dmr0409

District Member's Report for Guild Council Meeting 23.9.2004

Glasgow & West of Scotland Group Meetings
Staffing
Proposed Hospital Changes
Local activity on Agenda For Change
Conferences
Membership

Glasgow & West of Scotland Group Meetings
The Annual General meeting was held on July 28th and was followed by a syllabus meeting to decided on the meetings for 2004/5. The first meeting was held on September 2nd and was the ten-pin bowling competition won by Hairmyres Hospital …..again. Pictures of all the teams and of the event are here.

Staffing
The financial deficits in many Health Boards have led to various vacancy management schemes slowing recruitment.

Proposed Hospital Changes
There has been significant political pressure put on MPs and MSPs over the past few months on the subject of reorganisation of health services. Falkirk Royal Infirmary has lost it’s A&E department, with patients being sent to Stirling Royal Infirmary instead. Most of the rest of the proposals from around Scotland are with the Health Minister for approval. Pressure from within and without the Labour Party is being exerted on the Minister to delay any further changes until the publication of a review of health service reorganisation being carried out by Professor David Kerr.

Local activity on Agenda For Change
NHS Greater Glasgow has again asked trade unions for staff side volunteers for matching panels. It appears staff reps are proving reluctant to get involved.

The unsocial hours changes in the new proposals have meant that members are trying to see if any local unsocial hours agreements exist in their area. Issues around a variation order which fails to recognise public holidays are causing concern at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital. This will expire on 1st December 2004 and is to be discussed by the partnership forum.

Mrs Margaret Maskrey is now the lead rep for AfC within Argyll & Clyde primary care division.

Many areas have now started to try to update job descriptions. It seems that a plethora of advice on writing job descriptions has suddenly appeared. Most are much the same with only a few variances, but one or two appear quite different. It is hoped that the GHP advice in preparation is published soon.

Golden Jubilee National Hospital is to establish a directorate of clinical services covering all non-medical and nursing clinical services and this would include pharmacy.

Conferences
I was contacted by Glasgow Tourist Board and asked if the GHP International Committee could support any future bids by the city to host the EAHP meetings.

Membership
I have processed around 9 new membership forms since the last meeting. Agenda for Change is still motivating many to invest in GHP membership!

Colin Rodden
17 September 2004