Meeting held on Tuesday 15 October 2002 at 2.30pm Rembrandt Room, SCH

Present: Arthur White, Paul Taylor, Cliff Dawson, Ray Hill, Jamie Starling, Philip Bloyce (Chair), Annette Petty (Minutes)

Apologies: Jane Sutton, Ian Talbot, Wendy Arbon, Theresa Stone, Linda Bird

1.   Minutes of the previous meeting

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

2.  Matters Arising

a)   It was agreed that the six H & S Meetings for 2003 are to be held in Lothingland – Glyn Reynolds to arrange dates and notify Annette.

b)   Annette to contact Regional Council to obtain dates/info on the Regional meetings held in London/Cambridge respectively.

3.   Appeal for Financial Help for Overseas Unison Projects

This matter has been deferred until a later date.

4.  National Women’s Conference – Plymouth 2003

The meeting agreed that we should nominate Georgia Murray who works for West Suffolk Drug Advisory Service as our delegate to attend the conference. Annette to send application form and further information to her and also to Linda Bird, new Steward in Learning Disabilities at Walker Close and Julie Leach, Domestic at SCH for information.

5.     Branch Meetings for 2003

The dates have been emailed or posted to all reps/stewards/officers informing them of the 2003 meetings.

6.  Eastern Region Black Members Committee

Annette has forwarded the information to Sandra Smith who works on Priory Ward, there is no delegate attending from Suffolk Healthcare Branch.

7.   Stewards Report

      Philip Bloyce                                                                                                                                                                                    Reported that since July 00 Terms and Conditions have been harmonised and some drivers have been awarded costs in respect of their Whitley/Trust conditions of pay. Some domestic staff had been underpaid since 1996.

      Arthur White                                                                                                                                                                                       Service Level 2 grades have been underpaid since June 02 at Beccles, they are non union members but he hopes to recruit them in the near future. Harmonisation is going ahead ok at Patrick Stead, food hygiene has been attended to and staff are on a new rate of pay. Philip to forward Arthur the latest pay scales. Philip reported that at present there is a reorganisation of management who are applying for their posts. Senior Managers are not protected by Whitley Council.

      Ray Hill                                                                                                                                                                                                     The menus are being changed at Felixstowe, the trolleys need to be risk assessed. There are three night sisters to cover A&E. It is proposed that they alternate staff at the General and Bartlet on night duty - morale is very low. Felixstowe operate on two different budgets, a post-op budget from the Ipswich Hospital and a general funded budget. It is unsafe to keep moving staff around. Ray to meet with Ann Clarke to discuss these issues to include non continuity of care.

      Learning Disabilities - Walker Close                                                                                                                                                        Paul reported that with regard to food preparation it is all cooked on the units and there are no problems. A letter will be circulated informing staff to remove any ligature points to include all hand rails, hanging baskets, door handles and door frames etc. The management have an attitude problem towards staff and morale is at an all time low. There is also a finance problem, the H&S group have a small budget of 20k. The OMG situation is dire, at the last meeting the group looked at sickness levels. Bungalow No 2 is a dysfunctional unit. Moving staff around regularly causes stress, there has been a quick turnover of staff lately and no exit interviews were offered. There are also problems at Eccles Road. Philip will set up an initial meeting with Paula Clarke and Jo Douglas to ascertain what is wrong at Walker Close initially and develop strategies to tackle the issues. 

      Lothingland                                                                                                                                                                                             Glyn reported that there is a lot of agency/bank staff employed  and this in turn is creating problems.

      Reception SCH                                                                                                                                                                                      Jamie reported that hotel staff have been granted no leave over the Christmas break and are expected to report for work even if there is no work to be done. The staff do not wish for Union involvement at present. Jamie asked if he could attend a disciplinary hearing with Philip who will speak to the chair of the disciplinary on the day and allow Jamie to attend in an observer role only. 

8.   AOB

a)   Annette to order 100 standard Unison badges at £1 each. 

b)   Annette informed the meeting of the branch new telephone numbers which are as follows:

1.   Main Office 01473 329009 ansaphone

2.   Small Office 01473 329010

c)   It was agreed that H&S reps are able to attend the Branch Meetings.

9.   Date of next meeting

The next branch meeting will be held on Tuesday 19 November 02 at 2.30pm Picasso Room, SCH (Apologies Annette)

There being no further business the meeting closed at 3.45pm