AGM Q&A 2009

Thank you to all those who attended this year's NHS Walsall Annual General Meeting.

Summary of questions and comments from observers and records of responses made by the Executive Team.

Question from Dave Wheeler, Walsall College

How can Walsall College, as partners, help NHS Walsall to achieve ‘Good’ and progress to ‘Excellent’ on quality and safety?

Response from Dr Geoff Archenhold, Chairman of NHS Walsall

Improving the quality of services is about working in partnership. Discussions are taking place about how an academy-type approach for an apprenticeship scheme can be established. 

 

Question from C Richardson

 Re: New access to GPs (page 4 of the annual report).  Any information on reduced access?  It is not possible to contact some practices between 12.00 – 4.00 pm?

Response from Denise McLellan, Chief Executive of NHS Walsall

GP access is important. We are continuing to monitor practices to provide comprehensive access. Denise offered to discuss this further with Mr Richardson after the meeting.

 

Question from Leslie Smith

Has this PCT seen a rise in TB and other respiratory diseases such as asthma?

Response from Dr Sam Ramaiah, Director of Public Health for NHS Walsall

Cases of TB are increasing and we have seen an increase of tuberculosis in Walsall.  With reference to asthma, increasing numbers are going to their GP with asthma.  NHS Walsall continues to monitor and research reasons for this using local intelligence and national information.

 

Question from Patricia Etchells

 A number of parents in the town are concerned about rumours of surgeries being moved into schools (strangers to the vicinity of school and infection risk).  Is this true and how will it be operated?

Response from Yvonne Thomas, Director of Partnerships for NHS Walsall

We are not putting GP services in schools. We are building schools for the future, trying to set up integrated provision.  Yvonne invited Mrs Jane Evans to talk. Jane is the Programme Director for Children and Young People has developed strong links through the Children’s Trust.  We are working closely with GP practices and each of the 15 Sure Start children’s centres within the borough to develop services for antenatal and postnatal care. It is planned to work very closely with health visitors to provide services for school children around health and well-being. Discussions are taking place about how an academy-type approach for an apprenticeship scheme can be established.

  

Question from Muhammad Alhaque

What is NHS Walsall doing for the Asian Community?

Response from Dr Sam Ramaiah, Director of Public Health for NHS Walsall

NHS Walsall is aiming to meet the needs of around 50,000 people within the South Asian Community through preventative programmes.  These include smoking cessation, specific classes for physical activity, cookery classes/healthy eating programmes and weight management, access to female professionals (doctors/nurses) and interpretation services.  Cultural services are provided in the local hospital.  Three female obstetricians have been appointed within the hospital.

 

Question from Carol Ferron-Smith

What is being done to make the referral process/access to Children and Adolescent Mental Health less difficult?

Anne Baines, Director of Service Transformation invited Jane Evans Assistant Director of Partnership Commissioning

 We have reduced the waiting times from 32 weeks to 2 weeks. Urgent cases are seen straight away and we are developing the preventative agenda.

 

Question from Patricia Etchells

 If TB rates are rising so rapidly why are our children no longer protected by immunisation?

Response from Dr Sam Ramaiah, Director of Public Health for NHS Walsall

The PCT’s vaccination programme has been stopped in this country and much of the developed world. NHS Walsall is implementing the national policy concerning vaccination for TB.

 

Question from Murawat Ali

The life expectancy targets make depressing reading for Walsall with mortality rates high by wards.  What action have you taken to minimise those deaths?

Response from Dr Sam Ramaiah, Director of Public Health from NHS Walsall

Dr Ramaiah stressed the importance of following a healthy lifestyle and provided information about the Health and Well-Being Programme.  

 

Question from Jim Weston

On pages 24-25 of the Annual Report (Directors’ Remuneration) why have the years been transposed?  Usually last years figures form the last right hand column?

Response from Robert Mackie, Director of Performance and Resources for NHS Walsall

This is a presentational issue. It does not change the content of the data.

 

Question from Cath Brown

Can you explain the transfer to an electronic health record system at the Manor Hospital?

Response from Steve Darkes, Director of Informatics for NHS Walsall

 There is a national move to an electronic system.  In Walsall the Care Record clinical portal will lead to moving documentation into an electronic environment.  This new electronic format will be introduced over the next five years.  All test results are electronic and clinicians now refer to electronic reports.  The main record remains paper-based and is still used in some clinical areas.  The electronic and paper-based results will eventually move to an electronic only system.