Minutes of DWHC Meeting 5th July 2010

1. Present

Jackie Drury, Natasha Sloman, Shirley Franklin, Ian Shacklock, Steve Cook, Rosemary McCartan, Patty Pitman, Katy Gold, Caspar Woolley, Austin Harney, Angela Flanegan, Sheila Patton, Jem Lindon, Mick Gilgunn,

2. Apologies

Rich Moth

3. Mins of last Meeting

(21st June). 14 people attended last meeting. Main topics were cuts in mental health care and in non-urgent treatment. Also discussed plans for imminent protest events

4. Cuts in Mental Health Care

Jackie Drury (Islington Director of C&I NHS Foundation Trust) provided an overview of the services and facilities offered by the Trust and she was supported by colleague Natasha Sloman.

The Trust has a turnover of £130M, funded primarily by NHS Islington, funded also by Islington Council. There are 135 beds at the in-patient facility at Highgate Mental Health Centre and there are various community teams operating across the borough (e.g. early intervention team, assertive outreach team). There is already a £3M shortfall in the budget and the Trust is required to inflict further savings over the next 3 years. A public consultation is being planned for Autumn. To achieve these savings, it is likely that beds will be closed, patient stays will be shortened and the number of sites will be rationalised. Further information is available in the Section 75 Foundation Trust Annual Report. Jackie agreed to supply documents to DWHC and these will be posted on our website.

5. Budget Day Protest

The two events went ahead as planned. Up to 75 supporters attended the lunchtime event outside the Whittington Hospital.

Further info: click here

6. National Demo at Huntington.

Plans still in place. Rich, Jem and Katy were thanked for their efforts in organising this event. Ian was thanked for maintaining the website and minutes.

7. Islington Hands Off Our Public Services Coalition (IHOOPSC)

This is the new name for the local campaign that DWHC has affiliated to. Next meeting is on 12th July, and a public meeting is being planned for September

8. Other matters

Shirley had spoken at a recent Stop the War meeting. To put things into context, the total cost of the the Iran & Afghan wars would have paid for 80 new hospitals in the UK.

The Conservative Party conference takes place on 3rd October. The meeting agreed, in principle, to stage a protest outside this event, to draw attention to cuts in health services

Next DWHC meeting is on 19th July, but meetings will be less frequent during the summer period

9. Future events