Tameside Third
Sector Coalition

 

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Tameside LINk (Local Involvement Network) has today published the report of a year’s programme of visits to Tameside Hospital, where they interviewed patients and their relatives about the care they received.

 

 

The LINk made observations and asked questions based on things that local people have told us are important to them. The LINk’s intention in setting up this structured process to assess the hospital was to provide an independent evaluation of care delivery and to demonstrate any improvements that may result. To date, the LINk has made over 40 visits to the hospital and spoken to in excess of 400 patients and their relatives.

The report shows that the hospital has clearly made improvements in relation to infection control - in terms of the provision of hand gel and the cleanliness of the ward environment. Evidence of improvement to patients feeling well cared for has also emerged although further improvement is required. The LINk still has long standing concerns about whether people always get the help they need, when they need it and about information and communication (with patients and their relatives) – these appear not to have been resolved.

Bill Burgoine, the LINk’s Chair said, ‘This report marks the end of what has been an extensive programme of work which, together with a recent CQC inspection, has highlighted issues which need to be addressed. We welcome the hospital’s commitment to put these at the heart of their Quality Strategy. We recognise that whilst we still have
serious concerns about many aspects of care, patients and their families report that they are happy with the care they have received and we have received many positive comments from patients and their families about the hard work that ward staff do. Looking ahead, the LINk hopes to improve collaboration with the hospital. We are pleased
that hospital shares this commitment and welcome the fact that their draft Quality Report includes a commitment to permanently address the issues raised by our 'Enter and View' activities. We look forward to working with the hospital to ensure that they provide good quality services which are valued by the people of Tameside.’

Reports like this give the LINk an opportunity to share patients’ and their relatives’ experiences with the hospital as well as to demonstrate to Tameside residents that we’re actively seeking to address the concerns that they raise. These Enter and View visits rely heavily on the voluntary work of local people who help us to interview patients and to
produce our reports. We must thank everyone involved for the tireless, dedicated work they put in.

 

 

                                                                    

 

 

This winter, Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group, the health body set to take over the running of NHS services in the area, will be running a local campaign as part of the ‘Choose Well’ initiative to help raise

awareness of where people should go to seek medical advice if they or a family member becomes unwell. The ‘Right

Treatment, Right Place’ campaign is designed to give people information to allow them to choose the treatment and

care that is most appropriate to their condition rather than going straight to Accident and Emergency.

 

A recent survey has highlighted that more than one out of every ten people admitted to visiting Accident and

Emergency when they knew they didn’t need to. Nationally Accident and Emergency attendance from June 2011 to May 2012 was over 17.6 million which equates to over 2 million unnecessary visits.

 

Richard Bircher, GP from Lockside Medical Centre comments: "Sometimes people visit Accident and Emergency for minor healthcare issues that could have been dealt with at home or by their GP. This is causing an increase in demand for urgent health services. We need to keep Accident and Emergency for those who need urgent attention for a serious or life threatening situation”.

 

"Home is often the best place to be when you are feeling unwell. Keeping a supply of over-the-counter medicines in

your medicine cupboard means that many common illnesses can be treated without the need for medical help. Your local pharmacist will be able to give you advice and tips to help you look after you and your family this winter.

 

"You should visit your GP if you have a condition that you or your pharmacist cannot treat or if your symptoms

persist or suddenly get much worse. If you are worried you can get medical advice by calling NHS Direct on 0845

4567or by contacting your surgery.

 

"Alternatively you can visit Ashton Primary Care Centre walk-in service which is open 8am to 8pm 365 days a year.

You do not need an appointment or be registered to receive medical assistance”.

The ‘Right Treatment Right Place’ campaign will run throughout the winter months. Posters and leaflets will be

available from all GP surgeries and pharmacies in Tameside and Glossop and via local community groups in Gamesley,

Hattersley and Ashton where specific information for parents will be distributed. The campaign will be supported by

press advertising, six sheet posters and new signage at Tameside Hospital.

 

 

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On 15 March 2012, the Department of Health announced the introduction of deadlines for individuals to request an assessment of eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, for cases during the period 1 April 2004 – 31 March 2012.

 

We are therefore asking for individuals or their representatives to notify NHS Tameside and Glossop in respect of previously un-assessed periods of time where there is evidence that they should have been assessed for eligibility for
NHS Continuing Healthcare funding. The time periods and the deadlines for notifying NHS Tameside and Glossop are as follows:

 

Time Period	Deadline
1 April 2004 – 30 September 2007	30 September 2012
1 October 2007 – 31 March 2011	30 September 2012
1 April 2011 – 31 March 2012	31 March 2013

 

The announcement of these deadlines introduces a process which will enable any individuals who should have been assessed from 1 April 2004 onwards to be identified and considered for eligibility as soon as possible, because as time passes, detailed recorded evidence of an individual’s needs for the period of time in question may no longer be available.

If you think that this affects you or a family member, then please contact Michelle Rothwell Head of Individualised Commissioning at NHS Tameside and Glossop or Julie Evans NHS Funded Care Team Manager on 01457 850520
to obtain further information on the process and to discuss this further.

 

 

 

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The LINk's newsletter keeps you updated on what progress is being made, how to get involved and health and social care information - new documents produced, changes in legislation etc.

 

 

Here is the latest  LINkNews 13

We also have recorded an audio version the LINkNews. Listen to the latest Audio LINkNews

 

 

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Do you use care and support services? Maybe you’re a carer?

The government is looking at changing the way the care and support system works. Tameside LINk ran two discussion groups to talk about improving care and support. See our Caring for our future - Tameside LINk response which was fed back to the government.

 

 

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In May 2010, over 90 people came to Ashton Town Hall to tell the LINk about their experiences of care at Tameside Hospital. The two hour event gave people a chance to share their experiences with each other and to talk about ideas for improving care.

 

Whilst some people had positive stories to tell, it was inevitable that much of the talk would be about things that people were unhappy with. We made eight key recommendations after the event. These covered: staffing, communication, information, leadership, eating and drinking, and bathing and toileting.

 

We made some follow-up ‘Enter and View’ visits to the hospital in the Winter of 2010/11 to assess what changes have happened since we made our recommendations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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