(a)   a single multidisciplinary team would operate for patients within the peninsula across Plymouth Hospitals and Royal Devon and Exeter sites;

(b)   the multidisciplinary team would be responsible for agreeing an appropriate treatment regime for individual patients which would include decisions on which hospital site would be appropriate for surgery if required;

(c)    sarcoma diagnosis and treatment will continue to be provided by clinicians who specialise in soft tissue sarcoma.

(1)   the results of the programme of public and patient engagement would be shared with members of the panel;

(2)   the panel noted the proposed approach to providing soft tissue sarcoma services;

(3)   the panel noted the involvement of patients, clinicians and the public in the process;

(4)   the panel noted the improved quality and safety of the service that the model would deliver over time.

(a)   the dementia quality mark was an accreditation for care homes in the city. To qualify care homes had to satisfy clear standards. Following an application process a panel visited the homes to ensure the information provided was correct. The mark was highlighted on the online directory and would be reviewed the annually. Plymouth University had been approached to evaluate the project and their report would be shared at a future meeting of the panel;

(b)   the focus on the reduction in the prescription of anti psychotic drugs was the result of a national focus;

(c)    through master classes General Practitioners would be supported to correctly assess and report dementia patients, this issue was part of the work stream on early diagnosis;

(d)   carer and service user representation on the board would be considered and would be actioned in consultation with the Plymouth LINk.

(1)   following a proposed review of the hospital discharge process for patients suffering from dementia the panel is updated on findings and proposals for changes at a future panel meeting;

(2)   the ambition to be the south west leader in dementia support would be added to the dementia strategy;

(1)   progress on the appointment of a service or user representative to the core group would be reported to a future meeting of the panel.

(a)   a review of the evidence relating to older people’s mental health was undertaken in the summer of 2011. The review highlighted the significant and increasing issues in older people’s mental health, including dementia, and commissioners had requested that providers confirm how they would redirect resources to reflect increasing demand;

(b)   there would be a reduction in bed numbers which would be supported by work to stop people being admitted unnecessarily and improvements to discharge.  The inpatient units at Plympton would relocate onto a single site at Mount Gould alongside community staff. Initially there would be a reduction in beds from 18 beds per ward to 15 beds per ward;

(c)    the changes to inpatient services would be supported by two clear functional and dementia pathways involving inpatients and community teams working in an improved model of service delivery;

(d)   a lean and efficient Memory Service would be further developed including a reduction in waiting time and caseload.  The service would move towards a time limited period of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and post diagnostic support. There would be a six month follow up appointment for patients prior to discharge back to GP. Difficulties encountered by patients and carers would be assessed by support from the dementia community team and the patient reintegrated into active mental health care at a level appropriate to care need.  It was believed that this would reduce the current caseload by approximately 33 per cent.

(e)   following an extensive review it was found that 18 inpatient beds were no longer required and the reduction in beds would be supported by robust community teams across localities;

(f)     Edgcumbe ward at Mount Gould Hospital would be redesigned to accommodate the dementia group. Equipment such as sensory mattresses would be procured and directives on single sex accommodation would be adhered to;

(g)   the Memory Service would assess a patient within four weeks following referral. The Memory Service carried out assessments in the patient’s own home and could make further referrals to social care. There was currently an 18 week wait for a consultant review.

(h)   sensory mattresses were being procured as cot sides were not appropriate for dementia patients;

(i)     there were three substantive consultant posts which were filled and making good progress against targets;

(a)   there was a developing problem of alcohol related dementia, plans to tackle the problem would be developed through partners and work was ongoing.

(1)   the city council and partners would develop an approach to communicating key dementia support messages to their staff and a progress report would be provided at a future meeting of the panel;

(2)   the cross agency work on alcohol related dementia was to be welcomed and the outcome of the work was expected to be reflected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

(a)   the current car park contract had been in place for 15 years. PHNT had been in the process of renegotiating the contract and making changes to address issues that had been highlighted by consultees including the Plymouth LINk;

(b)   as a result of changes to the contract there would be a net increase in spaces and disabled bays with a more robust approach to car park management including changes to signage, permits and access control;

(c)    to support the changes the trust planned to increase the use of staff park and ride schemes;

(d)   parking proposals included a visible parking officer, increased advertising of concessionary rates and pay on foot where visitors to the hospital would make payments on exit. In order to achieve this there would be an increased number of automatic barriers in the car parks.

(e)   the new contract would commence on the 1 January 2012 and would last seven to ten years. The new multi-storey car park would form part of the car parking solution at Derriford;

(f)     the trust had been working hard to bring improvements whilst keeping car parking charges at current levels. To achieve this the current period of 45 minutes of free drop off time would be reduced to 15 minutes;

(g)   the trust had consulted the disabled users forum on whether charges for disabled parking would be acceptable, in response the forum had stated that it would not object to charges for disabled users if the charges reflected increased and appropriate provision for disabled visitors.

(h)   the free drop off period was not intended to be used as a period of free parking for all visitors to the hospital and had been heavily abused. The trust were balancing costs and the reduction in the free drop off period would ensure that fund were not diverted to parking from frontline service provision;

(i)     the changes to the lay out of the car park, along with greater access control and pick up / set down points at key access points to the hospital would ensure that the collection / drop off of patients would be possible in the 15 minute timescale

(j)     the new contract included clauses which ensure issues around performance and changes would be tackled in partnership between the trust and the successful bidder;

(k)    the multi-storey car park would be completed in 2013.

(1)   the panel recommends to the cabinet member for transport that the facilities at the Derriford Hospital bus interchange are upgraded to include an increased number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.