With effect from 1st April 2009 the responsibilities of the Eastern Health and Social Services Council have transferred to the new Patient Client Council. This web site will continue to be available for a short period as part of the transitional arrangements but please refer to the new organisation web site for up to date information www.patientclientcouncil.hscni.net. During this time the existing contact details will remain.

Eastern Health and Social Services Council - Annual Report 2004/05


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Annual Report 2004/2005

 

Annual Review 2004/05

Highlights of the year at the Eastern Health & Social Services Council
Contents:
Role Of The Health And Social Services Councils
It's Your Council
How To Contact The Council
Chair's Statement
Complaints
Council Meetings
Joint Council Meeting
Monitoring
Proposed Dates For Forthcoming Council Meetings
Financial Statement
Publications

Role Of The Health And Social Services Council

The role of the Health and Social Services Councils is to represent the interests of the public in the planing and delivery of health care and social services in Northern Ireland.

We give the public a chance to influence decisions that affect them. Some of our activities include:

- Providing information on health care and social services
- Offering advice and information to people who wish to complain
- Monitoring the level of local services
- Working with local groups to ensure their opinions are heard
- Acting for the public to improve the range, type and quality of services
- Representing the public in health and social care consultations

It's Your Council

In seeking to give you a voice in Health and Social Services the Eastern Health and Social Services Council tries to engage people in a variety of ways. The Council's offices are open Monday to Friday. Any member of the public is welcome to visit for advice or support on any aspect of health and social services. The Council also has a Free Phone number (0800 9170 222) and a website. Last year over 800 people contacted the Council for help and over 22,000 visited its website (www.ehssc.org). Please contact us if you wish to use our services, express a view on health and social services affecting you or just find out more about the Council.

How To Contact The Council


Free Phone 0800 9170 222

Website: www.ehssc.org

Chair's Statement

My first full year as Chair of the Council has seen changes both in our membership and in staffing. In March Richard Dixon joined us as our Chief Officer. Richard comes to us at a time of great challenge and change for the Council and we offer him a warm welcome and our support.

In April we bade farewell to Jane Graham. As our Chief Officer, Jane had a real passion for her work and cared deeply about a wide variety of issues and the people they affected. Personally I feel privileged to have worked with Jane in her last year with the Council and wish her well on her return to Canada.

Patricia McMillan

Complaints

One of Council's main roles is to provide advice, support and assistance to people who wish to complain about any aspect of health or social services. Our help ranges from providing information to people on how to make a complaint, to accompanying them to meetings and ensuring that their concerns are heard. This year we have provided assistance to over 200 people. Many of the complaints in which the Council is involved are extremely complex in nature, and some take years to resolve.

Council Meetings

The Council holds eleven public meetings every year. The meetings are held in different venues and any member of the public is welcome to attend.

Member
Scheduled Meetings
Actual Attendance
..
Member
Scheduled Meetings
Actual Attendance
Mrs E Askham
11
2
Cllr Mrs N Long
11
3
Cllr Mrs E J Campbell
11
8
Mr B Marshall
11
6
Mrs B Canning
1
1
Mr J McDowell
1
1
Mr G B Compston
11
9
Mrs S McGarry
11
4
Mr B Coulter
3
3
Mrs R McGrotty
11
11
Cllr D Curran
11
5
Mr J McMahon
11
3
Cllr R A Drysdale
11
7
Miss P McMillan
11
11
Cllr G Dunne
11
5
Mr E G Monds
11
7
Mr C Graham
11
9
Cllr Ms M Moore
11
1
Mrs A E Hamilton
11
7
Mrs M Muldoon
11
7
Dr M Harriott
2
2
Mrs M Neill
4
1
Ald M Henderson
11
3
Miss M Patterson
11
10
Mr B Henry
11
4
Miss M Rooney
1
1
Mr J Hutchinson
11
8
Mr D Spence
11
6

 

Joint Council Meetings

In June 2004, Council Members participated in a joint Council Workshop held on Lusty Beg Island. This provided an opportunity for all four councils to discuss potential models and roles for future Health and Social Services Councils in Northern Ireland. As a result of the discussions members agreed on priorities for Health and Social Services Councils over the next three years and a way forward for responding to the Review of Public Administration. The Review acknowledges the importance of the public having a voice in policy development and service monitoring and Councils will respond to this consultation with a view to continuing to provide a "voice in health and social care".

Monitoring

The Council actively monitors many asects of health and social services in the Eastern Board area. In particular the unacceptable long times in accident and emergency departments when a decision has been made to admit them to hospital.

On a daily basis the Council monitors this key issue and has sought to keep it high on the agenda for the public with the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and the Department of Health and Social Services.Over time, the situation has not improved in spite of multiple initiatives to address the problems. In addition to regular reports and Council discussion, members have visited hospitals to understand the circumstances leading to long waits, and challenged the Board and Department on their plans of action.

The Council will continue to monitor this and other key issues to highlight services which do not meet people's expectations and the stated targets of organisations.

The chart below shows how many patients have had to wait more than two hours on trolleys each month prior to being given a hospital bed, since June 2000.

Proposed Dates For Forthcoming Council Meetings

If you would like to attend any of these meetings, please contact our offices and we will confirm the time and venue.

June 2005 Thursday 16th November 2005 Thursday 17th
July 2005 No meeting December 2005 Thursday 15th
August 2005 Thursday 18th January 2006 Thursday 19th
September 2005 Thursday 15th February 2006 Thursday 16th
October 2005 Thursday 20th March 2006 Thursday 16th

Financial Statement

Revenue Income and Expenditure Account for Year Ended 31 March 2005

   
2004/2005
2003/2004
INCOME  
£000
£000
Allocations
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
327
438
 
Funds transfer from previous year
40
24
 
 
Total Revenue Income
368
462
EXPENDITURE  
Salaries
189
205
Establishment expenses
25
26
Premises and fixed plant
97
182
Other expenses
13
7
Total Revenue Expenditure
324
420
Total Income Less Total expenditure
44
42

Publications
Your Guide to:
Care In The Community
Dental Services
GP Services
Hospital Services
Optician's Services
Pharmacy Services
Seeing Your Medical Records
Making A Complaint
Health And Social Services Councils
All these leaflets are available to download from the website www.ehssc.org

 


Eastern Health and Social Services Council, 1st Floor, Lesley House, 25-27 Wellington Place, Belfast, BT1 6GQ
Freephone: 0800 917 0222
Fax: (028) 9032 1750
Minicom: (028) 9032 1285

 

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