THURSDAY 20th NOVEMBER AT 14:30 IN THE ASSESSMENT CENTRE MEETING ROOM, LOTHINGLAND

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

Apologies: Philip Bloyce, Cliff Dawson, Paul Taylor and Julie Cracknell

1.      Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th September were agreed as a true and accurate record.

2.      Matters Arising

a)   Page 1 2a                                                                                                                                                                                    Annette to chase Philip for Code of Conduct for Managers (he has sent a document to Ray recently).

b)      Page 1 2b                                                                                                                                                                            Glyn/Annette have written to Andrea regarding her new position as Steward for the night site at Lothingland enclosing a nomination form.

c)       Page 1 2d                                                                                                                                                                                           Ray and Theresa to bring copies of their Lone Working Policies to the January meeting to compare with Glyn’s policy.

d)       Page 1 2f                                                                                                                                                                                         CCTV at Bartlet - no change, there are 4 cameras 3 of which are ok. The camera in question has been out of action for the past 18 months. Ray to contact the H&S Executive at Chelmsford regarding the problem.

e)       Page 1 2g                                                                                                                                                                                     Wendy is having regular meetings with Julie Todd at Hartismere Hospital and is sending emails to Ian regarding H&S issues.

f)        Page 1 2i                                                                                                                                                                                            Ron Baker has put a noise meter onto the unit where the noisy patient is based and the situation is currently being monitored. It is a clinical issue. Staff are currently dealing with the situation well and changing over on a 2 hourly basis.

g)      Page 1 2m                                                                                                                                                                                          Cliff to contact supplies at St Clements Hospital in Ipswich with regard to the COSHH regulations.

h)   Page 2 2j                                                                                                                                                                                            Ian to contact Ron Baker in Risk Management (has emailed him regarding re-starting joint meetings with other H&S reps) regarding the Trust policy on paying First Aiders Allowance. Glyn passed around copies of the LHP Risk Management Manual Guidelines for First Aid at Work DRAFT (Rev 16.02.2002). Theresa to address the First Aid Guidelines at Waveney PCT. A copy of the Qualified First Aiders at 31.10.99 was handed out to at the meeting.

i)         Page 2 2l                                                                                                                                                                                           Glyn has received a letter from Sara Atkinson, Service Manager in Occupational Health at Heath Rd Hospital, acknowledging receipt of the staff lists which has been forwarded to the relevant Practice Manager from Suffolk Support Services.

j)        Page 2 3c                                                                                                                                                                                    Annette to Draft standard letters to be sent to the Risk Management dept on a monthly basis to chase outstanding reports.

k)     Page 3 4a                                                                                                                                                                                Emergency Lighting maintenance works still outstanding on Units 6/7– doors ongoing. Glyn to chase up on Unit 6 and Team Leader/John Cullum. Glyn is writing to Richard Lacey copy to David Leckie (Dir of Estates) regarding the emergency lighting - if no reply received within 10 working days the matter will be forwarded to the H&S Executive at Chelmsford.

3.     Stewards Reports

a)     Lothingland                                                                                                                                                                                       H&S inspections ongoing. Glyn has given out to each unit Manager official personal risk assessment forms/environment workplace area forms for staff to complete and return. This is a standard risk assessment form for self assessment by staff.

b)  Livingstone Ashford Unit                                                                                                                                                              Theresa reported no problems at her unit. Risk Assessments are being sent though slowly and more managers have received training on risk assessment. Theresa has been shown how to carry out a risk assessment. Ian reminded the meeting that the clinical aspects at work are dealt with under risk assessment and the H&S prevention is dealt with by our H&S reps (i.e. electrical/buildings/lighting/temperature. Ian suggested that Theresa arranges regular monthly meetings with her manager at the unit (Lesley Williams) to discuss any H&S issues and sends in her H&S inspection forms to the branch office for record purposes.

c)       Felixstowe Hospitals                                                                                                                                                                          Ray and Paul have completed the H&S inspection at Central Stores, Ransomes Europark. Staff will have to undertake mandatory manual handling/Fire risk/H&S training in the near future. Paul has written to Mr B Hales and Risk Management dept informing them of the outcome of the inspection. Ray and Julie have completed the inspections at the General, Annexe and the Bartlet will be carried out at a later date. 

d)   Priory/Sutton Wards, St Clements Hospital                                                                                                                                      Andy wrote to Mr Bob Bolas (Director of Nursing) on 23 October requesting information under the H&S at Work Act 1979 regarding medication given by nurses at their own discretion and signatories. He received a reply dated 29 October informing him the matter is being addressed.

e)   Inspection Reports                                                                                                                                                                     Received from Cliff Dawson (Bungalow 2 Walker Close - Rooms 2/3/6), Wendy Arbon (Hartismere x 2) and Paul Taylor (Bungalow 4 Walker Close x 2).

4.    AOB

a)      LHP NHS Trust - Road Safety Risks - The Facts                                                                                                                                  Glyn passed around copies of the above to all for information.

b)   New H&S Rep                                                                                                                                                                                  Karen Thompson RCN H&S Rep based at Southwold Hospital, proposed Andrea Boakes as a UNISON H&S representative at Night Site, Lothingland. Unfortunately, Karen is unable to propose Andrea as she is not a UNISON member. However, a proposal from an existing UNISON member will now be found. Our sincere thanks go to Karen for trying to help out.

c)    H&S Week                                                                                                                                                                                          13-19 October, posters were distributed to reps and Ian sent out a reminder email.

d)      Asbestos/New Duty to Manage and Enforcement - a Safety Lottery                                                                                              These documents are available on the Unison website www.unison.org.uk or email healthandsafety@unison.co.uk

e)      Personal Injury Settlements                                                                                                                                                               Ian read out the latest settlements for the region - March £5000 paid out by Local Health Partnerships NHS Trust to a branch member.

f)        H&S Reps for SHC Branch                                                                                                                                                            Annette to contact Raynor at RMS to ensure that all our H&S reps are receiving regular information (T Stone/A Willcox check). 

g)      Follow-up Recruitment Training Day                                                                                                                                                     To be held on 20 January 2004 (1030-1300) in the Monet Room, SCH. Annette to contact all reps/stewards to attend.

5.   Date/Time of next meeting

The first meeting of 2004 will be held on Thursday 15 January, 2:30pm, Assessment Centre, Lothingland - meeting dates have been circulated to all for 2004 and can also be found here.

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

IT/ADP