Memorandum submitted by the Calderdale PPIH Forum (LGPI 12)

 

 

FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE SELECT COMMITEE DISCUSSING THE 2ND READING OF THE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL THAT INCLUDES THE DETAILS OF THE ABOLISHMENT OF

THE PPI FORUMS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LINks.

 

You have a major dilemma on your hands with the abolishment of the ppi forums especially when

its a small insignificant few pages at the back of the local government bill.

 

Firstly you may not realize that one of the functions of the ppi forums has been to save lives

this was not intended when the ppi forums set out on this journey three years ago but save

lives they have.

 

It may be emotive but without the facility to visit and INSPECT you will be taking away the main

function of the ppi forum and producing a toothless dis-organization called LINks.

 

What do you think makes the PCTs and the TRUSTs look over their shoulders it's because the

forums are watching and inspecting all aspects of their performances.

 

I suggest you ask yourselves the question WHY does the Healthcare Commission invite

the forums to offer a critique on the PCT/TRUST performance on the Annual Health Check.

It's because the Healthcare Commission does not have the numbers to monitor and inspect

the PCTs/TRUSTs.

 

Many forums including the one I represent has highlighted to the PCT and to CSCI the

failings of certain care homes in the area, particularly the ones that the PCT are using

for intermediate care.

 

PCTs are strapped for cash and it has emerged that one method of making savings is

to release people from hospital beds and place them in intermediate care home because

they do not have anybody at home to care for them and Social Services have a waiting

list and are running £500,000 over budget

 

We have visited care homes and inspected them so we can quote chapter and verse on

this subject but it will be the last year we can do this God knows what will happen to the

older people placed in intermediate care by the PCT. If I discover that over the next five

years we have one person who dies or is abused or not treated with dignity you may rest

assured that I will be arriving in Downing Street with 6million signatures.

 

There has been many Health Inequalities brought to the attention of the forums by the

general public which the forums take on board and get the PCTs to focus on

 

The lists are endless and you may say if people have a complaint why not go to

PALS let me tell you that 80% of the population have no idea what PALS stands for.

 

I cannot comment on the Hospital Trusts but we have taken part in the MRSA Bugwatch

with our fellow forum trust colleagues and been involved on the question of mid-wife led

maternity units.

 

Forums have led campaigns all over the country on the short-comings of audiology services

where there are waiting lists in some parts of the country as long as three years. We

are lucky its only 104weeks but the PCT question my figure which comes from the

Audiology Department and state it is only 90weeks.

 

I would love to know who selects the MPs for the Committee for it has not escaped my notice

the 6million citizens in Gods Country do not have one representative on the Committee

is this because of the many famous and infamous protesters reared in Yorkshire and Humberside.

 

Lastly here are a few of the Health Inequalities that the forums are investigating and INSPECTING,

ORAL HEALTH; REDUCTION IN ADMISSIONS TO HOSPITAL IN THE LAST TWO/THREE MONTHS

OF A PCTs FINANCIAL YEAR; NO CONSULTATIONS ON HOSPITAL CLOSURES OR REDUCTION

IN SERVICES; BONE HEALTH AND FALLS (improvement in and reduction of)

PRESSURE SORES (lack of systems to discover where they occur; HOME? CARE HOME? HOSPITAL?)

I could go on.

 

February 2007