Ann Creighton: Written responses will be provided to 2 written questions received at the next meeting on 25 March.
Anne Milstead: Firstly, may put on public record, and thank Dr Mike Robinson for having the courage to admit that he did not engage with people in New Addington about the removal of contraceptive services. And I do not wish that to be seen as rubbing it in at all by making this comment.
Would that that honesty were more prevalent.
Paula Swann and the CCG have given a presentation today about commissioning and co-commissioning with South West London CCGs and NHS England.
The 2012 Health and Social Care Act says:
"the second duty places a requirement on CCGs and NHS England to ensure public involvement and consultation in commissioning processes and decisions i.e. planning of commissioning arrangements, which might include consideration of alteration of services, and needs assessments and and service specification".
And "CCGs must make arrangements to secure that individuals to whom the services are being or may be provided are involved:
one) in the planning of the commissioning arrangements
two) in the development and consideration by the group for changes in the commissioning arrangements".
My question therefore is in three parts:
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the CCG has mentioned HealthWatch and Health and Well-being Board but where is the public involvement in the commissioning model?
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Mr Ashtaq Arain has already this afternoon mentioned a lack of consultation with faith groups.
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I have mentioned lack of engagement with public on numerous occasions but the answer I get is that rthe CCG is a "new organisation" but you have been operating for two years now, in shadow form before that and in the PCT before that, so that's no excuse, especially when this duty was also in the 2009 Legislation.
So when are commissioners in CCG and Local Authroity going to get the message and do public involvement properly?
Maggie Mansell: Hope PPGs involved with GP practices. All commissioners try to target specific user groups. Healthwatch and PPGs should be involved in commissioning.
Agnelo Fernandes: Made some start - not easy to engage everyone. Started developing dialogue with GPs. Whole host of other people. Healthwatch invited to GP forums. Always can be more engagement. Either referendum on everything or else try to engage as many groups as possible. Engagement about how to do it effectively.
Paula Swann: Room for improvement. Next governing body - have section on agenda about engagement. Share much more widely.
Vanessa Hosford: Engagement - with whom and what about? Healthwatch trying to get broader cross-section.
Peter Howard: Staffing at CUH - Do staff get protection if they put in a grievance against the management of the hospital?
John Goulston: HR procedures enable any member of staff who has a grievance to raise it. Standard procedure used by all NHS organisations.
Recruitment - vacancy rates were higher - all in public domain on website. General rate is around 13% - average for NHS hospital or community trust in London. Some departments have higher rate e.g. A&E around 20% vacancy rate.
Maggie Mansell: Barrier to recruitment because Croydon is just outside barrier for London weighting. Failure of workforce planning organisation of NHS to plan for needs.