·  Streetscene 

·  Primary Care Trust

·  NHS Foundation Trust

·  Merseyside Police/Community Safety

·  Fire Service

·  Older Peoples parliament

NHS Wirral:  Martin McEwan apologised for the lack of representation by the Primary Care Trust at the last meeting. He drew attention to the launch of What? [Wirral Health and Alcohol Treatment], a campaign aimed at providing information about sensible drinking and signposting to services.

Wirral has a very high level of cardio-vascular disease compared with the rest of England, and there are vast differences in life expectancy of people who live in different parts of Wirral.  In an effort to address the problem, everyone over the age of 40 will be invited to have a health check with a GP.  People’s waist sizes are a good indicator of their propensity for cardio-vascular disease and a tape measure will be included in a guide to health services, which will be distributed to all households in the coming months.  People who have a concern do not have to wait for an invitation – they can contact their GP at any time and ask for a health check.

Swine Flu is well contained in Wirral with only one confirmed case to date.  Plans are in place to deal with an expected outbreak of swine flu in the autumn/winter.

In response to a question on the availability of Dentistry Services in Wirral, Martin McEwan stated that a major consultation exercise had taken place that resulted in the identification of ten issues that are most important to the community.  Dentistry had not been identified as a major priority for Wirral.

During a discussion on the number of private dentists operating in Wirral, a comment was made that people who live on Wirral have access to excellent dentistry services.

NHS Foundation Trust:  Alistair Bardsley explained that the pack of materials available at the meeting included a Briefing Note for Local Area Forums and News Releases on Stroke Services and on the inclusion of the Trust in the country’s top 40 performing hospital trusts for the third year in succession.

The issue of car parking charges had been raised at the last meeting.  The car park at Arrowe Park Hospital is staffed by two attendants who are on duty from 8 am to 4.30 pm, Monday to Friday.  The income generated from the car park charges is used to offset the cost of employing the attendants and the car park security that is provided.  The alternative would be to meet the costs at the expense of another service, and for that reason there are no plans to abolish car parking charges. 

Consideration has been given to increasing capacity by building a multi-storey car park but during discussion with Council officers it became apparent that the granting of planning approval for such a development would be highly unlikely. 16 additional spaces have been allocated for use by disabled patients and visitors.

Hazel Kelly, a public governor for the Trust, introduced herself.  She can be contacted via the hospital switchboard – Governors’ office.

Alistair Bardsley responded to a question from a member of the public on infection control. A microbiologist has looked at the issue and concluded that the practice of staff coming to and from work dressed in their uniforms is not a risk to patients.  Staff who deal directly with patients that are infectious change from their uniform into ‘theatre blues’.  Staff have lockers which they use for personal belongings and they have the option of changing into their own clothing to travel to and from work, but they choose not to.

Police:   Inspector Peter Kolokotroni reported that crime and antisocial behaviour continues to fall year on year.  Half of reported thefts from vehicles were due to vehicles being left in insecure vehicles with items on display.  Extra patrols, uniformed and non-uniformed, have been deployed to identify offenders in car crime areas. 

Antisocial behaviour amongst young people has dropped dramatically over recent years.  During the summer holidays, plans are in place to target parks and open spaces where children congregate and drink alcohol and cause rowdy behaviour.  Police Officers attend assemblies in secondary schools to deliver key messages to pupils about the problems associated with under-age drinking and anti-social behaviour. 

Diversionary activates for young people include organising five-a-side football matches.  Working with the Army, groups of young people are spending a week at a barracks in Staffordshire.  The initiative has been very successful so far. 

A member of the public raised the issue of the problems caused by a group of young people who congregate around Moreton Methodist Church.

Inspector Kolokotroni replied that the problem is mainly concerned with ‘free runners’.  Apart from the danger and risk of serious personal injury, the practice of jumping from one building to another causes structural damage to roofs and coping stones.  Problem solving groups, made up of people from the Local Authority, Youth Service, Police and Anti-social behaviour team, are working together to combat the problem.

Community Safety   Mike Collins explained that the Community Safety Team works closely with the Police and other partner agencies in issues ranging from dealing with ‘hot spots’ for anti social behaviour to dog fouling when people are educated to be responsible pet owners.

Fire and Rescue Service  John Davies reported that the fire services works proactively to reduce calls in the area, including anti social behaviour where young people light small fires etc.

Wallasey Fire Station is having an Open Day on 20 June between noon and 4 pm.  Members of the public will be welcome to look at the fire appliances and equipment.  Fund raising activities will be organised and the income generated will be donated to Claire House.  Everyone will be welcome.

Older People’s Parliament: People over the age of 50 are invited to become associate members of the Parliament.  Associate members have the opportunity to have their voices heard on issues that are important to them, and they are eligible for election as a Public Member. A report on the activities of the Parliament is included on pages 33/34 of the Area Co-ordinator’s report.

The next meeting of the Older People’s Parliament will be on 4 September 2009 at 11 am in Wallasey Town Hall.  A Crime & Respect event for the over 50’s will take place at St Werburgh’s Parish Centre, on Friday, 14 August 2009.

Minute Decision:

Resolved:  That Inspector Peter Kolokotronie, John Davies, Alistair Bardsley, Martin McEwan, Mike Collins and Margaret Testo be thanked for the updates.