telephone: 01449 703949

Email: ”

“Update on changes to gluten-free foods on prescription: Gluten-free products on prescription for people aged 19 years and over have been withdrawn in east and west Suffolk. The changes are:

  • From 15 January 2016: NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG area – No gluten-free products on prescription for those aged 19 years and over. Patients aged 18 years and younger can receive a maximum of 8 units of gluten-free products per month on prescription (previously the entitlement was between 10 – 18 units depending on age);
  • From 1 February 2016: NHS West Suffolk CCG area – No gluten-free products on prescription for those aged 19 years and over. Patient aged 18 years and younger can receive a maximum of 8 units of gluten-free products per month on prescription (previously the entitlement was between 10 -18 units depending on age).”

“We want to thank everyone that has contacted us about this issue.

Upon receipt of your feedback, we contacted the CCGs to engage them in a discussion about the issues raised. From this, we were able to help the CCGs identify that some patients had not been notified about the changes, how they could seek support or challenge the decision against their own individual circumstances. We believe that this issue has now been addressed however we are continuing to monitor the situation.”

“We consider that there has been a lack of notice and consultation about the changes that has made the transition to coping without NHS support more difficult for some patients in the county. Furthermore, we believe the CCGs have not taken sufficient steps to properly inform patients about alternative diet options. This apparent lack of consultation is something that we plan to challenge commissioners on to ensure patients are central to decisions about their care in future.”

“On an individual level, we do know that some patients have been able to successfully challenge this change in policy by engaging with the Patient Advice and Liaison Service. Through contact with our Information and Signposting service, one particular individual was able to negotiate a continuation of their prescription, although reduced slightly in quantity. We would therefore encourage all patients concerned about the impact the change might have on their quality of life to contact PALS on 0800 389 6819 or by email to .”

“The Chief Executive of Coeliac UK wrote to us about this issue, highlighting concerns about the impact the change in policy is likely to have on the quality of life of patients. To see our full response please visit our website

“Let’s talk about feet – Your views on diabetic foot care in Suffolk: We are pleased to be working with Dr Gerry Rayman (Consultant Physician of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust Diabetic Centre) on a new project to explore your experiences of using diabetic foot care services in Suffolk.”

“In excess of 20,000 people are living with diabetes in Suffolk. Good foot care is essential for people living with the condition because it can lead to major complications caused by high blood glucose levels including damage to nerves and blood vessels.”