Wednesday 12th January 2005 at 12:45: Assessment Centre Meeting Room, Lothingland

Present: Glyn Reynolds, Ian Talbot (Chair), Val Dutton, Julie Hammett and Annette Petty (Minutes)

Apologies: Judith Wilson, Wendy Arbon, Paul Taylor, Cliff Dawson, Barbara Gutowska and Andy Willcox

Ian welcomed everyone to the meeting. He is concerned regarding low attendance following the previous meeting in November 2004. Trust Council is being held this afternoon and may be a reason for the poor turnout. It is difficult to hold a more constructive meeting with so few reps present. The H&S reps were emailed the dates for the year in November. Ian has had no response from Anita Richardson, Ken Abbott, Margaret Goddard, Noel Maher or Theresa Stone for today’s meeting.

1. Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the last meeting held on 9th November were agreed solely by Glyn Reynolds as being a true and accurate record.

2. Matters Arising
Page 1 3.a
To be followed up.
Page 2 3.a
Several issues are still ongoing at Wickham Market Medical Centre. The senior partners at the surgery are seen as being more than difficult concerning health and safety issues and the acceptance of a requested Suffolk Coastal PCT’s Risk Assessment by UNISON which was carried out last June. Ian is meeting with the senior partners on 25th January to try and resolve a separate dispute through disciplinary recourse against a member working at the practice and will try to secure further talks on the health and safety issues afterwards.
Action - Ian Talbot
Walton Surgery at Felixstowe has been resolved.
Page 2 3.b
The Fire Alarms and exit doors on the Lothingland Site which open automatically on activation as used by SMHP NHS Trust have been a cause for concern recently. Val has received an email from Mark Kittle in Estates to say the Fire Service appear to have taken umbrage coming out to de-activate the fire alarms when accidentally set off. Mark will be liaising with the Fire Service to sort the problem out. Glyn reported a different story saying there was no problem with the Fire Service in his area despite there being a one minute delay if the alarms have been set off, but the problem is the patients who are aware how the system works and therefore set them off. Val will follow this up with Mark Kittle.
Action - Val Dutton - SMHP NHS Trust.
Glyn stated he would like to see the “key system” back working on 6 Airey Close. It is thought this older system was more cost effective, but this issue seems swamped with unnecessary bureaucracy.
Branch Steward, Steve Cook earlier reported the automatic system which is used at St Clements Hospital in Ipswich does not seem to highlight any problems.
Page 2 3.c
The Health & Safety Draft Policy from Coastal PCT should be going out to the PCT’s for consultation in due course. Julie Hammett will be writing to Paul Gowen at Coastal PCT (copy to Ian), asking why there is still no policy to date. It has been mentioned that one policy is developed for all the PCT’s i.e. Ipswich, Coastal and Central and UNISON would be more than willing to help devise a new policy with Suffolk Coastal which will benefit all. On top of this, UNISON have an impressive array of “off the shelf” policies covering all areas which are well researched as compiled with guidance from UNISON’s H&S unit and the HSE.
Action - Julie Hammett

The First Aid Policy is being looked into and Val is getting a list together of all First Aiders within SMHP NHS Trust. She has sent letters to managers requesting information to track and register First Aiders, which is being returned and the information compiled.
Glyn reported that at Lothingland there is a list of patients medically noted as DNR. A mechanism needs to be put into place regarding the First Aider who is on duty if the situation arises, but further advice is required on this matter, such as, should the First Aider be made aware?, together with the issue of patient confidentiality from Paula Clarke and Mick Murphy, of which some dialogue is required. Val will be sending Glyn 11 new First Aid Boxes with updated contents for Lothingland Units.
Action - Val Dutton
Training will to be set up for First Aiders by St John Ambulance once numbers are confirmed.
Action - Val Dutton
Val will be investigating the use of defibulators at Lothingland.
Action - Val Dutton
Page 3 4.c
Val has spoken to Carole Clarke in Facilities and Adrian Mayer in the Training Department, and have agreed that hotel services staff will finally be issued with panic alarms, of which staff will need training to identify situations. Val to contact Carole Clarke and a training list will be compiled by Adrian.

3. Workplace inspections by area
a) Glyn Reynolds - Airey Close, Lothingland - SMHP NHS Trust
Inspections are ongoing. Glyn will be carrying out a Display Screen Equipment inspection on 24th January with Val on 5 Airey Close and other units. Glyn will look at all areas for the inspections to be carried out and email Val with dates to attend (copy Ian). He is also carrying out a PC assessment of all the workstations on all the units.
The patient who caused noise problems last year for night staff has been moved to a day unit, but continues to be a noise nuisance. Ron Baker visited the unit and carried out a risk assessment of which his report and recommendations have been sent to the Home Leaders.
Action - Glyn Reynolds
b) Julie Hammett - Felixstowe Hospitals - Suffolk Coastal PCT
Julie represents the Felixstowe area covering the Bartlet/General Hospitals and up the coast to Aldeburgh. Julie has spoken to Mike Brown the Modern Matron at the Bartlet who has agreed that she works 30 hours per week on the wards and the remaining hours working for UNISON (paid at night rate). Mike has met with the hospital staff recently in respect of the “low morale” currently being felt by staff working at the hospital.
No inspection report from Julie due to current work pressures. However she will be planning to carry out one inspection per month, commencing the end of January. Ian advised that she concentrates on the obvious inspections, and not to get too involved or bogged down with clinical issues.
The lights in the car park at the Barlet are on a timer and motion system and which have not worked properly for some time causing some injuries to staff falling into pot holes at night. Julie will be contacting Estates to follow up again.
Julie reported that a member of staff fell in a pot hole in the car park two weeks ago. The hospital and incident accident forms were completed as she smashed her glasses and hurt her hips, resulting in taking painkillers to date. Julie has taken a photo of the area in which an incident happened on the 4th December 2004. There have been 3 other such incidents at the Felixstowe General and this is the first at the Bartlet. Ian advised Julie that the areas are “extremely unsafe” and to write to Paul Gowen, Risk Manager at Suffolk Coastal PCT with copies to David Green, Deputy Head of Estates, David Leckie, Head of Estates, and the Branch giving them a 14 day “time frame” to carry out remedial works.
Other problems are the new panel of lino flooring which was laid on Landguard Ward (previously Quilter). Large bubbles have appeared possibly because the concrete floor was damp when laid. Also, there is now an asbestos problem which can not be disturbed at present. The ward was re-opened in October 2004 and the matter is still unresolved. Julie will be contacting Ray Hill, who was dealing with this matter but has since retired to obtain information on the problems and follow up in due course.
Action - Julie Hammett
c) Val Dutton
Val reported that the first Health & Safety Management Committee meeting was held on 4th January at Suffolk House in Ipswich. The next meeting will be advised in due course. Val’s email address is Val.Dutton@smhp.nhs.uk and she is currently based at G Block, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds and at Suffolk House, St Clements Hospital in Ipswich respectively.
d) Wendy Arbon
Ian reported that Wendy is in regular contact by email with updates on Health & Safety matters at Hartismere Hospital. Nothing to report at present
e) Andy Willcox
In his absence, Ian reported that Andy Willcox had written to David Green, deputy Head of Estates in respect of the section of lath and plaster ceiling which fell onto the corridor near to Dr Caracciolo’s office, Main Building, St Clements Hospital on 20th December. Andy received a reply from David dated 22nd December and remedial works have been carried out to make the area safe. Following an email dated 3rd December, Andy is to meet with Sharon Warner and Carole Clarke regarding the Health & Safety Audit Tool.
Annette to follow up.
Action - Annette Petty
f) Ian Talbot
Ian, Andy Willcox, Cliff Dawson and Barbara Gutowska attended the first SMHP NHS Trust Health & Safety Management Committee which took place on 4th January at St Clements Hospital Site in the Suffolk House Board Room. All SMHPT reps are encouraged to attend. The first meeting was to determine the panel members and mechanics of the Committee. The second meeting will agree the Chairman etc and the date/time to follow in due course. The committee will oversee legislation, policy and procedures for Health & Safety issues covering all area’s within SMHPT.
Ian met with SMHPT Chief Executive, Mark Halladay this week and secured agreement for voluntary staff release in respect of the Tsunami disaster i.e. releasing staff on sabbaticals to help. Also, pharmacies to look into appropriate drug stocks for donation and any contributions of unused medical equipment. Ian was pleased with the outcome and is planning to approach the Chief Executives from the other PCT’s in due course.

4. AOB
a) Health & Safety Seminar
A two day seminar on “The Office Environment” is being held on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th March at the Novotel, Ipswich. There will be three delegates attending from the Branch namely: Paul Taylor, Julie Hammett and Glyn Reynolds.
b) New Health & Safety Rep
Mark Scarff, currently based on Playford House, St Clements Hospital was proposed to be appointed as a new H&S Rep following his request last month. Annette will be contacting Mark and also obtain all contact details for work/home for forward to Ian.
Action - Annette Petty
c) Health Group Conference 2005
This year’s conference is taking place in Plymouth from Monday 25th April to Wednesday 27th April. Annette has forwarded details to Wendy Arbon who has expressed an interest in attending. Please contact Ian in the first instance if anyone else is interested in attending (deadline for registration forms to Regional Office is 7th March).
d) General Secretary and Political Fund Ballots
Posters have been ordered for these forthcoming ballots which will be sent to the reps for display in their workplace areas. Ian reported that nomination letters had been received by the branch and emailed to the reps, but because the deadline was before the branch committee date and no response was received from the reps, no replies could be sent. The ballots will give each member a chance to vote.
The Political Fund Ballot is not about supporting any particular political party, but the way UNISON can have a say and influence or debate political decisions.
e) Pensions in the NHS
Staff who currently pay into the NHS pension scheme and retire before 2015 will not be affected by the government proposals to be implemented next year. However, anyone who retires after 2005 will be forced to continue working for another five years until 65 and could lose up to one third of final pension as the final salary calculation will be replaced using an average calculation throughout working life. This would mean employee’s will be forced to work longer and therefore pay more into the scheme, but the final pension payout will be less than it is at present. UNISON is committed to protect pension rights and the fight has already started with local government who will be staging a series of strike action against these changes. The NHS pension scheme changes follow next year and a national ballot will be sent out to all members to generate support against the government proposals to strip pensions to the bone.
f) Take Breaks - Posters
Ian has produced 2 posters and will be emailing them out to reps to display in all workplaces in due course.
g) MRSA
Glyn asked if SMHP NHS Trust was using the alcohol spirit hand rub procedure correctly in conjunction with other NHS Trusts. Ian replied to carry on with this procedure until further notice as this seems to be an adequate procedure.

5. Date/Time next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 10th March at 12.30pm at the Assessment Centre Meeting Room, Lothingland.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 3.30pm

Meeting Dates For Your Diary

March 10th start time 13:00
May 19th start time 13:00
July 14th start time 13:00
Sept 8th start time 13:00
Nov 8th start time 12:30

All meetings will be held at the Lothingland Complex.
 

IT/ADP