Text Only Version of WHSSC Website
With effect from 1st April 2009 the responsibilities of the Western Health and Social Services Council have transferred to the new Patient Client Council. This website will continue to be available for a short period as part of the transitional arrangements but please refer to the new organisation web site for up to date information www.patientclientcouncil.hscni.net During this time the existing contact details will remain.
- Annual Report Year ended 31st March 2007
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Annual Report Year Ending
31st March 2007
Annual Report Year Ending 31st March 2006
Annual Report Year Ending
31st March 2005
Annual Report Year Ending 31st March 2007
Contents:
Role of the Council
A Message from the Chairman
Members attendance at meetings
Report from Chief Officer
Retirement
Equality and Human Rights
Supporting Complainants
Financial Statement
Members representation on groups and committees
The role of the Council is to:
- Act on behalf
of the public to improve the range, type and quality of services
- Continually monitor the quality of local
services
- Represent public opininon about changes
to existing services and the introduction of new services
- Find out what people think about services
- Provide sources of information on health
and social care issues
- Offer
advice and help if someone wishes to complain
How to contact the Council:
Freephone Telephone Number: 0800
917 0222
Telephone: 028 8225 2555
E-mail:
Website:
At the end of another busy year I would like to thank all the members and staff of the Council for their hard work and continuing commitment to the work of the Council throughout the year. They have worked hard on behalf of communities and individual patients and clients to ensure that their voice is heard.
In my report last year I had told you about the Minister’s announcement to replace the four Health Councils by “one powerful single health and social care users’ body” which will be called the Patient and Client Council (PCC). The new PCC was due to come into effect on 1st April 2008. However the Northern Ireland Assembly was established in May 2007 and the new Health Minister,
Mr Michael McGimpsey MLA, has stated that he wants to give more thought to the changes being proposed under the Review of Public Administration. He has said that it is unlikely that there will be any changes to structures before April 2009; therefore the work of the four Health Councils will continue as normal for a further period of time.
We have had a few changes to the Council membership this year. Miss Mary Burke retired in September 2006 and Councillor Martin McColgan joined the Council in October 2006. I would like to thank Mary for all her hard work and dedication during the 4 years she was with the Council.
Mrs Lorna Preston also retired in March 2007 having worked for the Council for 16 years. I would like to thank Lorna for her hard work and valuable contribution to the work of the Council and to wish her a long and happy retirement.
Mr Paddy McGowan
Chairman
| Name | Scheduled Meetings |
Actual Meetings |
Other
Meetings / Events |
| Mr P McGowan Chair |
6 |
6 |
21 |
| Mrs V Brown . |
6 |
4 |
10 |
| Miss M Burke Term ended 5/9/2006 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Mr J Campbell . |
6 |
5 |
21 |
| Cllr M Carten . |
6 |
4 |
4 |
| Cllr Mark H Durkan . |
6 |
4 |
4 |
| Cllr G Foley . |
6 |
3 |
2 |
| Cllr M Hamilton . |
6 |
6 |
8 |
| Mrs S Hogg . |
6 |
5 |
6 |
| Cllr S Hume . |
6 |
4 |
6 |
| Cllr R Hussey . |
6 |
5 |
6 |
| Cllr B Johnston . |
6 |
4 |
1 |
| Cllr R Lynch . |
6 |
5 |
6 |
| Mr I Maguire . |
6 |
4 |
6 |
| Cllr M McColgan Commenced 10/06 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
| Mr E McGrade . |
6 |
2 |
2 |
| Mr R McIntyre . |
6 |
2 |
1 |
| Mr M McIvor . |
6 |
4 |
5 |
| Mrs M McKeague . |
6 |
3 |
0 |
| Mr V McKelvey . |
6 |
6 |
11 |
| Cllr B Page . |
6 |
3 |
5 |
| Ms F Robson Vice Chair |
6 |
5 |
17 |
| Mr D Sutherland . |
6 |
2 |
1 |
| Ms M Trimble . |
6 |
4 |
4 |
CHIEF OFFICER’S REPORT 2006/07
A copy of the Council’s full work programme and summary of performance for 2006-07 is published on our website together with a copy of the work programme for 2007-08.
Members and staff of the Council continue to reflect and amplify the public voice in health and social care and to provide support and advice to patients, clients and carers. The following is a short summary of some of the areas where the Council has been active this year:
Visits to Health and social care facilites: The Council visits Healthcare facilities as part of its annual work programme or where an issue is raised by a member of the public. This year visits were carried out to the refurbished admission wards at Gransha Hospital; the OT assessment clinics at the Erne Hospital and the Maternity Unit at the Erne. A report on each visit was provided at Council meetings.
Copies of our monthly meetings, which are open to the public, are published on the website.
Waiting list monitoring working group: the working group continued to meet quarterly with officers from the Trusts and Board. Waiting times for breast care clinics at Altnagelvin and OT assessment in Omagh and Fermanagh were specifically highlighted as areas of concern.
Autism working group: the Council facilitated meetings between parents and the WHSS Board Commissioners and service planners to continue to lobby for services for children with autism.
Speech and Language therapy: the Council facilitated a meeting with parents and representatives of Foyle Trust regarding children requiring speech and language therapy in the Strabane area.
Representation on Groups/Committees - Members sit on Approximately 16 Groups/Committees in order to monitor service changes and make representation in the public interest (a full list is available at the end of the report).
New Patient Client Council - the Council Chair represented the Western Council on the Project Team set up by the Department of Health to take forward plans for the establishment of the new Patient Client Council. At the time of writing these plans have still not been finalised.
Joint Council work - The Chief Officers of the 4 Health & Social Services Councils meet regularly to work collectively on regional issues and contribute to the development of the new Patient Client Council.
Representing the public interest in HPSS consultations - The Council responds to local and regional consultations including:
|
The Bamford Review of Mental Health & Learning Disability NI |
|
Sperrin Lakeland’s Carers Strategy |
|
The HPSS Complaints Procedure |
|
The Future of Pathology Services |
A copy of the responses is available on the website under Publications - Responses
Maggie Reilly
Chief Officer
Mrs Lorna Preston has retired from the Western Health & Social Services Council where she had worked as Office Manager for the past 16 years. Lorna had been employed in the Health Service in various departments for the past 40 years. A very enjoyable presentation dinner, which was attended by Council Members and staff, was held in the Mellon Country Inn to mark Lorna's retirement. The special occasion brought together for the first time all the current and past Chairmen and Chief Officers of the Council.
On 1st January 2007, new disability duties came into effect. These placed two additional obligations on all Public Authorities. Under these new obligations staff now have to consider the need to:-
|
Promote positive attitudes towards disabled people
|
|
Encourage participation by disabled people in public life (NB: this should be interpreted as broadly as possible and can include anything from employment, participation at Council level and attendance at conferences/events etc) |
Organisations were required under the new duties to produce a five year Disability Action Plan. As the Minister had announced that Health Councils would cease to exist after 31st March 2008 they were exempted from producing a five year plan. However, they were required to undertake a mapping exercise to identify work already carried out to promote positive attitudes towards disabled people and encourage their participation in public life. A summary progress report was submitted to the Equality Commission in September 2007.
Click here for the Equality Scheme.
SUPPORTING COMPLAINANTS
Providing complaints support and advocacy services is one of the Council’s main activities. The Council provides information about health and social services to members of the public and we can also assist you to make a complaint. The Council cannot investigate complaints but can provide support to complainants at each step of the complaints process. This work also provides the Council with important information about the patient/client’s experience of Health and Social care.
WHSSC COMPLAINTS SUPPORT/ADVICE SERVICE 2006/07
LEVEL ONE SUPPORT
Level One support can range from initial advice and information through to support and advocacy. However, the length of time involved with the client is not expected to go beyond 5 working days and normally provides a positive outcome for the client. This year the Council provided Level One support to approximately 190 clients wishing to make a complaint or raise a concern about health and social care in the Western Board area.
LEVEL TWO SUPPORTLevel Two support will require the involvement of either the Chief Officer or the Business Support Manager and it will be anticipated that support for the complainant will extend beyond five working days. These cases are normally more complex and may require support through meetings with the service provider up to and including all stages of the complaints process.
In 2006/07 the Council carried a caseload of 88 complainants requiring support and advocacy for more complex cases throughout the year. 24 of these cases were carried forward from previous years; 4 of which are more than three years old:
Of the 88 cases:
75 were supported through the Local Resolution stage
12 were supported through the Independent Review process
1 was supported in submitting a complaint to the Ombudsman
|
Western Health and Social Services Council Financial Statement Year ended 31 March 2007 |
||
|
INCOME |
06/07 |
05/06 |
| Allocation: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety | £157,000 |
£154,000 |
| ------------ |
------------ |
|
| Total Income | £157,000 |
£154,000 |
| ------------ |
------------ |
|
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Salaries and Wages | £114,369 |
£97,190 |
| Members' Expenses | £5,572 |
£8,599 |
| Establishment Expenses | £1,326 |
£1,365 |
| General Administration | £18,894 |
£23,797 |
| ------------ |
------------ |
|
| £140,161 |
£130,951 |
|
| ------------ |
------------ |
|
| Total income less total expenditure | £16,839 |
£23,049* |
*The underspend for 05/06 includes £12,240 Salaries and Wages of a funded post which was vacant until August 2005 |
||
MEMBERS REPRESENTATION ON GROUPS AND COMMITTEES
| Name of Group or Committee | Nominated | Frequency |
| PHARMACY | ||
| WHSSB Pharmacy Practices Committee | Mrs V Brown Mr P McGowan Mr V McKelvey Ms F Robson |
As required |
| Regional National Appeals Panel | Mrs V Brown Mr P McGowan Mr V McKelvey Ms F Robson |
As required |
| ORAL HEALTH | ||
| Oral Health Strategy Steering Group (WHSSB) | Mr J Campbell |
As required |
| CANCER SERVICES | ||
WHSSB Cervical Screening Group |
Ms F Robson | Bi-annually |
WHSSB Palliative Care Forum |
Ms F Robson | Quarterly |
NI Screening Programme – Primary Care Advisory Group |
Ms F Robson | Quarterly |
| OLDER PEOPLE | ||
| Fermanagh Inter-Agency Group for Older People | Mrs V Brown | Quarterly |
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||
Sperrin Lakeland PIP Group (Adult) |
Mr J Campbell |
Quarterly |
Sperrin Lakeland PIP Group (Children) |
Mrs Sue Hogg |
Quarterly |
WHSSB Monthly Board Meeting |
Mr P McGowan |
|
WHSSB Local GP Appraisal Group |
Ms F Robson |
Bi-annually |
WHSSB Medicines Management Strategy |
Mrs V Brown |
5 meetings per year |
WESTERN IFH PARTNERSHIP |
||
Partnership Members |
Mrs S Hogg |
Quarterly |
IFH Subgroup - Early Years |
Mrs S Hogg |
Bi-monthly |
IFH Subgroup - Later Years |
Ms F Robson |
Bi-monthly |
Western Health and Social Services Council
‘Hilltop’
Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital
Omagh
Co Tyrone
BT79 0NS
Freephone: 0800 917 0222
Tel: 028 8225 2555
Fax: 028 8225 2544
Minicom: 028 8224 8389
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