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 2008
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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 2008
Contents:
A Message from the Chairman
Members attendance at meetings
Bugwatch Surveys
Joint Council Events
Supporting Complainants
Equality and Human Rights
Review Of Access To Advocacy For Older People
Dentistry
Patient Client Council
Financial Statement
Members representation on groups and committees
There has been one change in Council membership this year – I am delighted to welcome Mr Jim McKeever who lives in Derry and who joined us in October 2007. I am pleased to say that all members whose term of office was due to expire have accepted an extension until the dissolution of the Council in March 2009. I wish to express my gratitude to all the members and staff who have continued to work to deliver a comprehensive work programme throughout a period of change and uncertainty for everyone.
Following a period of consultation on the proposals for Health and Social Care Reform, the Minister announced that he was proceeding with the broad organisational framework that had been proposed. Therefore from 1 April 2009 four new Health and Social Care bodies will be established:
The Patient Client Council
The Regional Health and Social Care Board
The Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being
The Regional Support Services Organisation
The majority of responses received during the consultation period in relation to the Patient Client Council were in favour of establishing a single, independent regional body, and having a strong local presence, with five committees, operating within the same geographical areas as the five integrated Trusts.
As we move towards the dissolution of the WHSS Council in its present form and the establishment of the new Patient Client Council I want to sincerely thank all the current and past members for their hard work and dedication to the Council. I look forward to hearing the details of the location and structures of the new organisation. I hope that it will build on the very valuable work undertaken throughout the years by members and staff of the Council and that it will, in the Minister’s words ‘have a strong local focus and at the same time give patients, clients and carer representatives a powerful regional voice’.
Paddy McGowan
Chairman
| Name | Scheduled Meetings |
Actual Meetings |
Other
Meetings / Events |
| Mrs V Brown . |
8 |
7 |
16 |
| Mr J Campbell . |
8 |
6 |
10 |
| Cllr M Carten . |
8 |
5 |
4 |
| Cllr Mark H Durkan . |
8 |
3 |
2 |
| Cllr G Foley . |
8 |
4 |
1 |
| Cllr M Hamilton . |
8 |
7 |
2 |
| Mrs S Hogg . |
8 |
4 |
4 |
| Cllr R Hussey . |
8 |
2 |
6 |
| Cllr B Johnston . |
8 |
3 |
3 |
| Cllr R Lynch . |
8 |
3 |
7 |
| Mr I Maguire . |
8 |
7 |
10 |
| Cllr M McColgan . |
8 |
2 |
4 |
| Mr P McGowan Chair |
8 |
6 |
9 |
| Mr E McGrade . |
8 |
2 |
4 |
| Mr R McIntyre . |
8 |
1 |
4 |
| Mr M McIvor . |
8 |
6 |
5 |
| Mrs M McKeague . |
8 |
3 |
1 |
| Cllr J McKeever Commenced Oct 07 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| Mr V McKelvey . |
8 |
8 |
10 |
| Cllr B Page . |
8 |
6 |
2 |
| Ms F Robson Vice Chair |
8 |
3 |
15 |
| Mr D Sutherland . |
8 |
5 |
1 |
| Ms M Trimble . |
8 |
4 |
12 |
The ‘Bugwatch’ survey was first carried out in 2005 as part of the Health and Social Services Councils’ input into the development of the Northern Ireland Infection Control Strategy and public interest around hygiene standards in hospital wards. The survey was based on a similar exercise piloted in England by the Commission for Public and Patient Involvement in Health.
The survey focuses on simple observations and questions which are indications of good practice in hospital hygiene. Using a specially designed toolkit, those carrying out the survey checked against a number of key infection control indicators on hospital wards including handwashing, ward environment and storage.
As part of its work programme for 2007/08 the WHSS Council carried out Bugwatch surveys in the Erne and Tyrone County Hospitals in October 2007 and repeat surveys in the same hospitals in February 2008 (click here to read the reports).
Surveys were also carried out in Altnagelvin Hospital in March 2008 and repeat surveys in September 2008 (click here to read the reports).
All those taking part in the repeat surveys at the Erne, Tyrone County and Altnagelvin Hospitals were impressed by the considerable improvements which had been made since the initial surveys were carried out.
The Health Councils held 4 Joint Council events during 2007/08:
| May 2007 : | Workshop to discuss Dentistry/Patient Client Council (PCC) update
|
| Oct 2007 : | Workshop to discuss the ‘Protect Life – A Shared Vision’ strategy and Regional Out of Hours
|
| Oct 2007 : | Stakeholder engagement workshop to discuss the Review of Prescription Charges
|
| Feb 2008 : | Workshop to discuss the Roles, function and structure of the PCC |
The workshops helped to inform debate and discussion to enable the Councils to formulate responses to consultation documents.
In March 2008 the Chief Officers of the WHSS Council and the NHSS Council made a submission on behalf of the four Councils to the Health Committee of the NI Assembly on the subject of the Inquiry into the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm.
Providing support and advocacy to people wishing to make a complaint about any aspect of Health and Social Care continues to be 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 in making a complaint. The Council cannot investigate complaints but can provide support to complainants at each step of the complaints process.
The Council carried forward 24 cases from 2006/07 and received 86 new requests to support complainants (27 of which were complex cases). In addition we supported approximately 200 clients by providing information and signposting them through the Health & Social Care system.
Review of the HPSS Complaints Procedure
In November 2006 the DHSSPS issued a consultation paper ‘Complaints in the HPSS’ which detailed new proposals for handling and consideration of complaints. These proposals include “abolishing the current independent review arrangements and providing an opportunity for the complainant to take their complaint to the Ombudsman at an earlier stage in the process”. The new proposals also seek to “raise the standard of complaints handling by removing the barriers to access, strengthening local resolution, clarifying roles and responsibilities and emphasising the importance of learning and improving”.
The Health Councils held a workshop where Members of the four Councils got together to discuss the proposals and made a Joint response to the consultation document (click here to read the response).
A senior member of Council staff continues to participate in the Western Equality and Human Rights Forum (WEHRF). WEHRF brings together senior manager representatives from each of the member organisations as well as the Equality and Human Rights Co-ordinator, who is a designated staff member.
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. However Health Councils were exempted from this requirement due to the imminent changes taking place under the Review of Public Administration and the expected dissolution of the HSSCs.
The Council submitted a mapping exercise and progress report to the Equality Commission in September 2007 (click here to read the report). A further progress report was also submitted to the Equality Commission in March 2008 (click here to read the report).
The four Health Councils (HSSCs) are undertaking a joint piece of work in conjunction with Disability Action to carry out a scoping exercise on disability issues and the experience of the Health Councils. A report will be produced that will identify current and developing issues and highlight future opportunities. The report will include recommendations for the new Patient Client Council (PCC) and set out some of the areas that the PCC may wish to put in its plan from April 2009.
Review Of Access To Advocacy For Older People
Review of access to advocacy for older people in care homes in Northern Ireland
The four Health Councils in partnership with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority undertook an audit on Access to Advocacy for Older People in Care Homes. Questionnaires were sent out to all registered care homes in Northern Ireland and a number of focus groups were held to include residents, relatives and other stakeholders. A regional seminar was held in June 2007 which brought together all interested parties to discuss the key findings.
The final report titled ‘Are you Being Heard?’ is published on the Council’s website (click here).
Access to NHS dentistry has become increasingly difficult for adults and children particularly in the Western area where patients are finding it harder to get registered as NHS patients.
The Council carried out a telephone survey of dental practices in the WHSS Board area to find out which practices were open for NHS registrations (click here to read the survey).
The Chief Officers of the Health Councils met jointly with officials from the Department of Health to highlight problems in their areas for patients getting access to NHS dentistry.
In April 2008 the Health Minister Mr McGimpsey announced a new tender for dental services from the independent sector (click here to read the Press Release and made funding available to the Boards to employ salaried dentists. Unfortunately recruitment was unsuccessful in the Western Board area and patients are still reporting difficulties getting access to NHS dentistry.
Work is progressing towards the establishment of the new Patient Client Council in April 2009.
It is expected that the Chair and Chief Executive of the new organisation will be appointed in the near future and announcements will be made with regard to the structure and location of the new regional and local offices of the PCC.
The WHSS Council is working towards dissolution and looking forward to the establishment of the new Patient Client Council in April 2009. The Council has established valuable links with a range of community and voluntary groups, including people with a disability, and will work to maintain and strengthen these partnerships throughout the transition stage.
Western Health and Social Services Council
INCOME |
07/08 |
06/07 |
| Allocation: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety | £170,202 |
£157,000 |
| Total Income | £170,202 |
£157,000 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Salaries and Wages | £106,349 |
£114,369 |
| Members' Expenses | £6,759 |
£5,572 |
| Establishment Expenses | £1,359 |
£1,326 |
| General Administration | £20,244 |
£18,894 |
| Total income less total expenditure | £134,711 |
£140,161 |
| Underspend | £10,491 |
£16,839 |
|
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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