MONDAY 12th JULY 2004 AT 13:30 IN THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE MEETING ROOM, LOTHINGLAND

Present: Andy Willcox, Ray Hill, Val Dutton, Ian Talbot and Annette Petty (Minutes)
Apologies: Paul Taylor, Cliff Dawson, Julie Cracknell, Andy Willcox, Theresa Stone and Navzar Surti

1. Minutes of the previous meeting
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th May 2004 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

2. Matters Arising
a) Page 1 2e Ian to send out the Notification of H&S inspection letter to representatives in due course.
b) Page 1 2f Brenda Holliday has forwarded updated information on Working Time Regulations in respect of night workers to Glyn.
c) Page 1 2g Judith Wilson has contacted Ian with an update on inspections at the Sudbury CMHT. The kitchen area is “cleaned up” and inspections are on-going. Progress is slow due to budget restraints.
d) Page 1 3a Ray and Julie to agree a mutually convenient date and time for the Bartlet Hospital Annexe follow-up inspection which is outstanding. Ray agreed to write to Richard Lacey in Estates regarding remedial works to be carried out on the exposed electrical single sockets and over extended power points which have not been dealt with for over 2 months following UNISON’s H&S recommendation. Ian advised if there is no response following another letter to the estates department within 7 days, the Health & Safety Executive should be informed of the situation.
e) Page 2 3b Glyn to report back on the fire points at September meeting. Annette has sent E-mail to Glyn with information requested from Steve Cook (steward) regarding the fire points in the secure wards at St Clements Hospital.
f) Page 2 3c The Draft SMHP NHS Trust H&S Policy goes to the Trust H&S Committee, Risk Management Committee and Trust Board and is then approved if there are no changes. Annette to contact UNISON Communications to order posters in advance for National H&S Week starting 11 October and find out this year’s theme. H&S Training Day 11 October from 10am to 4pm, Assessment Centre in the Meeting Room at Lothingland. A letter has now been sent out to all branch H&S representatives.
 
2. Workplace inspections by area
a)  Ray Hill-Felixstowe Hospitals. Coastal PCT
Ray to chase up the risk assessment report carried out by Coastal PCT at Wickham Market Surgery on request by Ian and if not completed soon, the Health & Safety Executive will be contacted.
b)  Val Dutton-Risk Management SMHP NHS Trust
Val reported that she will be writing to all managers requesting the names/contact details of staff who are First Aiders/Manual Handling Trainers/Risk Assessors in order to compile an up to date SMHP NHS Trust register. Asked by Ian, Val stated the Trust does not have a Stress Policy and HR should be leading on this.
The Health & Safety Executive will be visiting Coastal PCT for 3 days in October and Lothingland at the end of the year. An Infection Control Nurse has been appointed for East PCT’s and SMHPT 1.5 days respectively and has taken up their post “out in the workplace”. Negotiations are still taking place in the West.
There is also manual handling training sessions arranged for non-clinical staff which will be taking place in Suffolk House, SCH and G Block at Bury St Edmunds this September. There are 4 sessions planned each lasting 1.5 hours. Notification will be sent to managers in due course and to the branch. A Trust H&S Committee has been formed by David Leckie and will meet in due course.
c)  Ian Talbot-Suffolk Wide
Ian has not carried out any inspections for the past two Month’s but reported the clinical side of inspections seem to be carried out quicker than general risk areas. e.g. car park lighting etc. A discussion took place on the system overall and all assessment copies should be sent to  the new H&S Committee who could monitor the forms and report what action should or will be taken. It was generally agreed the employer should carry out workplace inspections mirroring the unions. This means ideally there should be a representative from Estates alongside the branch representative carrying out inspections. A “generic” H&S inspection form/risk assessment was suggested which would be a combination form used Trust wide by all. Ian commended the re-forming of the H&S/RM committee and possible sub groups which used to meet regularly before he was on long-term sick leave.
Ian will E-mail Val with the latest up to date list of branch H&S Officers.
d) Andy Willcox-St Clements Hospital. SMHP
Andy to chase Bob Bolas in respect of the Nurse Prescribing Policy. The situation regarding the cupboards in Coburn House storing cleaning materials under COSHH regulations has now been resolved and the domestic staff working there are now happy.
e) Wendy Arbon-Hotel Services, Hartismere Hospital, Eye. SMHP
Wendy is in contact by E-mail to Ian and reported that there are now new fans on order for the kitchen at Hartismere and inspections are ongoing.

3. AOB
a)  H&S Seminar
Another seminar has been planned for 1 and 2 October at the Holiday Inn, Cambridge. The main topic of discussion will be “the role of the H&S Officer”. Annette to send out details to all H&S reps and should anyone wish to Attend the seminar; please reply by no later than 10 August and the new TUC courses Southern & Eastern Region from September to December 2004.
b) New H&S Representative
Annette to send H&S nomination form to Anita Richardson, currently a branch steward based at Stourmead Close in Haverhill. Anita will be ratified during the September meeting if in attendance.
c) General Discussion
It was felt that overall security was a big issue at several hospital sites in the county. The poorest is thought to be SMHPT for reporting to an area and signing in. In other areas, it is difficult to try to get into the building without this procedure. At Felixstowe General, Walker Close, and SCH inadequate lighting in the car parking areas has been an issue for staff security. The Lone Working Policy will be forwarded to SMHP Trust Council for discussion and recommendation. Panic alarms are in place for staff but Line Managers should be contacted to identify the staff requiring an alarm i.e. Restaurant SCH, domestic staff walking to and from buildings and these should be hotwired to the main switchboard. Val agreed to contact Barbara Kemp and Sharon Warner to discuss the situation.

4. Date/Time of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 9 Sept at 1:30pm, Assessment Centre Meeting Room, Lothingland
Apologies received from Andy Willcox
Any agenda items please forward to Annette one week before the meeting.
Dates and times for all 2004 meetings can be found here
There being no further business the meeting closed at 4:00pm

IT/ADP