13 September 2013 - 18th December 2015

18th December 2015

8 members present

Adult Community Services - there were 18 expressions of interest but only two bids (PCH and the consortium). Apparently the tendering process incurred no additional cost except for legal advice. This is disingenuous. Graham is concerned about Community Dental Services, which will apparently be 'referred' to PCH and NHS England - so what will happen to them?

Procurement Framework consultation - we were given three days notice of this, and Peter managed a report in two! They have now extended the deadline, so Peter will work on tidying up the submission in time for the deadline of 31 December.

WCH Community Forum - Jane reported on the day's meeting.

Updates were received about RCHT (under acute pressure) and KCCG (Living Well focus is moving to 'troubled families', and hospitals, and somewhat away from isolated elderly people / there is insufficient reablement taking place, and a lack of suitable carers)

We have been offered an 'effective lobbying' workshop by Lucy Reynolds next year, and Jan will arrange a date.

Living Well report - Peter will contact someone in the Kings Fund about this. The evaluation of the project is awaited from Nuffield and Exeter University.

Other issues raised included:

John Pollard's suggestion that we lobby to ensure the profits of Poltair sale remain in Penwith
Major Trauma protocols - we need to establish the outcomes from these changes
Outpatient physiotherapy for patients with neurological conditions

20th November 2015

7 members present

We have heard from Rev J James, who will attend our January 2016 meeting.

We welcome the announcement that the NHS Consortium (RCHT, CPFT and Cornwall Health) is NHS Kernow's 'preferred bidder' for the adult community services contract. We still have questions, though.

Jan highlighted documents available online of interest:

1. At What Cost? - paying the price for the market in the English NHS (Centre for Health and the Public Interest)

2. Democratic Engagement in the local NHS (Democratic Audit)

There is concern that the Health and Wellbeing Board at Cornwall Council will have the responsibility for delivering the health service in Cornwall under devolution.

Four members attended the recent Health and Social Care Campaigners in Deveon and Cornwall workshop, which was interesting and provided useful networking links.

Penwith Integrated Care Forum met, and Jeremy Preedy is lukely to become its lay member at the Locality Group. Capita is assessing all NHS estates in the county. And Penwith has 50% less nursing home beds than the average in Cornwall.

Graham gave a good report of the new Chair of RCHT, Jon Andrewes, who also wishes to retain Shadow Governors as an important conduit between the Trust, Board and community.

Living Well action update - the consultants' draft report has been analysed by Peter, who has raised pertinent questions but these have not as yet been satisfactorily answered.

16th October 2015

9 members present

Resignations were reluctantly accepted from Chris Goninan and Ed Brewer, both of whom are standing down because of insufficient time to attend meetings.

Neil Walden and Carol Steer (NHS Kernow) attended the meeting, and discussions followed on mental health services, the PCH contract, OOH, non emergency ambulance transport, beds and bed occupancy research and home care problems. There was a frank exchange of views.

Other issues covered:

Four members attended the MP's "At Home" meeting
the campaign group "Keep it with the NHS" has been formed and is actively working
major trauma transfers to Derriford do not always happen, putting patients at Treliske at risk
Bill Shields, CEO of RCHT, is leaving at the end of October - another change for RCHT to deal with

18th September 2015

8 members present

Steve Jenkin (CEO Peninsula Community Health) attended the meeting, and talked about the circumstances surrounding PCH's decision to withdraw from the contract in 2016, and the implications for the future.

Sale of Poltair - we have learned that the proceeds of sale will remain in Cornwall. We can celebrate a minor victory over keeping the money (albeit probably a very small sum) but we remain unahppy that Poltair is being sold at all.

Bed requirements research (Peter) - all agreed that this is a fine peice of work, finding that Penwith has about 25% of the community beds it should have, compared to the rest of Cornwall. Headlines from this research to be pulled together in time for our next meeting with KCCG. There is no 'turnaway' list for community hospitals, which would help with funding requests.

Penwith Integrated Care Forum met on 9th September. A paper was presented on community hospital admission criteria, but things can't be changed without more care provision at home.

RCHT - may be placed in 'special measures', and an 'Improvement Director' may be appointed.

Cornelius Olivier attended the meeting to discuss his desire to mobilise opposition to the prospective contracting-out of adult community services. It was agreed that there should be a united campaign harnessing the public, to send a clear message to KCCG.

21st August 2015

11 members present

Jill George was welcomed as a new co-opted member of the committee.

Discussion with a domiciliary care provider who attended the meeting to inform members of the current situation.

Living Well - concerns continuing about the methodology - a small working group formed to investigate this.

Sale of Poltair and service provision - decision to press for postponement of sale, since this constitutes a major change of service; and to press for sale proceeds to remain in the county.

Breaking news about the decision by NHS Kernow to put Adult Community Services out to tender, with PCH deciding not to extend their contract. This follows the decision by the non-emergency patient transport provider to hand back its contact next May. The Chair spoke on Radio Cornwall expressing concern about the potential lack of integration of services in the future.

It is thought that RCHT have a plan to focus on 6-7 community hospitals to provide urgent care centres. In order to do this, funds will need to be produced by the closure of some sites in the county - there are currently 12 community hospitals, including the IoS.

Announcent today that four RCHT Directors are leaving their posts.

Changes to OOH GP Service - to be run by a new company, Cornwall Health, with shraeholders DevonDocs and Kernow Health (company set up by 69 GP practices in Cornwall). There are some concerns that the number of cars operating after midnight willbe reduced from seven to four (Penzance, Truro, Liskeard and Bodmin); and also reducing the number of OOH clinics (losing Lauceston, Newquay, Falmouth, Camborne/Redruth and Stratton). It is understood that oly 50 out of 450 GPs have so fare expressed an interest in participating in OOH.

Concerns expressed about major injuries procedures where some patients have been taken to Treliske instead of straight to Derriford. This needs clarification.

17th July 2015

7 members present

Bed requirements research

Peter is continuing to work on this, concentrating on community hospital beds, and planning to compare the geographical distribution of beds around the county

Derek Thomas

Our new MP spent 45 minutes with the committee, discussing his priorities (public health, mental health and integration), and what the challenges and barriers to integration were. We also discussed the desire to have one provider organisation and one commissioner of services; the difficulties of combining health and social services, Kernow CCG and PCH, as well as the mixed opinions about who should or might provide PCH's services from 2016.

We hope to meet with Derek again later in the year.

Bill Shields

Some members met with the new CEO of RCHT at WCH this afternoon, and an update was given to committee. Bill was cautious in what he revealed, but key points were:

DevoCornwall is at the talking stage
What happens to PCH's services is not his decision; he would be interested in RCHT becoming involved, but acknowledges that it needs to prove itself.
Missing targets is not entirely down to delayed discharges
Changes to OOHs will impact on Treliske's ED, unfortunately
He will investigate RMS procedures which frequently encourage patients to the Duchy
He is committed to SMH, but the necessary modernisation can only be funded by selling off some parts of the site
He wants to do more elective work at WCH and is in talks with consultants and anaesthetists
Dr John Andrews has been appointed as new RCHT Chair for two years. Bill would like to remain in his post, but it is not his decision
He knows all the problems with MITIE - note that 20% of staff are off sick. However, he wants to hold them to account and make them fulfil their contract
Following consultations with staff, the pathology service will be managed, not privatised, and staff are behind this

Penwith Integrated Care Forum

Interested members should contact the Chair, Jane, as soon as possible to discuss the Terms of Reference etc

Two news items

Lord Rose report on the NHS
Review in the House of Lords into moving to a 'pay-for' NHS

Speakers for next meetings

August: a domiciliary care provider
September: Steve Jenkin, CEO of PCH

19th June 2015

7 members present

Community beds research

Peter Levin was invited to discuss how he might help WCHW in his role as a researcher and statistician. He agreed to begin investigations. We also agreed to co-opt him onto the committee, and this was approved.

ECIST report

It is proving unbelievably difficult to access this document, and Graham's latest attempt will be to submit a Freedom of Information request to Kernow CCG.

Richmond House

Rob has prepared suggestions for action, including speaking with service users, facilitating a meeting with Sandra Miles to cover issues so far not addressed, and write to Colin Quick with questions following from our meeting earlier in the year

Task and Finish Group

Concerns were expressed over the way in which a group of two PPG members, with three staff from Kernow CCG, were tasked with preparing the Terms of Reference for the proposed Integrated Care Forum which is to replace the Poltair Stakeholders Group. Rachel Murray will be contacted.

Reports

WCH Community Forum - ongoing concerns over

opthalmology follow-up which has to be at Treliske because of capacity issues at WCH
Fracture Clinics similarly at Treliske because of staffing issues
Breaches and 111 calls being wrongly sent to Treliske
UCC refurbishment put on hold due to lack of finance
Chemotherapy bys starting in July, offering treatment every Tuesday
MITIE ongoing issues

RCHT - discussions with CPFT, Shadow Governors to be 'paused' until Trust status is reapplied for

SMH - RCHT is very supportive of Hayle, and activity is up on what it was

PCH - it was agreed that we would invite Steve Jenkin to return to a meeting with us in the Autumn

CC Scrutiny - there was insufficient detail in the papers presented by Kernow CCG and PCH relating to Poltair, and Scrutiny have requested more detail. However, with no resource release into the community, it is actually a reduction in service.

Derek Thomas MP will attend our July meeting

New financial help

This is for radiotherapy patients attending Treliske daily and using a voluntary transport provider. Very few people know about this. Marn will contact Garth Davies, and prepare a press release to publicise this welcome development

15th May 2015

9 members present

Richard Somerville

We acknowledged the life and contribution of Richard Somerville, who passed away last week; a minute's silence was held.

Rob Gough was co-opted onto the committee.

RCHT

Decision taken to abort the FT application, needing to work on financial, operational and staffing issues, and needing a good CQC report. Likely timescale is 2-4 years now. Shadow Governors may need to pause.

To assist with delayed discharges, there is now a PCH official on site to assist

There are concerns about agency staff and costs.

New Chair appointment will be by TDA - clear lack of democracy here.

PCH

NHS England won't support CCGs negotiating with a non-NHS provider; PCH are in tough negotiations to CCG to extend the current contract - they have a £7m black hole, but have received a good CQC repor

NHS Kernow

Children's services decision expected after the election. CPFT need the £20m contract to survive, but there is likely to be pressure from PCH and Virgin.

CC Scrutiny

Lack of scrutiny again flagged up

SMH

Under discussion for use for other purposes. A fear that it could potentially be a target for Ramsay Health or Virgin - we sincerely hope not.

Poltair

Response from Neil Walden to our letter. Key comment: 'Your concern that there are not enough (community beds) in Penwith is one I am minded to embrace'.

Stakeholders' meeting on Wednesday morning. Main concerns and ongoing questions:

1. The costs of refurbishing the Courthouse and Bellair, and the rental costs for the Courthouse, Bellair, Sainsburys and the Leisure Centre

2. The size of the resource released by the closure of Poltair, and where that money has gone

3. How it has been possible to relocate the service and close the hospital before scrutiny at count

4. The interim nature of the relocation due to the PCH contract ending next year

The lack of any evidence so far gathered to support sommunity-based services replacing inpatient beds

Concerns have been sent to Rachel Murray at NHS Kernow.

It is proposed to transform the Poltair Stakeholder Group into a wider NHS Kernow community forum, with the possibility of a representative becoming a lay member on the Penwith Locality Board. We would support this, provided it was open and transparent, and not just a talking shop.

PPGs and a proposed 'umbrella' group

John and Marna attended. It was felt that this risks becoming a 'meeting for the sake of a meeting'

Post General Election priorities

We agreed to write to Andrew George thanking him for his considerable work for the NHS over the past 18 years; and to Derek Thomas inviting him to attend an early committee meeting for discussions

There was a round-table discussion about our role post-election, with many suggestions about the need for us to

press the patient voice
constructively criticise policies, and be more active on the streets
motivate people to try to campaign for change
use social media
look at the long game
stop creeping privatisation (we are seeing 'democracy' eg 'patient choice' - working against us!)
judge the process, ensuring its transparency
be vigilant, spotting the sneaky cuts and services disappearing
raise public awareness of what is happening
listen out for the voices of the vulnerable, and amplify them
deal with the growing tendency to consult everywhere and listen nowhere
challenge, because such challenge is unlikely to come from anywhere else
stand up for the people of West Cornwall
carry on as we always have, but become more vocal and be more visible
change the culture of marketisation; speak loudly that it's a PR con; demand to be treated seriously
examine our relationship with healthwatch cornwall, with our concern that they can't ruffle too many feathers

Some issues which need our investigation:

Poltair as a procedural mess - we owe it to the people of West Cornwall to contiue with this
Living Well - pulling back from gathering evidence from 1000
Better Care Fund - £45m being spent with no accountability or scrutiny to its effectiveness
SWAST pulling out of 111 service in Devon and Cornwall, but not Dorset, because our demands are unstainable. Who will do it if they can't? The probability of a private contractor
Non-emergency transport service (NSL) have failed 4 of 6 standards. See recent report (KIngs Fund) finding that satisfaction with privatised services is lower. We agreed to contact the media once we have the evidence to our fingertips
Mental health, social and community care - have the same issues to be addressed. 'In the community' is a location, not a technique or a solution. We need to change the culture.

17th April 2015

11 members present

Community hospitals

Grave concern over £927,000 spent on care home beds in February.

Mental health - report on meeting from Jane, Marna and Rob

Concern amongst service users at Richmond House over changes in day resource centres, and particularly access criteria for drop-in clients. Whilst Wellness Recovery Action Planning is positive, there are unresolved issues for clients. An action plan was agreed, to include making contacts nationally, setting up a small working group, and enquiring after clients who have lost their service.

RCHT

Graham reported on the Board meeting of 26th March, and the new CE Bill Shields. This year's deficit was £7m, despite a scheduled £3m surplus. The historic debt now stands at £24m, and RCHT must pay £1.6m p.a. over next 15 years, plus £1m p.a. interest and service charges.

There is much concern over the performance of MITIE, outsourcing of pathology etc, and the recent staff survey (the lowest ratings in the country).

The new CE wants to use SMH fully, but the changes may be controversial. There will across the Trust be a shake up of theatres, ring fenced and protected beds for surgery; he wishes to see overnight accommodation at the hospital for IoS patients.

Kernow CCG

Ian Chorlton is the new Chair, replacing Colin Philip. Jeffrey James is the new Public Participation Lead (although he was previously a CEO of health authorities and trusts).

Graham raised three questions with them, relating to 1) Board's commissioning intentions for adult community health services 2) the 780 patients taken off waiting lists and transferred to the private sector, at a cost of £2.5m 3) resource release from Poltair - Andrew Abbott is to present a paper at the May Stakeholder Event, but they haven't yet quantified the resources. (??) Note: we know that closing bes has saved £900,000 pa but this has not been reinvested in community services - just used to prop us PCH.

Election Hustings

It was agreed that this was an excellent evening. The collection raised £40 for funds.

Summary: All the candidates supported the trend towards integration; there was not much local context - all talked quite generally; we would have liked more public involvement in the debate.

The recordings will be put on the website.

Poltair

Continuing unease about the closure of Poltair (a substantial change) which is actively being marketed despite the OSC having not yet given a final determination.

Services are being relocated to Sainsburys, Bellair, the Courthouse and the Leisure Centre.

It was agreed to publish a press relase marking the passing of a much loved hospital.

West Cornwall Hospital Community Forum

Discussions about: MITIE - quite a positive spin on a negative situation; the chemo truck; concerns about the lack of staff grade doctors; cancelled clinics

Other business

We have not yet succeeded in tracking down the ECIST report.

Need to monitor the situation with hearing aids, with a threat that only one, not two, aids might be provided in future - against a backdrop of £43m less to come

Admission guidelines for community hospitals - to be discussed later

No response to letter sent to Colin Philip, now being sent to Neil Walden

20th March 2015

8 members present

Ed Brewer was co-opted onto the committee.

The meeting discussed the detailed arrangements for the Election Hustings taking place on April 15th.

Meetings attended:

Rob and Marna met with Colin Quick (CPFT) on 10th March

Members attended a meeting called by Andrew George

St Michaels Hayle:

Neil Walden and Peter Stokes met with Hayle Town Council. There is encouragement in that NHS Kernow have withdrawn the £75m tender for contracting out elective services which, if lost, would have been devastating for SMH; but by taking away the tendering option RCHT has lost the chance of regaining services already lost to the private sector. And NHS Kernow may remove £25m for RCHT for use in the community, which would again be a threat.

Poltair:

A further Stakeholders' meeting will be called in early May. CC OSC have nothing on their agenda about the relocation of Poltair services.

Pathology services:

Discussions about our objections to the possible outsourcing of pathology etc, despite the misgivings of GPs and unhappiness of staff. However, an 'in-house managed service proposal' is now on the table.

Noted that Somerset CCG are building a new Community Hospital.

20th February 2015

8 members present

Ongoing concerns about intermediate care on hospital discharge, and whether patients still get 6 weeks free care whilst assessments are made.

Reports were received from both the RCHT and NHS Kernow Board meetings held recently. Committee expressed concerns about how compliant both Boards were. There is particular concern about the tendering of pathology services, which NHS Kernow does not seem to be responding to, despite the impact this would have on primary care as well as the acute sector.

Out of Hours contract awarded to Cornwall Health (a new company formed from Devon Docs and Kernow Health). All 60 Cornish GP practices are shareholders of Kernow Health, and Kernow Health is a shareholder of Cornwall Health. Committee questioned a possible conflict of interest between GP commissioners commissioning a service of which they are shareholders.

St Michaels Hayle - unsatisfactory reply from George Eustice. Even with the pause of elective surgery tenders, the impact of £25m cuts to the acute budget will be very considerable, and RCHT will have to make cuts somewhere. St Michaels is not out of the woods yet.

Mergers and tenders - watching Children's Services (CPFT could lose this, even to Virgin Health), Adult Community Health Services, IT, sterile services and Pathology.

Poltair - Cornwall Council's OSC are still waiting for the evidence of right and proper relocation of services. The deadline for the move has now been pushed back to mid-April. There is still no clarity of exactly where the services will go. Meanwhile, we have lost 140 community beds in th county over the past 10 years - 51,000 bed days, and £31m pa has gone somewhere else. We have the second lowest number of beds per head of population anywhere in Europe.

Hustings event - booked for 15th April at Chapel Street Methodist Church. All six parliamentary candidates will be attending, and the chair will be Cllr Jim McKenna.

16th January 2015

11 members present

Out of Hours - awaiting news about the procurement of services.

St Michaels Hayle - continuing concern about its future, if the elective surgery contract isn't won by RCHT.

Merger plans - discussion about proposals to merge CPFT and PCH, and risks to the security of RCHT against a merger with another Trust

Tendering plans - the march of outsourcing / privatisation continues, with news of pathology and sterile services being added to the growing list with elective, childrens, adult community services, etc. The NHS has become a distributor of services rather than a provider of them.

Poltair relocation - it remains unclear exactly where Poltair's clinics and sessions will be moved to, once the building closes at the end of March. It seems a shambles to us - 'cock up or conspiracy'?

Mental Health Drop-in centres - concerns raised by a former member of staff about changes in drop-in or self-access opportunities.

Decision to hold an election health hustings prior to the General Election.

19th December 2014

9 members present

WCH Community Forum
Update from today's meeting:
There are issues with 111, including inadequate signposting to WCH
There are problems with Mitie, including their removal as staff FT members
Age UK and dementia liaison nurses working in WCH
Continued changes in leadership at RCHT; anothe full CQC inspection scheduled for April

NHS ECIST report
Still awaited - frustrating wait

OOH tendering
Grave concerns about the process

Trusts merger update
It seems that a merger between PCH and CPFT is proceeding without RCHT - not satisfactory

Poltair relocation update
Lack of progress noted, either for clinics, office staff or the Gym:
"It's like a badly run children's party…like a game of musical chairs, seats being removed one at a time until the children end up on the floor"

St Michaels Hayle
Graham, Jane and Marna gave a presentation to Hayle Town Council on 20th November - well received, and the Council very supportive of our position.

Reflections on 2015
Members asked to articulate their thoughts and priorities ready for our January meeting. We can easily become overwhelmed with the enormity of the NHS challenges to be faced.

AGM 6th March
We will invite Joy Youart (NHSK) to attend as our guest speaker.

14th November 2014

5 members present, plus Debbie Pritchard from healthwatchcornwall
The meeting was largely devoted to a discussion with Steve Jenkin, CEO of Peninsula Community Health.
Talks centred around

Activity and finances
Merger plans
Standards
Out of Hours
Relationships and integration
Poltair Next Steps

There was also some discussion about the frustrations of the Out of Hours contract, following a meeting with St Just PPG earlier in the month.

17th October 2014

10 members present

West Cornwall Hospital (update from Community Forum)
As of today there were 21 out of 53 beds considered 'delayed discharges' - 8 awaiting nursing homes, 2 awaiting community hospital beds, 3 awaiting packages of care, and 8 classified as complex discharges. Reasons given were insufficient or unsuitable residential/nursing home beds, and insufficient domiciliary care available. The national target for delayed discharges is 3.5% - today's WCH level is 40%.
Poltair clinics and offices will not be relocating to WCH on grounds of cost. Uncertainty as to where these services will goThe Urgent Care Centre needs promoting to ambulance crews, as not all know about it; and the Acute GP service needs promoting to GPs, as they don't all seem to know about it eitherPoltair Next Steps
Meeting planned for 5th November. WCHW is unhappy at the communication between 'stakeholders' and NHSK - lack of papers in advance of the meeting, lack of willingness to talk about community hospital beds, concern that evidence has not been gathered, and alternatives are not in place.

RCHT
Many more services are being put out to tender - elective, children's, and well-being. These amount to many millions of pounds per annum. If these go to the private sector from e.g. RCHT, then St Michaels is definitely at risk.
There is concern about service specification shortfalls, and possible conflicts of interest.

Out Of Hours
The service is being put out to tender, as the plans for an integrated service using existing providers has collapsed.
WCHW issued a press release, concerned at the prospect of yet another private provider, and yet more fragmentation of the service.
The 111 service will take over all OOH calls from 11 November.

Peninsula Community Health
Steve Jenkin will attend our November meeting - a chance to update from our last meeting with him in January.

26th September 2014

9 members present

Poltair Open Letter This was approved for sending, and a circulation list decided upon

PenCLAHRC Kath worked on the questions submitted, and it was agreed that we should submit three of them for consideration

Care At Home Investigations into the future of reablement services are continuing

Early supported discharge team and duplication of services We will continue to ask questions about this

Out of Hours GP service We understand that a petition from GPs has halted NHS Kernow's plans for an interim service from next year; we will write to ask what is happening here

RCHT update The Trust is heading for a deficit of £3.1m, exacerbated by agency staff costs rising - at the current rate, this year's costs should reach £7.6m. News has broken of the retirement of the Chief Executive, Lezli Boswell St Michaels - within the winter plan, evidence of this being used 'more productively', which could include step-down beds. If all elective work goes to Duchy, St Michaels will be at real risk Proposed merger of RCHT/PCH/CPFT - lack of clarity about which Trusts are likely to work together; the exclusion of RCHT would be of big concern

19th September 2014

10 members present, plus 2 guests
Speakers: Tracey Roose, Nigel Clark, Scott Bennett, Dan Rainbow

Our speakers addressed a wide range of questions about the Living Well project, around
1. Targeted cohort of patients
2. Volunteers and their management
3. Evaluation of the project so far
4. Funding, now and in the future

Committee evaluation following the discussion was
a) Living Well seems to be having a positive effect
b) We are concerned about the complexity of the evaluation
c) There is a concern that it's a substitute for paid staff
d) There needs vigilance lest the work is swamped because of expectations from Adult Social Care
e) There is concern that more will be expected of volunteers

It was agreed that we should find out Healthwatch Cornwall's statutory responsibilities for the evaluation.

Poltair Next Steps
It was agreed that we would send an Open Letter, to be widely circulated, expressing our view that the Poltair debate should be reopened in view of the pressures at Treliske

Duplication of therapy services
It was agreed that we would continue to investigate the early supported discharge team

PenCLAHRC
It was agreed that our questions should centre around the care at home / care in hospital situation, and these would be agreed next week

15th August 2014

8 members present

Poltair update Interim relocation of services plan to be agreed August with relocation by December. An assessment of future nees that will make up the new integrated community service model won't be finished until October 2015. Committee will contact Steve Jenkin and request a meeting, asking about Edward Hain at the same time. It is now understood that therapy services will be relocated to WCH, with some concerns that it will be too cramped. PenCLAHRC Independent health research initiative, seeking questions from health users RCHT update Increased staff parking charges are causing unhappiness. 95 - 100% bed capacity makes no allowance for an emergency situation. Emergency work up 10% with all work above contract paid at only 30% Concern about duplication of therapy services in outreach teams MITIE hotel services contract WCH update CT scanner now working up to 11pm. One stop visual fields clinic now running. Nurses no longer being taken from WCH to work in Treliske overnight. Farewell to committee member Sheila who is moving to Bodmin. 18th July 2014
8 members present, plus three guests.

St Michaels Hayle Town Council is concerned about the under-use of St Michaels, with one orthopaedic ward closed; and concern that once independent companies can bid for elective work, the risk to St Michaels will increase. It was recommended that Hayle Town council debate this,write to NHS Kernow, and also work with the Mayors Campaign Partnership. Save Kernow NHS A new umbrella organisation is proposed, and its founder addressed the meeting. Poltair Next Steps There are big concerns about the transfer of therapy services, perhaps to Long Rock Industrial Estate, and particularly that there are definitive plans for closing the Poltair site without definite plans for relocation of its services. Living Well It was agreed that committee would like an update from Age UK about the project Other matters 1. Our Choose and Book article was not printed in the local press 2. The tendering process for RCHT hotel services cost £100 - £200,000 3. It was agreed that we would raise the issue of unsafe Friday afternoon discharges with healthwatch cornwall, with a suggestion that these be monitored.

20th June 2014

8 members present

Choose and Book We agreed to publicise the detail of the script used by Referral Management Services when contacting patients to arrange appointments Penwith Pioneer Project We are concerned about the publicity which seems to imply that "Living Well" is going to solve all our problems, from care at home to social integration of the isolated to end of life care etc etc. A recent article in the Local Government Chronicle also implied that the PioneerProject had reduced hospital admissions by a third - a sweeping and misleading statement. We agreed to contact NHS Kernow about this. Patient Stories An example of an eleven-hour round trip to Derriford for a sick patient to fill in a form was detailed. This will be referred to healthwatch Cornwall and NHS Kernow. Poltair Next Steps Some members will be attending the meeting on 9th July, where it will be necessary to say that we are unhappy, the consultation was not satisfactory and we have grave doubts about engaging in this sort of exercise again. RCHT Hotel Services Members were very disappointed at the decision taken to award this contract to MITIE. Another example of privatisation and fragmentation of the NHS. We will ask how much the tendering process cost. St Michaels Hayle We are renewing our campaign to encourage people to "Use it or lose it". Andrew George's Private Members' Bill We agreed to recommend he chooses for the healthcare option. A pharmacy at Sainsbury's? WCHW has been asked to support this proposal, to accompany plans for a GP branch surgery at the store. After discussion it was agreed that we as an organisation could not support this, but that the surgery's Patient Participation Group would be best placed to do so. Other news 1. A Hayle Town Councillor is interested in joining the group, which would be welcomed. 2. There are suggestions that PCH may ultimately return to the NHS, perhaps with CPT. Members remain despondent at the number of pressing issues within the NHS, and the way things are going. 16th May 2014 7 members present Poltair Consultation decision: Considerable discussion and anxiety about the plan to close before alternative options have been explored. Stakeholder involvement Decision taken to continue within the Poltair discussions, and to try to work with Cornwall Council and others to progress the St Clare site option.

Edward Hain Hospital: Proceeding with its plan for a new dayroom, but this is perhaps out of kilter with future whole-Penwith planning

Penwith Pioneer: Reports that this may not be ready to go live until the end of August

HIC report on health funding: Excellent report received, and needs distributing widely

Premature discharges at RCHT: Reports lead us to want to hear patient stories - plans to ask for these on the website and Facebook

Pharmacy4U: Predatory company targetting patients in mailshots, to transfer their prescription deliveries to a company in Leeds

Night-time ambulances at Derriford: Real concern about the lack of night access, particularly given Derriford's role as the Major Trauma Centre, and its future possible role as our A&E

Members ended the meeting in some despondency over the number of issues of concern at the moment.

11th April 2014

6 members present

St Michaels Hospital Hayle: further concerns expressed about its under-occupancy and the threat to its future.
Frailty Unit at RCH: concerns about its future.
Choose and Book service: is it operating as it should? Further evidence that the nearest appointment is not always offered, and patients are perhaps being encouraged to travel further away from home.
Penwith Pioneer: Living Well - further concerns that this may not work as predicted.
Poltair Consultation: the result is expected in May. There is a concern that the St Clare site may not be developed as we hope, because the three GP practices want it in place of Bellair.
West Cornwall Hospital: very good CQC report. Issues raised about the future of the rapid access eldercare clinic and the dementia liaison nurse.
RCHT: we do not support RCHT's thoughts of outsourcing hotel services.
NHS dentistry: reports of the loss of further dental practices in Penzance.
Kings Fund report on health and social care: this needs careful analysis.
PCH: private Board meetings, and financial insecurities.

28th March 2014 (AGM)

30 people attended the annual meeting. Guest speaker Jim McKenna spoke about the role of overview and scrutiny in Health and Social Care at County Hall. There was considerable discussion about the future of Poltair and its services, along with a range of other local health issues. The new committee for 2014-2015 was elected. Terry Murray was thanked for his work over many years as Chair, handing over to Jane Varker. Retiring members Ailsa Johnson, Oliver Angove and Chris Nicholas were thanked for their service.

21st March 2014

Tracey Roose, Chief Executive of Age UK Cornwall, attended to discuss the plans for the Penwith Pioneer Project. This will enable staff in health and social care to work together to transform 1000 lives,offering independence and enhanced quality of life, using volunteers. The committee expressed concerns about the availability and ability of voluntary staff to deliver the levels of support required, and had questions about accountability and safeguarding.

17 January 2014

11 members present.

Steve Jenkin, CEO of PCH, was welcomed. There were two main areas for discussion:
1. the role of community hospital beds within Cornwall's intermediate care framework
2. the plans PCH have to link up with the voluntary sector and provide services to the people of Cornwall
There was wide-ranging and frank discussion ranging from bed occupancy, length of stay, domiciliary care, PCH as an organisation, future plannkng, the role of volunteers, and specific West Cornwall issues.

The meeting later finalised its response to be submitted to the Poltair Consultation.

Arrangements were also agreed for the AGM, to be held on 28th March, with Jim McKenna as guest speaker.

The CQC inspection of RCHT was highighted.

Concern was expressed about our old website domain, which has been adopted by a healthcare organisation in Camden!

20 December 2013

11 members present.

Poltair update:
Members reported on consultation events in Penzance and St Just, where most people attending seemed to hold broadly similar views to our own. It was agreed that we would submit a response to the consultation. Members then offered a long list of points to be included in our response.

Meeting with Steve Jenkin:
Members were encouraged that Steve Jenkin, CEO of Peninsula Community Health, has agreed to attend next month's meeting. A subgroup will meet to agree the areas for discussion.

Newquay Pathfinder Project:
Jan will investigate what evaluation has been done on this

Concern was expressed about the growing dependence on volunteers to deliver health care and services.

15 November 2013

6 members present.

Poltair Hospital and the forthcoming consultation:
Peninsula Community Health's charity leaflet omitted three hospitals from its map - Poltair, Edward Hain and Fowey - and there are concerns that this may be an inadvertent betrayal of future intent, although this has been denied.
We remain concerned that there are inadequate numbers of community beds, particularly in the west, even including Poltair's beds. We are also very uneasy at the prospect of private nursing home beds being used in place of NHS community hospital beds.
We understand that Peninsula Community Health has an underspend of 25% on its community hospital beds. Our feeling is that we need more beds, particularly with the onset of winter pressures.
Future plans for A&E:
Recent announcements of government plans to reduce major A&E centres in England are a cause of great alarm to west Cornwall, since such implementation would in all probability see A&E cases taken to Derriford rather than Treliske. This is already happening with major trauma, and the impact on the ambulance service, the families, and particularly the patient of such a long journey, is hugely worrying. However, it has been stated that there will be no exceptions for rurality, and any A&E centre must support a 800,000 population base.
If these plans develop, we shall need to campaign vigorously on behalf of west Cornwall.
Richmond House cut in hours:
This was highlighted, and enquiries will be made.

18 October 2013

8 members present.

Matthew Boulter briefed us on plans for a new integrated health project in Penwith, bearing similarities to the Newquay Pathfinder Project, which arises from NHS Kernow's Pioneer status. This will see the voluntary sector (principally Age UK), health and social care sectors working together to help mainly elderly people to improve their lives. Whilst welcoming the project, we have concerns about depending on the voluntary sector for health and social care.

Margaret Abban from 'healthwatch cornwall' briefed the committee on this new statutory organisation, which has led on from LINk. West Cornwall HealthWatch hopes to be able to work with healthwatch cornwall in raising and tackling issues which are brought to our attention.