THURSDAY 11th SEPTEMBER AT 14:30 IN THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE MEETING ROOM, LOTHINGLAND

Present: Glyn Reynolds, Theresa Stone, Andy Willcox, Ian Talbot & Annette Petty (Minutes)

Apologies: Cliff Dawson, Wendy Arbon, Ray Hill, Paul Taylor & Kay Dawson

1.      Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 July were agreed as a true and accurate record.

2.      Matters Arising

a)  Page 1 2a - Annette to chase

b)     Page 1 2b - Glyn to contact Andrea Boakes on her return to work from maternity leave in respect of becoming a Steward.

c)     Page 1 2c - The New Risk Assessment Manager for LHPT is Val Dutton, based at Bury and takes up post in December this year.

d)     Page 1 2d - Still awaiting Suffolk Coastal District Council’s Lone Working Policy to be forwarded to Glyn. Annette to chase.

e)     Page 1 2e - Ongoing situation

f)       Page 1 2f - No reply received to date regarding CCTV problem at Bartlet from David Leckie. Ian to contact Ray Hill.

g)     Page 1 2g - Annette to contact Wendy at Hartismere regarding site H&S Meeting

h)  Page 1 2h - Risk Assessment ongoing at Felixstowe General

i)       Page 1 2i - The noisy patient remains on the unit and the situation has not improved. Information is currently being collected and awaiting a meeting with staff involved to look into the problems/carry out a risk assessment on the patient/find solutions. Ron Baker carried out a Risk Assessment on the small unit where the patient is based at the beginning of July. It was suggested that staff should be changed every 2 hours with this patient to give them a break. Glyn to speak to Mick Murphy regarding the delay in progress.  Annette to write to Ron Baker on 16 September requesting a reply within 10 days regarding the situation. Glyn to contact local Council to obtain “noise guidelines” and carrying out a noise test. Glyn contacting Mick Murphy to arrange an emergency staff meeting to ascertain  the “effects” on staff from this patient. Glyn to report back to Ron Baker.

j)       Page 1 2j - The Trust may not be paying the First Aiders Allowance. Glyn still awaiting the Final Draft from HR for the Risk Management Manual Guidelines, for First Aiders at Work (dated 6 Feb 02). Ian to contact Ron Baker with regard to the policy being an additional agenda item for the Risk Management Group Meeting to be held on 23 October. In addition Lothingland Unit have a defibulator donated by a Doctor - to be discussed at RMG.

k)     Page 1 2k - Glyn has received copy of the guidelines from Walker Close/Infection Control Audit Checklist from Heath Road. James Paget have their own in-house infection control procedures. The local Infection Control Nurse has advised that we do not use other procedures/forms. Inspections are normally carried out annually and professionals usually carry out the audits. James Paget to deal with inspections.

l)      Page 1 2l - Annette has contacted Occupational Health/HR who are checking they have received the up to date staff list from Lothingland. It is normal practice that staff should take personal responsibility for their vaccinations and contact Occupational Health accordingly. Glyn to send letter to staff to obtain supplies from stores and if they cannot obtain the correct supplies to obtain the COSHH regulations stating which supplies are recommended to purchase elsewhere.

3.     Stewards Reports

a)     Theresa Stone - Livingstone Ashford Unit - Beccles                                                                                                                             No problems reported - good communications with the managers and problems are dealt with promptly.

b)     Andy Willcox - Sutton Ward                                                                                                                                                                  No problems reported.

c)     Glyn Reynolds - Lothingland                                                                                                                                                               Glyn reported that Risk Assessment reports have not been acknowledged recently but are not being acknowledged again. It was agreed that a standard letter should be sent to the Risk Assessment Department on a monthly basis for outstanding reports and minuted at the RMG bi-monthly meetings. The main problem is that there are few people to carry out the inspections - there are only 3 competent trained staff at Livingstone Ashford Unit and have no time to carry out this important work. 

A night time inspection will be taking place at Lothingland on 13 September. With regard to the emergency lighting in Units 6/7 the Fire Officer, Paul Codd has stated that the lighting is a problem, Glyn to write to Richard Lacey in Estates. The noise problem with regard to the emergency fire buttons has been resolved. Theresa to forward the other A/I form in addition to the RM1 form for incident reporting to Glyn.

4.   AOB

a)   Ian and Glyn                                                                                                                                                                               Checked the unit in respect of outstanding maintenance works not completed (to include 6/7 Airey Close/Lighting)

b)   National Health & Safety Week - October 2003 - Ian to confirm dates.

c)   New Contracts for Staff at Princethorpe Road, Ipswich                                                                                                               Annette has sent a letter on behalf of Cliff Dawson to HR requesting a copy of the new contact as soon as it is available.

d)   H&S Meetings for 2004                                                                                                                                                                Annette to forward this year’s dates to Glyn (as a guide for next year) to book 2004 dates.

e)   UNISON Training Days                                                                                                                                                                 Training Days have been booked for 22 October - Agenda for Change - An Introduction and 29 October - Steward/Rep Recruitment Training Day. Both training days will be held in the Rembrandt Room, St Clements Hospital, Ipswich. Further details will be sent out in due course. 

5.   Date/Time of next meeting

The next meeting will be held on Thursday 20 November, 2.30pm, Assessment Centre Meeting Room, Lothingland.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 4.45pm.

ADP