Over the last few months an expert Advisory Group of clinicians, commissioners and patient representatives has been working together to explore potential improvements to the service.  The Advisory Group has developed a proposed network model for delivering specialist ACHD care and draft national designation standards that specialist centres would need to meet in the future.  We are now inviting stakeholders to comment on the proposed designation standards and the draft model of care.

Find our more by reading our newsletter by clicking here or visiting the NHS Specialised Services website at http://www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/info/adults-with-congenital-heart-disease

This period of engagement will close on Friday 27th July 2012.  There will be a public consultation on options for designation in 2013.

Professor Sir Roger Boyle CBE
Chair, ACHD Advisory Group.

The Newsletters aims to keep as many people as possible informed of what is going on in the Clinical Commissioning Group with news and regular updates.

Increasing volunteering in Staffordshire means a better place for us all.  Not only does it help people to learn new skills and experiences, meet new people, gain confidence and essentially benefit others, it also helps to bring communities close together and improve the economy.

There are a number of different organisations across Staffordshire that work towards increasing the volunteering numbers and ensure a quality experience for those volunteers.  In October 2010, the ‘Staffordshire Volunteering Visioning Event’ brought together representatives from across these organisations, and one thing was agreed, we all need to work on a co-ordinated approach.

A working group, which included representatives from across these organisations, has now developed a draft framework, suggesting definitions, aims and actions of how volunteering in Staffordshire can grow over the next five years.

As someone that understands how valuable volunteering is to both the local community and Staffordshire as a whole, we need your views on this.

We only need a few minutes of your time to tell us what you think about the aims and objectives, and how it aligns with your own/organisation’s objectives, and critically if you think anything is missing.

Telling us your views will take just a few minutes and will help us to ensure that the strategy is a true reflection of what all stakeholders want.

Please follow the below link to access the framework and questionnaire.

http://www.staffordshirepartnership.org.uk/thirdsector/volunteering/

Here is an opportunity for you to contribute to this.  You are invited to take part in the survey if:

• You have experience of being treated in hospital in the last couple of years, and or
• you are able to represent a patient or group of patients.

The survey can be found here:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22FNNCWBVHL

Please do take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire, ideally by Friday 1st June, your feedback really matters.  All responses will be treated confidentially.

Engaging Communities Staffordshire (ECS) will be holding a session for potential delivery partners on 21st May between 10.30 and 12.30 at the Council Offices (One Staffordshire Place, Stafford).

ECS is a new organisation established to facilitate the involvement of people across the County in health and social care matters with the ultimate aim of delivering the Local Healthwatch service from April 2013. ECS will not seek to replicate existing capacity and capability and will look to engage with local organisations to deliver a range of services including: information provision; evidence and insight analysis; advocacy services; and community engagement activities. 

Following an introduction from ECS’s new Chairman Robin Morrison and an update on the new organisation, the session will be focused on explaining how ECS will engage with provider partners through a partner framework. We will also explain the process we intend to follow to accept organisations onto the framework.

If you would like to attend please email andrew@mutualventures.co.uk

South Staffordshire PCT are holding a public consultation event on Monday 30th April from 5pm to 8pm in the Mountbatten Room at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford.

The event is to provide information about the changes to the delivery of vascular services in Staffordshire and the consultation documents are available by clicking on the links below:

Vascular Network Intervention Centre
Appendix 8 – Emergency Referral Criteria for the Vascular Network
Vascular Services in Staffordshire South Cheshire and Vale Royal

The event is an open drop-in between 2pm and 5pm in Academic Room 1 at Harplands Hospital, therefore there is no need to book a place but if you require further information then please contact Laurie Wrench, Head of Clinical Audit and R&D on 01782 441651 or via email at laurie.wrench@northstaffs.nhs.uk

Lay Member (designate) – Public and Patient Involvement Ref:  CCG01
You will ensure that the public voice of the local population is heard, using your skills to ensure that public and patients expectation are understood and are met as appropriate.  You will ensure that teh CCG builds and maintains an effective relationship with Local HealthWatch and draws on existing patient and public engagement and involvement expertise.  You may be asked to fulfil the role of Deputy Chair or Chair of the Governing Body.

The time commitment is 2.5 days per month and remuneration is £7822 per annum.  Some time commitment may be required in the evenings.

Lay Member (designate) – Governance Ref:  CCG02
You will bring strategic insight and impartiality to the Governing Body, overseeing key elements of governance, including audit, remuneration and conflicts of interest.  You will have the skills, knowledge and expertise to assess and confirm that appropriate systems of internal control are in place for all aspects of governance, including financial and risk management.  You will be expected to chair the audit committee.

The time commitment is 2.5 days per month and remuneration is £7822 per annum.  Some time commitment may be required in the evenings.

CCG
Cannock Chase                          1 Lay Member for Governance       1 Lay Member for PPI
Stafford & Surrounds               1 Lay Member for Governance       1 Lay Member for PPI
East Staffordshire                     1 Lay Member for Governance       1 Lay Member for PPI
North Staffordshire                  1 Lay Member for Governance       1 Lay Member for PPI
South East Staffordshire &
Seisdon Peninsular                    1 Lay Member for Governance       1 Lay Member for PPI
Stoke on Trent                           1 Lay Member for Governance       1 Lay Member for PPI

For an informal discussion about these roles, please see the Information Pack for details of who to contact.  This conversation must take place before the closing date and will play no part in the selection process.

For an informatino pack and application form please contact Sally Young on 0300 7900 233 ext 3538 or click on the ‘Working For Us’ link on one of the websites quoting the relevant reference number:
www.southstaffordshirepct.nhs.uk
www.stoke.nhs.uk
www.northstaffordshire.nhs.uk

Documents are available in alternative formats such as Braille, large print or audio, on request.

The closing date for all application is 12.00noon on Monday 21st May 2012.

These are designate appointments which will be formalised once the CCG is established by the NHS Commissioning Board Authority.

We value and promote diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity for all and appointments are made on merit.