All Posts in May 2011
There are 3 posts.
-
GMC consultation
by Shaun McGarry, Vice Chairman on 20th May 2011 8:40 pm
Sections: News
Comments: 0 Add a CommentA Request from Sandy Griffiths (GREAT YARMOUTH AND WAVENEY PCT)
Sent: 20 May 2011 14:38 Subject: GMC consultation
Hello to everyone,
Please would you circulate this message and link to your members and/or organisations to enable them to participate in this consultation, thank you.
A General Medical Council(GMC) consultation on management guidance to doctors.
You can have your say on:
. How doctors should make decisions about your care when resources are limited
. How we can encourage doctors to raise and act on concerns about patient safety
These two questions are included in the General Medical Council’s consultation on their new draft management guidance to doctors.
The General Medical Council(GMC) has requested that we contact patients and members of the public to inform you of their consultation on their new draft management guidance to doctors which covers a range of non-clinical issues which face doctors in the workplace.
These include commissioning services, dealing with conflicts of interest, team-working and performance management. Guidance on raising and acting on concerns about patient safety has also been brought together for the first time in this new draft. The consultation asks what more the GMC can do to encourage doctors to speak up about anything which compromises the safety of patients.
The consultation continues until 3rd June 2011.
To participate in this consultation on-line, please go to:
https://gmc.e-consultation.net/econsult/consultation_Dtl.aspx?consult_Id=170 https://gmc.e-consultation.net/econsult/consultation_Dtl.aspx?consult_Id=170&status=2 &status=2
You will need to register your user name, password etc to access the consultation, however this will enable you to also participate in future GMC consultations.
Thank you for your time – greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Sandy Griffiths,
Engagement Manager,
NHS Gt. Yarmouth and Waveney,
1, Common Lane North,
Beccles,
Suffolk, NR34 9BN
tel: 01502 719567(direct line) mobile no: 07789987145
-
Issue 16 of The NEWS — May 2011
by David Wilkinson, Chairman on 13th May 2011 1:14 pm
Sections: Newsletters
Comments: 0 Add a CommentIssue 16 THE NEWS May 2011
Next Meeting 23 May 2011
At Wherry Way Communal Room, Wherry Way
Great Yarmouth NR30 4 DJ
2pm to 4:30pm
For free transport from home and return
Call 01493 301 759
Update from Matron Sarah Morris of the JPH
Experience a New Electric Hybrid Car
Dear Friends welcome to our Newsletter. We hope that you have been enjoying the good weather and all the bank holidays.
Due to unforeseen circumstances our AGM will be postponed. It will now take place on Monday 25th July.
Matron Sarah Maurice will be our speaker at our meeting. Sarah has apologised for her absence at our last meeting. This was due to an oversight in her diary. Sarah promises to be with us this time. I am sure there will be lots of questions that we would like to ask.
Chris Stanley from the Lions club will be coming along to show us his new Hybrid Car.
We will be invited to go outside and see what we can hear of it, if anything! Chris is happy to take our comments back to the manufacturer of the car.
Our guest speaker back in March was Peter from RNIB speaking about the Digital change over.
Details are in the Meeting minutes.
You should be contacted automatically.
Help scheme for Digital TV
Telephone 0800 408 5900
Website helpscheme.co.uk
The NHS Fresh food lorry should be outside our meeting room when you arrive. If you wish you may purchase from it like several of you did last time.
The lorry is on Mondays at Great Yarmouth Library 12.00- 12.30. Empress Road Cobholm 1.00-1.05 Nelson Road Central/South 1.30-1.45 Midland Close 1.50-2.05
Lawn Avenue 2.10-2.40
Tuesdays the food lorry is at Electra House,
Southtown Road 12.30-1.00 Ecclestone Bunnywell Close Gorleston 1.30-2.40 Hammon Middle School 2.45-3.15
Wednesday the food lorry is at
Greanacre School 8.30-9.15 Isabella Square 9.30-9.50 Hawkings Close 9.55-10.55
John Grant School 11.30-12.15
Kingfisher Close 12.40- 1.30
The decision has been made to organise The Great Yarmouth Older People’s Olympics 2012 based on many of the activities contained within the
Ageless Opportunity directory plus any others that may be of interest to older people, that is anybody over 50. Details will be available shortly.
The sports could include, short mat bowls, green bowls, ten pin bowling and many more activities.
The RNIB are taking part in a demonstration in London on 11 May. This is to vent disabled peoples feeling against the changes to DLA and other benefits. Linda and Penny will be representing our group and lobbying our MP.
We look forward to hearing all about the day at our meeting.
I hope that you are all receiving your copy of Magpie News and that you keep up to date with all the activities that you could get involved in.
The craft classes and coffee mornings are very popular here in Yarmouth at NNAB
Chairman David
Home 01493 842156
Mobile 07990998845
Vice Chair Shaun
01493 60 22 72
Secretary Penny Cox
01493 72 11 67
Looking forward to seeing you on 23 May, best wishes David
-
28th March 2011 — RNIB Digital TV, Sensory Support and Buses
by Shaun McGarry, Vice Chairman on 11th May 2011 10:29 am
Sections: Minutes
Comments: 0 Add a CommentDescription: An Eye with a lightning bolt slashed across it with a banner overlaid on yellow sand spreading to the blue sea in bright sunshine.
Minutes of General Meeting
Held on 28th March 2011 at 2:30pm
At Wherry Way Communal Room, Caister Road, Great Yarmouth
Before the meeting began, the Group was informed that the NHS fruit and vegetable van was at Wherry Way every Monday from 1pm, and that members were invited to purchase fresh produce and eggs at very reasonable prices before meetings.
David Wilkinson chaired the meeting, which was attended by 23 members and guests. Apologies had been received from Judy Morrow, Liz Price and John Kempster. Sarah Morris, Matron of the Ophthalmic Ward and JPH and Penny Leggett from Yare Care, had been expected to attend the meeting, but did not arrive.
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
There had been a meeting the previous week with police. Members were informed that once they had initial contact with the police over any matter, they would agree a password to facilitate further communication. Tim reported that he had experience of this system and that it had worked well. In response to a query from Linda, the Group were informed that individuals choose a password and inform the police what it is.
It was suggested that the visit from the fire brigade be re-scheduled for a future meeting.
Paul Bowerbank from the Sensory Support Unit expressed his thanks for the support of the group and individual members during the difficult past 6 months, during which the Unit was first threatened with closure and then had funding cut drastically. The campaigns, letters and petitions had made a significant difference to the outcome, and whilst the level of support was going to be severely affected by funding cutbacks, the Unit was still able to run a restricted support service for Visually Impaired, Blind and Deaf people.
He explained that the County Council had a legal requirement to provide certain services, but non-statutory services would no longer be provided, and there would be staff redundancies. At present the Unit had 5,000 pieces of equipment on permanent loan, and between 12 – 14,000 people had in the past received new services, repairs and replacements from the Unit who would now have to make their own arrangements. The Unit would still give advice about where to obtain equipment.
Paul was currently working on two options for the future of the Unit
Option 1 ? that the Deaf Association might employ some staff to assess needs and sell equipment, and
Option 2 ? that the current service provided to the Deaf/Blind be retained and reviewed after 12 months. Clients would eventually be responsible for managing their own personal budgets.
There was no capacity to further increase the service provided. The budget for work with the deaf would not be verified until 5th April, but it had been proposed to retain a social worker for deaf people. Paul Bowerbank was qualified to carry out social work assessments and reassured members that critical needs will be met.
With regard to the visual impairment side of the Sensory Support Unit, there were currently 5 full time rehabilitation officers, and it was hoped to retain 4 of them. One had already succeeded in finding alternative employment and would not be replaced.
Although it was not definite, it was hoped that the Unit would retain one Social Worker and one Social Work Assistant. This would depend on the outcome of a meeting with the Assistant Director to discuss ways of making cutbacks in the region of £56,000. One duty worker post at the Sensory Support Unit had been cut, so it would not always be possible to contact the Unit directly.
It was expected that in future all equipment other than mobility aids would have to be purchased by individuals, but Paul was willing to compile a list of people approved to carry out work adapting homes to meet the requirements of blind and visually impaired people. He would need to liaise with the NNAB about future replacement of existing replacement equipment, e.g. white canes with balls on the end, as these would no longer be automatically available.
Penny Cox questioned whether there would in future be a longer wait for new clients to be assessed. At present there are two teams of social workers/ rehabilitation workers who receive referrals from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at King?s Lynn, James Paget and the Norfolk & Norwich, who are responsible for ensuring that legal requirements are met and that advice was provided to clients about other sources of advice and support, but this level of support was not likely to continue.
Liz Kitchener asked whether the Sensory Support Unit had a backlog of unused stock which the NNAB could take over, but Paul was unable to make any commitment at this stage about the disposal of equipment held by the Sensory Support Unit as this was the property of Norfolk County Council. As an employee of Norfolk County Council he was not at liberty to make decisions of that nature, nor had he followed up an approach from ITV to appear in a feature involving the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People which Siobhan had also been contacted about.
Paul was thanked for contributing to the meeting and updating members of the current situation with the Sensory Support Unit.
David then welcomed Peter Atkin from the RNIB who had been invited to talk to the group about the changeover to Digital television.
The changeover to Digital television in Norfolk would take place in two stages, on 9th and 23rd November, when all analogue reception would disappear. The change would mean a fairer deal in that everyone would have access to channels currently available only to those with a Freeview box or television with built-in Freeview, and there would be better quality reception, both in sound and picture quality, and better access to audio description.
There are 4 different ways to go digital ? with existing equipment which is Sky satellite based, through a Freeview box, via Cable and via Freesat which is a BBC/ITV initiative similar to Sky but with no monthly payments, and restricted to 12 English channels. To qualify for access to the Helpscheme, it is necessary to meet one of the following criteria
1. be over 75
2. be in receipt of Attendance Allowance, DLA, Income Support or Pension Credits
3. be Registered blind or partially sighted.
There was a £40 subsidy, and an engineer would check the aerial for digital signal, set up a Freeview box, and show how to use the handset. A customer helpline would be available 24/7 and work would be guaranteed for 18 months. Existing Sky, Cable and Freesat networks are already digital-ready, and existing Freeview boxes will need to be re-tuned.
Peter then demonstrated the difference audio description made to a brief extract from an episode of Eastenders, which was very interesting and informative. He said that in the first week of any new film, Odeon cinemas included audio description, and that the RNIB was pushing for Museums, Art Galleries and major sporting venues to offer audio description. In answer to a question about digital radio, Peter said that it was the government rather than the BBC which was delaying a switchover, but it will take at least two years. The present quality of digital radio is very variable.
Peter had brought copies of a helpful and well-produced booklet about the changeover to Digital TV in different formats for members to take away.
Peter was thanked for his entertaining and informative talk.
Chris Maule-Oatway from NNAB spoke about the unexpected and sudden introduction of further restrictions for use of senior citizen and disabled persons? bus passes, which were mainly reduced hours for travelling free of charge, and the withdrawal of free passes for sighted companions. The public consultation had not been well publicized and was undertaken mainly by phone calls and via the internet. Chris said that he had completed an emailed questionnaire as an individual pass holder, not as an NNAB representative. A Scrutiny Panel had been asked to look at the case for withdrawing the new restrictions to the times pass holders were allowed to use their passes, and Chris suggested that members write to local councillors and the MP to explain the hardship the restriction causes, and keeping any bus tickets purchased outside of the time the pass was valid. This was a cost-cutting exercise undertaken by Norfolk County Council, and only a relatively small number of blind people were involved, though the impact the change would make on them was potentially a big issue, for example in terms of getting to college on time, being able to undertake voluntary work and going to shops before they got busy. The new restrictions were not being enforced by all bus companies. David agreed to include a list of names councillors? names with the minutes.
Chris was thanked for attending the meeting and keeping members informed.
Ian Hardy encouraged members to sign up for one of the visits to Great Yarmouth Potteries with Liz or Wendy. Members should make their own way there.
In terms of local government cutbacks, Ian said that Great Yarmouth Borough Council was revising its own management structure, and that cutting back of some services would be essential. He encouraged the VIP User Group members to keep themselves well informed, research well as they usually do, get hold of the facts and ask pertinent questions. The Group agreed to send an official letter to the Chief Executive of the Borough Council, and members were encouraged to make individual representations about ways in which cutbacks would affect them personally. Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, people could expect to be dealt with respectfully and have their issues and concerns addressed sympathetically.
Members had met with the MP about the King Street crossing hazard, and he may try to lobby to have it sorted out.
Penny would invite Sarah Morris to the July meeting to feedback on developments since her previous visit to the group.
Chris Stanley from the Lions Club would be bringing his ?silent? electric car for members to listen to.
On 11th May there would be a demonstration in London about rights for people with disabilities which Penny encouraged members to take part in. Trains would be going from Norwich.
The Craft Club was meeting each Friday, doing basket work, coffee morning at Hall Quay each 2nd Friday, Book Club at the Library on the last Friday of each month, and Sailing would begin on Tuesdays in May.
The consultation at Christchurch about changes to DLA was attended by 86 people, and the VIP Group was well represented.
The RNIB was launching a national campaign to remove cars and obstructions off pavements. Penny would keep the meeting informed about this.
George raised a question about the possibility of a bus shelter being provided at Prince of Wales? Road at Caister. There was some confusion about who was responsible for provision of bus shelters, but it was suggested that he should contact a member of his Parish Council in the first instance.
There had been no reply from the Council to letters about the provision of more pedestrian crossings in Gorleston. Concern was expressed about the lack of safe crossing places between Middleton Road and Bridge Road, and from Links Road to the seafront.
Darren said he was concerned about the hazard of wheelie bins on pavements in Great Yarmouth, and wondered whether it would be possible to have them marked with yellow and black tape if it was impractical to remove them.
The next meeting will be at 2pm on 23rd May 2011 at Wherry Way.
The meeting closed at 4:30pm
Appendix A
Contact details for Norfolk County Councillors representing Great Yarmouth district
Mr Michael Reginald Harry Carttiss
Conservative
Member of Norfolk County Council for West Flegg Division
Parish or Urban areas within the Division: Ashby with Oby, Filby, Fleggburgh, Martham, Mautby, Repps with Bastwick, Rollesby, Stokesby, Thurne
Melrose, Main Road, Filby
Great Yarmouth Norfolk NR29 3HN
Telephone (Home):01493 368238
Email: Not available
Web: www.norfolk.gov.uk/michaelcarttiss
