North Somerset Council

REPORT TO THE Health OVERVIEW & Scrutiny Panel

Date of Meeting: 5th January 2006

Subject of Report: Patient Care at the Bristol Royal Infirmary

Town or parish: All

Officer/Member presenting: Debi Kinghorn - Scrutiny & Performance Officer

Key Decision: No

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Panel consider the attached performance report and the views of the United Bristol Hospitals Patient and Public Involvement Forum and decide whether they would wish to further investigate Patient Care at the Bristol Royal Infirmary at this current time.

1. Summary of Report

The report and appendix briefly sets out information to enable you to decide whether you would like to investigate this issue further.

2. Policy

Relates to aims in the Corporate Plan and Community Strategy – Enhancing Health & Wellbeing.

3. Details

The Panel recently agreed that they would wish to make initial enquiries in relation to Patient Care at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. The Panel have not previously had an opportunity to do so, but recognise that a significant number of residents from North Somerset attend the United Bristol Healthcare Trust hospitals. Therefore, please find attached a copy of the Trust’s most recent performance report from December 2005 for your information.

In addition representatives from the United Bristol Hospitals PPI Forum have agreed to attend the Panel meeting to share with you their experiences of the Trust and in particular Patient Care at the BRI.

The Patient and Public Involvement Forum Members are trained volunteers who sit on forums and monitor and review their local healthcare services. They are supported by independent organisations and report the views of patients and communities to their local healthcare trust boards. They do not deal with individual complaints (which is dealt with through the Patient Advice and Liaison service and ICAS), but they do have the power investigate and to inspect services.

You may wish following this discussion to follow up any issues, if appropriate jointly, using your complementary roles?

4. Consultation

At this early stage, Panel Members are just seeking the views of the UBHT Patient’s Forum. If the Panel wish to investigate further you may wish to invite representatives from the United Bristol Healthcare Trust itself in to discuss particular aspects in more detail.

5. Financial Implications

N/A

6. Equality Implications

The Panel are seeking to ensure that all people have access to quality healthcare services through the NHS.

7. Corporate Implications

N/A

8. Options considered

N/A

Author

Debi Kinghorn – Scrutiny and Performance Officer

Email: Debi.kinghorn@n-somerset.gov.uk

Telephone: 01934 634862

Background Papers

See Appendix one.