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James Paget University Hospital

I went to the JPUH AGM last Monday and was amaaaaaaazed.
 
I’ve been a member of this Trust since its inception quite a few years ago now and I’ve gone to many of the AGMs. Every time I have left dejected at the patently bad standards in some of the disciplines. I have regularly had to ask questions and issue challenges about mental health in particular, but also areas I’d experienced poor practice and where sometimes I have made formal complaints e.g. pain Control; Colonoscopy; and Hearing Services.
 
But what a huge difference at this year’s AGM. The formal part was preceded by an exhibition of how services are developing at the hospital. I was so impressed and took so much people-blocking time talking to the new Research Nurse, the new Communications Officer, the partly up-to-date Education and Training set up, the newly opened Day Surgery Operating Theatres and the new Ambulatory Service that I didn’t complete the exhibition circuit, being called for the AGM three quarters of the way around.
 
WOW! With my participation in the CQC listening exercise a couple of weeks back there is demonstrably a very large improvement in the JPUH since my last involvement (two years back). 
 
My sole, but important, disappointment was in the lack of progress towards ‘Parity of Esteem’ and the proper integration of NHS and Adult Social Care. This is why I said “partly up-to-date” above. Hospital based trainers are barely talking to their colleagues in other NHS sectors and never to those in Adult Social Care.
 
There are objectives to communicate to with Mental Health and for greater use of digital technology in the development plan and I hope to keep a watch on all the changes.
 
Mike.  

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