FRONTLINE HIV Forum Meeting 6th October 2009

Submitted by christiandecle on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 16:51

FRONTLINE HIV Forum Meetings:

Members: General Members Forum
Date: 6th October 2009
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Attendees: 8
Apologies: 1


New Ward Progress / What we would like to see in the rooms.

  • Jane asked last week for a member of the forum to attend some immediate meetings on this subject and we thank the member who participated on our behalf. The input was key to coverage of this subject.
  • Carole from TMAC presented and took notes on the progress of the new ward. She had brought with her plans of the ward so we could visualise the new setup. What follows is a summary of the points raised. We pass our thanks to Carole for giving us her time.
  • 19 rooms, 9 around the Atrium. 10 of the room are “negative pressure”.


    • Discussion on whether TMAC is a HIV ward or a HDU (High Dependency Unit)

    • Has HIV specialist nursing team
    • Hospital economics mean use of space to best financial effect
    • Mix of Oncology and HIV patients.
    • Some will be HIV+ with cancer care requirements.
      • Pointed out that most Oncology patients also have HIV anyway.
    • Only 2 of the rooms dedicated as HDU
    • Issues discussed over HIV patients being cared for in general wards.
      • Greater capacity in new ward should alleviate this problem.
    • Issues over referring to HIV when mentioning TMAC in documentation.


    Power Sockets in reach of patients.


    Waiting areas will be “negative pressure”.

    • Suggested windows to corridors so patients not forgotten and staff can see anyone waiting.
    • The existing kitchen in the existing TMAC will be retained for use by the new ward.


    Atrium.

    • Concern this will become a staff meeting area.
    • Suggested a place for some patient physic.
    • Wanted the Atrium to always be open for patients for patient use.


    Asked if Tacking & Hoists should be on the “wish list”

    • Everyone agreed that with an ageing and growing obese population this would be “key” to nurses etc in patient care.
    • Installation now would “future proof” the ward.
    • We raised the point that we wanted staff to work safely especially when moving a patient.


    Sleeping for patient’s partners or carers.

    • Discussed facilititating some sleeping arrangement for patent partners or carers who may stay with a patient.
    • Bench style seating big enough to sleep on.
    • Room size not flexible to under bed cot or wall mounted cot.


    Change to store cupboard location.

    • One member of the forum noted that if the Store Cupboard by the 2 HDU rooms was swapped with the Nurses station opposite.
    • This would allow the creation of one nurse’s station with more room and greater visibility along that corridor. This will be taken back to the architect as Carole noted this was a good idea.


    Intercom to rooms / Patient privacy.

    • There would be an intercom to all rooms.
    • CCTV ruled out due to patient privacy concerns.
    • The two rooms facing the main nurses station to have glass windows facing the station to facilitate nurses being able to watch patients that need more attention.
    • Rooms whose windows face into the atrium or a corridor to have “blinds” the patient can close to maintain their privacy.


    Ward will operate a “secure lockdown” with doors closed at 10pm.

    • Concern that TMAC always allowed visitors at all times in the day and night.
    • This would not be changed.


    Bathrooms.

    • Will be Showers rather than bath with a wall-mounted seat.
    • Suggestion they should be “wet rooms”.
    • Extraction units and fans in rooms and bathroom should be regularly cleaned.


    Furniture / Secure storage for patient possessions

    • Fridge in every room important.
    • Safe for patient valuables.
      • How to implement.
      • Laptop etc storage needs large enough.
      • Clear policy on responsibility and liability.
    • Wardrobe and Storage space an issue.


    Access to Internet & Email for patients.

    • Wi-Fi access across the ward for patient use & free of charge.
    • Two computer terminals in ward for patient access.
      • Concern from forum this would cause more patient problems than worth.
      • Who controls access?
      • What about inappropriate use or images in a public area?
      • Who would police this?
      • Felt removal of this facility, on balance, would allow nursing staff to concentrate on care delivery rather than policing this.
      • People would have Wi-Fi access in rooms anyway and could use their own
        equipment in a more private and less public area.


    Day care.

    • More Capacity than existing Kobler Day Care.
    • More chairs fewer beds.
    • Chairs to be more comfortable than existing furniture.
    • Medical Day Care unit (Oncology) patients to move to the new ward Day Care Centre.
      • Concern that HIV Day Care patients may suffer if they are not Oncology patients. That is for other HIV treatments or monitoring/observation as happens now.
      • Concern HIV care may loose a “care” stage that at the moment may require a day
        intervention rather than hospital admission.
      • Pointed out that most Oncology patients also have HIV anyway.
    • General concerns, as with the ward over stigma from non- HIV patients and how that equates to a “safe” environment.


    The wish list and room designs need to be complete by the 21st October 2009 for the estimate from the project builders.


    GSK/Pfizer – Change to December meeting date.

  • GSK & Pfizer are forming a new company on 2nd November 2009 for their HIV activities. The HIV medical Director contacted the forum via Simon Barton to ask to come and explain what this means and for his superior who is new to the HIV sector to meet with patients.
  • We have arranged with The River House Trust to hold a joint event on the 8th December 2009 from 6pm until 8pm to facilitate this. This replaces our 1st December 2009 meeting.
  • Places are limited for this event, split between the Frontline Patient Forum and River House client base. Though being a local support service provider it is very likely that many will be both clients and C&W patients.
  • The forum will allocate its places on a first come, first server basis with priority given to those who regularly attend usual forum meetings. This helps us to disseminate the information. However if demand is high I will invite GSK/Pfizer to the forum at a later date if numbers justify it.
  • Please email me chair@frontlinehiv.net if you would like to come or would be interested in a further meeting on this if we cannot facilitate your place this time.
  • Doing a joint event is beneficial to all parties. Not least it allows the forum to reach out and engage with not only a local HIV support service but engage further with patients the forum represents but only feel comfortable in the environment of the River House.


    • The proposed structure for the evening is:

    • Introductions - RHT, Frontline & GSK
    • Overview from GSK on what the merger means?
    • Questions
    • Then the audience would split into groups so that the team from GSK/Pfizer can interact with people on closer basis.
    • Refreshments will be available provided by GSK/Pfizer & The River House Trust.
      For more information on The River House Trust see http://www.riverhousetrust.org.uk/


    As the 1st of December 2009 is World AIDS Day it has not been possible to undertake this meeting on our usual meeting day. There are many events planed. The St. Stephens Volunteers will be in the main hospital and The River House Trust also has events on that day.


    Update on Projects.

  • The Ageing project is going well. We have been asked to present to the UKCAB on this project on the 23rd October 2009.


    • A.O.B.

    • Primary Care Access project.
    • The Chair updated the forum with the work of the Positively Women managed project into Primary Care Access.
    • The Chair also, in the absence of the Chair of The Forum Link Project, informed the forum of Symposium that The Forum Link Project was planning to undertake on the issue of Primary Care Access and issues for HIV+ people accessing or using their GP’s. See http://www.forum-link.org for information.
    • Meeting ended at 8pm.


    Not discussed the proposed meeting diary.

    • December – meeting, see above, moved to the 8th – GSK/Pfizer @ River House Trust – confirmed.
    • January – ordinary meeting.
    • February – Invite Terrence Higgins Trust?
    • March - ordinary meeting.
    • April – Invite National Aids Trust?
    • May - Invite i-base and Simon Collins back to give us another presentation?
    • June - ordinary meeting.
    • Lets discuss this at the November meeting.