Cabinet Member:
Councillor W. Gareth Roberts
To receive
an update on the Alltwen Scrutiny Investigation.
10.00 –
10.15 a.m.
Minutes:
a)
A report on the
investigation was presented, updating the Scrutiny Committee on the work
achieved and the work planned. The Chair of the Investigation, Councillor Linda
Ann Wyn Jones, noted that there needed to be further investigation into this
field, as it was very confusing to interpret who, and how many, received the
service. It was suggested that more time was needed to make further enquiries
to resolve this, and to ask for feedback from service users. It was proposed
that a day could be spent at Alltwen to seek input
from some of the users.
b)
It was noted that only
three members of the investigation had been present at the meeting held in May,
and it was suggested that the meeting should have been postponed due to the
number of attendees and the matters that had arisen at the Committee.
In response, it was noted that there was no quorum for
a scrutiny investigation, and it had been decided that the meeting should
proceed if three members attended. It was suggested that future dates should be
set so that they were in the members' diaries.
c)
The observation on the need
to consider the response of former patients and service users was accepted, but
that careful consideration must be given due to confidentiality and data
protection issues. It is suggested that front line officers who worked with
service users could gather this information on a face to face basis, to avoid
causing concern amongst users of being questioned for an investigation.
In response to the proposal
to spend a day at the hospital to gather feedback, it was suggested that one
person would be sufficient to do this.
ch) During the discussion, the following observations were noted
-
Examples of failures in
obtaining equipment - the need for a solution. It was noted that the process of
obtaining equipment was burdensome and that there was a need to keep the
benefit local.
-
Important to include input
from service users as part of the investigation, and that there was a system in
place to ensure this.
-
National Health Service
Staff proved a service over 24 hours a day, 7 days per week - it was noted that
Gwynedd staff didn't provide hours over weekends - need to address this
-
The Health Board's slow
progress in committing to some aspects
-
should be extended further
- extend the scheme to other areas
-
A request for the
investigation to note the age of the individuals questioned due to the
unwillingness of some older people to complain
-
Has consideration been
given to additional likely pressure on the service as a result of a decision to
leave Europe?
d)
In response to the above
observations, the Cabinet Member noted that he accepted the officers' comments.
He noted that patients appreciated the new working methods, and that it was
important to continue with the positive attitude.
dd) It was accepted that there was conflict between
establishing a new system and the old system, and that there were frustrations
involved with its extension, but that a solution must be found before moving
on. He agreed with the observation that there was a need to seek input from
service users, but that this must be undertaken in a meaningful way.
In response to a question about the budget for the
process, it was noted that funding for the Vanguard Pilot Scheme had been
received solely for the officers.
RESOLVED
-
To approve an extension to the investigation until
September 2016.
-
Councillor Linda Ann Wyn Jones would spend a day at Alltwen shadowing officers and gathering information,
before reporting back to the Investigation.
-
An arrangement was in place for the service to share
patients' comments with the investigation.
Supporting documents: