A welcome to St Bede’s Community Centre and Chapel an extended welcome to Steve Mansfield the Vicar at St Bede’s. 

The Chair, Councillor Denise Roberts also welcomed forum members and 31 members of the public to the Bidston & Claughton Area Forum.

A loop system was installed for anyone with a hearing impairment. 

The minutes of the Area Forum meeting of 2 February 2010 were agreed a true record.

Matters Arising

Item 3 – referred to 2 public houses on the Beechwood area.  One of these has since reopened, however the other had a recent fire and a query was raised about what was happening about this.  Councillor Smith confirmed that a series of actions had been taken, the most recent being an order for demolition, against which the owner of the premises has now appealed.

Minute Decision

Resolved that:  Minutes of the Forum held on 2 February 2010 be agreed.

NHS Wirral – Dr Abhi Mantgani

A full update was given on page 15 of the Forum papers.  Dr Mantangi drew attention to the following activities:

A new drop in services for patients suffering from neurological/mental health conditions and their families at Parkfield Medical Centre.  Contact GP practice for more details.

Health Trainers – would be attached to practices in the most challenged areas for people at high risk, to get support to change lifestyle.  Support would be provided on a 1:1 basis. 

Have Your Say – encouraging patients and the public to provide feedback on GPs, hospital and community services and to help improve services.

Listen Up – radio programme and phone in on 7 Waves Radio.

Patient Participation Groups – encouraging to have a say on how services are delivered.  Contact GP practices or NHS Wirral if interested in joining a group.

Birkenhead Medical Building – now open and was a fantastic facility.  It would include a Minor Injuries Centre, specialist services such as podiatry, physiotherapy and also hoped that Social Services would have an input. 

Woodchurch Road Surgery – would be relocating to a new building in Townfield Close, Noctorum and able to offer improved health services in the area.

Leasowe Medical Centre – this centre has closed.  Anyone having any difficulty registering with a GP practice should contact NHS Wirral.

Q - What is the point of having a Walk In when not able to see a doctor?

A - Walk In Centres are generally nurse-led.  We try to reduce the number of people going to Accident and Emergency with minor injuries so they can be treated at Walk In Centres. 

Q - Expectation was that would see a doctor.

A - If that impression was given, this is incorrect so would feed that back to ensure that staff explain this to patients when they arrive

Wirral University Teaching Hospital – Director David Rowlands

A full update was given on page 20 of Forum papers.  David Rowlands drew the Forum’s attention to the following:

Translated locally, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is required to make efficiency savings in the order of £14.3 million in 2010/11, with further, similar levels of savings being required in the foreseeable future.

Planned improvements – 12 bed Heart Assessment Unit, creation of new Haematology Day Unit, development of a new Respiratory Lab, new TIA (“mini stoke”) clinic to be established to enhance provision of services for stroke patients.

Capital Investment – continuing with the £30million, 3 year development programme at Arrowe Park Hospital.  This includes an £11.5million investment to provide a dedicated Woman and Children’s Hospital, bringing together all acute hospital services for women and children.

Childrens Outpatient Department – this opened at end of 2009, with a new ‘Ronald McDonald House’ facility to benefit families who need to stay close to their sick children.

New Surgical Elective Admissions Lounge (SEAL) – opened to patients on 24 May. 

Infection Control – putting measures in to reduce infection  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Covered under each of the partner updates.

Ø  Introduction to You Decide

Ø  Q&A session

Ø  Resident participation & involvement in allocating this money

Ø  End of session & feedback

Ø  What next?

Ø  Winter resilience & Integrated Transport Block Funding/Road Safety

John Webb gave a presentation on You Decide Funding.  Various information was available around the room, on the past years funding for the Bidston and Claughton Area Forum, voting papers, etc.

There was a £20,000 allocation to fund various projects.  Once all votes had been received, they would be collated and priorities voted for would be taken forward.

Asking you to exercise your choice and give priorities.  Think about where you want those services.  In addition, we are also asking you to look at things you would like to fund with the Integrated Transport Block Funding (ITB) which is an allocation of £18,200 including a further £5,000 for additional grit bins in your local area where there is a need.

Q – looking at the list for last year, why was Grange Road Sports Centre not on the list.  It is a centre in need of updating and funding.

A – Michelle would go back and speak to Mike Withy (Youth & Sport) and feedback to forum members and member of public.

Q – can you present an idea which doesn’t fall into category?

A – the idea is try and get as much information as possible.  Need a mechanism where people representing a wider group can go back and have a discussion with those people as well.  Please forward any other ideas in to Michelle.  We want to be as representative as possible. Deadline will be the end of June 2010.

Q – do you know numbers of CCTV cameras?

A – these were for areas which were vulnerable, more about general situation rather than individual surveillance.

Q – Date of end of consultation? 

A – After last Area Forum on 23 June.  Cards have been given out at shops, colleges, schools, etc and on the website and internet.

Tonight was the launch of this opportunity to give people the power to spend money on real issues.

Q – issue about motorbikes on Bidston Rise.  Are you going to continue with initiatives around stolen bikes or was it a one off?

A – Will continue after the summer.

Councillor Foulkes referred to the ITB funding and said that if anyone could recollect any particular areas during the winter that would benefit from grit bins, they could consider putting that forward.

John Webb referred to a note he had received informing of a consultation about the proposals for Merseyside and Halton Waste Plan.  An event was being planned next Wednesday, 16 June at Wallasey Town at 6.00 for the presentation (5.00 for anyone to look at proposals).  This was an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Ø  Wednesday 13^th October 2010 -  to be hosted in the Bidston Ward, venue to be confirmed

The Chair thanked people for attending and St Bede’s Community and Chapel for the use of the venue. 

The next Area Forum would take place on Wednesday 13^th October in the Bidston area.