THURSDAY 13th May 2003 @ 14:30 IN THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE MEETING ROOM, LOTHINGLAND

Present: Glyn Reynolds, Ray Hill, Andy Willcox, Wendy Arbon, Cliff Dawson, Julie Cracknell, Annette Petty (Mins/Chair)

Apologies: Cliff Dawson, Philip Bloyce, Paul Taylor, Sandra Smith and Ian Talbot

1.      Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 March were agreed as a true and accurate record.

2.      Matters Arising

a)   Page 1.2h                                                                                                                                                                                        Philip to forward New Code of Conduct for Managers to Ray.

b)   Page 1.2f                                                                                                                                                                                          Glyn has received details and has met with the Trust’s Fire Officer.

c)   Page 1.2i                                                                                                                                                                                      Andrea Boakes now on maternity leave, Annette to contact her on her return to work if she is still interested in becoming a Steward.

d)   Page 2.2ei                                                                                                                                                                                            No reply from David Rollinson in respect of new format for H&S inspection forms.

e)   Page 2.2eii                                                                                                                                                                                     Suffolk Coastal District Council have recently approved a Lone Working Policy which Philip has looked at before going to Trust Board last week. Ray to forward a copy to Annette to be distributed accordingly (The policy is applicable to Community & Lone Workers and Health Visitors)

f)    Page 2.e.vi                                                                                                                                                                                           The Zero Tolerance Policy has been approved by the Learning Disabilities Forum/Management Group and adopted.

g)   Page 1.3.c                                                                                                                                                                                           Cliff to check on the filing cabinets ongoing problem

h)   Page 1.3.d                                                                                                                                                                                        CCTV still out of focus at Bartlet. Problem with lights in the car park and on the wards, Ray to send a letter to Mr D Leckie, Director of Estates and Facilities with copies to Philip, Ian and Richard Lacey.

i)    Page 2.3.e                                                                                                                                                                                    Parking is a continuing ongoing issue. Wendy sending a letter to Frances Gibson, H&S at Hartismere regarding the problem (her contact number is 01379 873196). The lift/main doors have now been fixed.

3.      Workplace Inspection Reports

a)  Walker Close                                                                                                                                                                                        No report

b)   St Clements Hospital                                                                                                                                                                        Andy reported that there is a severe parking problem on site which will be discussed at the Risk Committee Meeting on 20 May. There are also issues regarding poor lighting on the wards including the aids to daily life building.

c)   Felixstowe Bartlet/General                                                                                                                                                                  Ray and Julie to carry out a risk assessment on the Annexe (now community Trust headquarters) once Julie has completed her H&S training at the end of July. Currently there is building work being undertaken at the General which commenced at the end of March, to alter the changing rooms to offices and use up wasted space. Similar works will be carried out at the Bartlet in due course. There is a problem with leads/4way sockets under the electric beds which are a potential H&S hazard/danger to patients. Ray reported that he is attending a meeting in June with Linda Bradford from Coastal introducing an on line system to report accidents at work. Ray to report back at July meeting. 

d)   Hartismere, Eye                                                                                                                                                                            Wendy reported that currently 50% of the outside building is being painted at Hartismere. There is also a problem with the electric beds and potential hazard/risk to patients with the leads/sockets loose. Wendy to report to Jenny Lodge, Hospital Administrator. 

e)   Lothingland                                                                                                                                                                                       Glyn reported that inspections are ongoing. Currently there is a major issue with a particular patient causing noise problems. There has been an ongoing problem with this female patient for years, but it has recently become intolerable. The local unit manager and Occupational Health have been in contact regarding the problem.                                                                                                   Glyn to get immediate advice from the manager in charge of Heron Bungalow and the Doctor concerned. There is another issue regarding the lack of Occupational Therapy in the Units. Recently an OT has been appointed without any helpers. Glyn feels that there Should be more professional facilities on site for patients so further incidentswith problem patients would not occur. The Anglia Centre nearby is full to capacity and patients have been turned away. Philip to raise issue at next JCC.

4.   AOB

a)   First Aiders                                                                                                                                                                                Currently there are 3 trained up first aiders at Lothingland but are unable to carry out their duties as there is no policy/guidelines in place. Annette to check if there is a policy in place and if there is an updated version together with the H&S policy. As regards to the first aiders responsibility/insurance cover/payment the policy which Ian was working on has been put on hold since he is currently on long term sick leave.

b)   Infection Control Audit                                                                                                                                                                      Glyn passed around an audit form guidelines to be incorporated into the risk assessments which was agreed as useful to use with the Risk Assessment Workbook. Annette to check with Ipswich Hospital if they use similar guidelines. 

c)   Occupational Health                                                                                                                                                                          Glyn to ask Mick Murphy to forward the latest staff list of Occupational Health at Heath Road, as staff/new staff at Lothingland have not been receiving their notification letters for inoculations.

d)   COSHH Code Regulations                                                                                                                                                                  Cliff to obtain a copy and forward to Glyn as requested.

e)   Health & Safety Risk Assessment Monitoring Form                                                                                                                            The meeting agreed that the new form would be useful for carrying out simple assessment checks and to monitor it on a three monthly trial. Ian to email the form out to all.

5.   Date and Time of Next Meeting                                                                                                                                                      

      The next meeting will be held on Thursday 17 July at 2.30pm, Assessment Centre Meeting Room, Lothingland.                             Any agenda items please forward to Annette by email/post.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 4:30pm.

ADP