MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY
8TH MAY 2012 AT 5.00 PM
1. PRESENT:
Sir James Sharples - Chairman (Chair)
Mr M Hogg
Mr T Bateman
Mrs E Bott
Mr R Howells
Mrs P Clare
Mr A Moore
Mr G Donaldson
Mrs S Elphick
Mr S France
Mr M Hemmerdinger – Deputy Chairman
Miss S Kettle
Mr B Harrison
Dr R Nelson
Mrs E Hornsby
Mr B Ravenscroft
Professor D Marriss
Cllr A McKie
Mr G Potter
Mrs S Sheldon
Mr S Skyrme
Mr R Taylor
Mrs M King
Ms F Parry
Mrs L Freeman
Mr A Rhodes
Mr K Broadbent
Mr W Kirk
Miss A Chakraborti
Miss A Bos
Mr A Speed
Mr P Herring, Chief Executive
Mrs D O’Neill, Director of Finance
Dr V Clough, Medical Director
Mrs G Hales, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of
Nursing, Quality & Environment
Mr T Lynch, Director of Operational Services
Mrs S Young, Director of Human Resources
Mr S P Cross, Solicitor and Foundation Trust Secretary
Mrs S Dixon, Non Executive Director
Mr A Findlay, Non Executive Director
Mr A Higgins, Non Executive Director
Mrs R Hopwood, Non Executive Director
Mrs L Carstensen, Non Executive Director
Attendance
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Mrs C Raggett – Secretary to the Board
In Attendance:
Dr Chris Green – Director of Pharmacy
2.
TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION
PHARMACY DEVELOPMENT
ON
EPRESCRIBING
AND
Dr Chris Green gave a presentation on E-prescribing and the benefits for
the Trust.
Mr Taylor asked about the measures in place to ensure that if a member of
staff left the prescribing screen on. Dr Green replied that the system had
an automatic time out and if a member of staff was authorising a patient
prescription, the system would require the user to re-enter their log in
details.
Mrs Hornsby asked if the e-prescribing had improved the wait for some
patients in the discharge lounge. Dr Green stated that in the short term it
may have delayed discharge slightly but in the long term would speed up
the discharge process.
Mr Harrison thanked Dr Green for the information and asked how the
information on the eprescribing system was shared with other Trusts. Dr
Green replied that if a patient moves to another Trust a full print out of their
medication would be provided to the other Trust.
Mrs Sheldon asked about the training for locum doctors. Dr Green stated
that a power point presentation (computer based learning) for new and
locum doctors had been developed so that doctors can sit and learn the
system. This was also available on the Trust’s intranet if a doctor needed
to refresh themselves on the system.
Mr Findlay thanked Dr Green for his presentation. He thanked also Dr
Green and his team for their important work in improving efficiency and
more importantly the quality of patient care.
3.
APOLOGIES
Apologies were noted as recorded.
4.
DECLARATION OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
5.
TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS’ MEETING HELD ON 6TH MARCH 2012
The minutes of the Board of Governors’ meeting held on 6th March 2012
were agreed as a correct record.
6.
TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS HELD ON 7TH FEBRUARY 2012 AND 6TH
MARCH 2012
The Board of Governors received and noted the Board of Directors’
minutes of the meeting held on 7th February 2012 and 6th March 2012.
7.
CHAIRMAN’S BUSINESS
There was no Chairman’s business raised.
Mr Hemmerdinger stated that as this meeting was the last Board of
Governors meeting that Dr Clough, Medical Director would be attending.
He expressed his thanks on behalf of the Governors to Dr Clough for her
hard work and support of the Governors.
Dr Clough thanked Mr Hemmerdinger and the Board of Governors.
8.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S BUSINESS
Mr Herring reported on the industrial action which was due to place on 10th
May 2012 by the Unite union. He stated that there were contingency plans
in place and that no clinical activities would be cancelled.
Mr Herring was pleased to inform he Board that the Trust had been
awarded the CHKS Top 40 Hospitals award for the 12th consecutive year,
one of only 5 trust in the country to achieve this.
9.
TO RECEIVE A REPORT OF PERFORMANCE FOR 2011/12
Mrs O’Neill presented the report of performance for 2011/12.
(Slides attached)
Mrs O’Neill reported that finance indicators were green across all areas
and that the Trust entered 2012/13 in a strong position. The Trust had
scored amber around the cancer 31 day target but that following a review
of the data quality this would be scored as green. She confirmed that the
Trust remains at a Monitor Risk Rating of 3.
Mrs O’Neill gave an update on the Cost Reduction Strategy which had
been achieved for the year.
Mrs O’Neill stated that the Western Cheshire PCT and Betsi Cadwaladr
contracts were continuing to over-perform. She stated that the contract
with the Clinical Commissioning Group had been signed off and that the
Trust expected to sign off the contract with Betsi Cadwaladr in the next few
weeks.
Mrs O’Neill reported that the Trust had not achieved the national CQUIN
around Delivering Same Sex Accomodation (DSSA). This was due to
increased emergency admissions in the Emergency Department but that
should be resolved in the next month as partitions were being installed to
provide further privacy for patients.
Mr Hemmerdinger stated that he recently seen an article from Monitor
which stated that Monitor felt Trusts would need to save 6.65%, and asked
if Mrs O’Neill felt that the Countess would need to save this much. Mrs
O’Neill replied that this figure was taken into account but that Trust would
take steps to mitigate the level of savings required which would mean the
Trust would need to save approximately 0.5% less than the figure stated
by Monitor.
Mr Taylor asked if Mrs O’Neill felt that the Trust would get criticised as it
had in the past for the over-activity within the Emergency Department.
Mrs O’Neill replied that the problems were due to the high demand
attending the Emergency Department and that measures put in place with
primary care were being factored into the Trust’s annual plan.
Mr Findlay thanked Mrs O’Neill for her presentation.
10.
TO RECEIVE A VERBAL UPDATE ON THE STANDARDS AT
ELLESMERE PORT HOSPITAL
Mrs Hales reported on the standards at Ellesmere Port Hospital following
an early warning indicator that there was a slight increase in complaints.
Mrs Hales, Mrs Swanton, Manager at Ellesmere Port and her team had
reviewed the standards at the hospital to see if there were any trends that
may be identified. The review had started prior to the recent press report
from a patient.
Mrs Hales had visited patients on the wards at Ellesmere Port Hospital
and found that patients were happy with the care they were receiving,
although the review did show that there was a concern regarding the
attitude of a small number of the health care assistants in a particular
ward. An action plan is now in place and improvements had been made.
11.
TO DISCUSS THE GOVERNORS RESPONSE TO THE QUALITY
ACCOUNT
Mr Hemmerdinger outlined the requirement for the Governors to provide a
500 word statement to be included in the Quality Account 2011/12. He
stated that following the recent ward visits by members of the Governors
Quality Forum some very useful comments had been given by patients
and staff. He asked the governors involved in the Governors Quality
Forum ward visits read the draft Quality Account and provide feedback to
Mrs Raggett, a response would then be collated by Mr Broadbent.
12.
REPORT OF THE FOUNDATION TRUST SECRETARY
The Foundation Trust Secretary, Mr Cross reported on the following:
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Mr Cross asked Governors to nominate a fellow Governor for the
Trust’s Governor of the Year Award. This would then be presented at
the Celebration of Achievement awards on 13th July 2012 to which
Governors were invited.
Mr Cross reported that a paper regarding the Health and Social Care
Bill would be presented to Governors at a future meeting for
discussion.
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Mr Cross reported that the FTGA were seeking nominations from the
Trust for Governors to join their Board. If any Governors were
interested in being nominated, please let Mrs Raggett know by 10 th
June 2012.
Mr Hemmerdinger reported that he had been invited to a meeting with
Cheshire West and Chester Council regarding Health Watch and the way
forward. He would report back following the meeting to a Strategy and
General Purposes meeting.
Mr Cross thanked Governors for their contribution to the Trust and their
engagement with the membership.
12.
GOVERNORS’ FEEDBACK SESSION ON INTELLIGENCE RECEIVED
FROM MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC ON SERVICES PROVIDED BY
THE COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Mr Harrison asked about the repatriation of patients to Wales and that as
Chair of the Older Persons Group in Flintshire he would raise the issue
with Welsh Assembly ministers. He stated that older people who are used
to attending the Countess were concerned about the changes. Mr Herring
stated that he would discuss the issue of repatriation in contract
negotiations with Betsi Cadwaladr Trust.
Mr Cross encouraged Governors to gain feedback from members and
patients and send it to him on an on-going basis or during this standing
agenda item at every Board of Governors meeting.
13.
DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday, 3rd July 2012 at 5.00pm – Lecture Hall, Education and Training
Centre.