Minutes of WEN Public Meeting Thursday 25th September 2008

Introduction

Eric Leach introduced the session and subject matter - healthcare services in Ealing.

Recent WEN activities

David Highton gave an update on WEN's activities over the past few months.  These include the regeneration of West Ealing as well as key public spaces.  West Ealing have Dean Gardens, Melbourne Avenue and top of St James Avenue - 3 key public spaces which should be better used and upgraded and allocate some of the £2m West Ealing regeneration budget to this.  Some of you will know of Green Man Passage there is a fenced off park that the Serbian church has bought.  Unfortunately it is also a site for fly tipping. The Church will fence off properly in next few weeks and they still await a response from the Council to their March2008 planning application to build a church hall and flat on the site. Green Man Lane Estate is key to West Ealing and WEN will be getting involved with this.  On a different take WEN can quietly influence behind the scenes.  A recent incident involved suspects being taken to Sylvester's and Diligence hair dressers and were unfairly tarnished in the press.  WEN took it up with Community Police and there was a recent apology from the Police. These events don't necessarily reach the headlines. 

Abundance 

Diane Gill gave an update on our abundance project and the Jamathon weekend that was recently held at St James Church Hall. The purpose of this was to use unwanted fruit from local gardens or public spaces. Jams and Chutneys have been made and they will be sold at the craft fare in St James Church in November.  WEN generously provided funds for provisions and they will be reimbursed for this.  The remainder will go to St James Church.  Overall a successful event involving local members of the community that will be repeated.

Membership

Emma Hunter gave an update on the benefits of membership - it's free! We can also help individuals with issues.  Being a member can be as simple as your name on the list but WEN would also appreciate help with any specialist subject matter as well as helping distribute leaflets. 

 
Mark Reen - Councillor and Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Healthcare  

The Council does not commission health services. Important to be aware of Healthcare for London which was a review by Lord Darzai  of mainstream health services and came up with recommendations. Idea of Community Hospital - groups of GPs to provide community based medicine to take basic services out of hospitals that serves community in a slightly different way. A lot of GP's still working out of houses so there is an issue here with updating.  It seems that Ealing has a higher number of doctors based in houses than most other London authorities. There will be a lot of major pathways re-drawn. Strokes in London a major issue. So it may be the case that you drive past your local hospital to obtain treatment, which obviously a lot of people are worried about.  Most treatment is in GP surgeries rather than hospitals.
 
The Govt intention is to separate purchasing and provision of healthcare.  They will not own any buildings or services, as they will become a commissioner.  The PCT in Ealing will become a buyer of healthcare for Ealing.  Overwhelmingly they will buy service locally but they do not have to - it can be any value provider.
 
The old General Hospital model is being recreated.  National Health service makes it difficult to operate on a local level.  Investment of millions by Govt and do not always get the return - people not engaged in this.
 
Increasing overlap between health and social care - matters such as learning disability, health services for older people, mental health.  These services are bought jointly and the local authority will work with PCT.  This strengthens role of local health scrutiny.
 
Money, one of big issues council is facing - ageing population, disabilities - these people need looking after.  4% increase but 3% cut in funding from the Govt.  Real issues between what people want and where the money is.
 
How can you influence locally? - Through your MP, they are a vital link with lobbying in the area.  The role of Health scrutiny - there is only one statutory body that Chair of PCT has to come to; this is the Council's Health Scrutiny Panel. There are eight meetings per year and they are completely open to the public.
 
There will be a lot of change over the next 10 years, the provision of health services is being separated from its assets.  There is an increasing overlap between health and social care. And how local group can influence locally. LINk (see below) is a new Government initiative to provide local vehicles for local involvement in the provision and quality of healthcare and social services.
 

David Highton - Chair of WEN - Ealing Hospital AGM

Held at Ealing Town Hall on 24^th September.  Ealing Hospital has applied to be a Foundation Trust - looking at extending maternity services, more cardiology, care for older people, developing A&E.  Ealing Hospital has had some poor press and they are attempting to deal with the root causes of this.  Part of their response is a written document which spells out what sort of service patients can expect when in Ealing Hospital.  They have increased frequency and monitoring of cleaning and carrying out weekly surveys on patients.  There will be a new patient survey later on this year. They have had a hospital ‘deep clean' that was funded by central Govt; this of course needs to be maintained.  They now screen ALL patients for MRSA and there has been a 60% drop in cases. Introduced additional measure to train their staff to impact on infections. Can they reduce the figures?  Will the survey show an improvement on 2007?  The reputation for Ealing Hospital has been damaged so convincing the general public will be difficult. 

 
Rochelle Bloch - Assistant Director of Ealing PCT - Relocation of Mattock Lane Health Centre

Questionnaire response amongst Mattock Lane clinic patients - on balance - was positive about the move. Also in response to car parking concerns.  They conducted a travel survey and 61% stated they already walked or used public transport. Of the remainder 20% stated would be happy to use public transport. In the plans currently there are just over 40 car parking spaces on two levels split between patients and staff, this will be managed to ensure that use is for the medical centre.  Planning application will take about 13 weeks to run its course, if agreed the work will start early next year.  The refit will take up to one year.  All services currently at Mattock Lane will exist plus new services.  

Beth Hales - Development Officer - LINk (Local Involvement Network)

Have to be an Ealing resident to belong to one.  Set up by the Govt with  the purpose of giving a stronger voice to people in their social and healthcare services.  Networks such as WEN can join as well as individuals. Agenda set for healthcare by the people that join LINK.  There will be a steering committee in existence. LINK has the right to ask questions of local services, right to collect information and monitor and right to make recommendations.  The health services must respond within 21 days. A very new concept.  At present the group is building up membership.  21^st October have an event for those interested to sit on the Steering Group with voting.
 
Q&A session followed.
 
By far the largest number of questions were about the rationale for and destination details about the move of Mattock Lane healthcare centre to Daniels on the Uxbridge Road.

Diane Gill

26th September 2008