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MINUTES OF THE PATIENTS FORUM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

18th September 2007

Held at Which? 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1

Present: Sally Brearley( Chair) Peter Walsh (AVMA); Gerda Loosemore; Geraldine Amos (Home From Hospital Care); Frances Blunden (Which?); Angeline Burke (NMC);) Judith Wardle (Continence Foundation);
Frances Bluden (Which?)

Guest Speakers: Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, Chair of the National Voices Working Group -
Topic: “NATIONAL VOICES”

And

Prof. Lord Layard, Director, Well-Being Programme, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE

Topic: “INCREASING AWARENESS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES”

Minutes of last AGM

The minutes of the last AGM were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.

Matters arising

There were no matters arising

Chair’s presentation of the Annual Report

Sally presented the Forum’s activities and, in particular, the discussions that have gone on about the Forum’s future over the last year. Sally informed the group that During the course of 2006/7 the following had been achieved:

• Concluded the Strategic Review.
• Commissioned consultancy work on the way forward.
• Said “goodbye” to our Chair and Project Manager.
• Closed our Putney Office and moved into Health Link’s office in Dalston, with our new administrator.
• Continued to run our bi-monthly meetings.
• Put in place a programme of events until March 2008.
• Expressed our backing for the “National Voices” proposal.
• Contributed to policy developments and to the work of numerous health and social care bodies.

The Chair thanked Jonathan Ellis who has now moved on from Help the Aged to a new job with Help the Hospices. He is greatly missed and we are indebted to him for chairing the Forum over several years and for leading the work on the Strategic Review.

The chair thanked staff over the last year: Diana Basterfield, Unnati Rennie and Jenny Sharp. Also to those who assist us and mentioned only some of these; Christine Hogg, Gerda Loosemore-Reppen and Katie Rowan for work on the Strategic Review; Frances Blunden and Jo Saul at Which? where we hold our bi-monthly meetings; Gill Edelman for her excellent consultancy work on our future; our accountant Margaret Turner; the staff at LTCA who are always so helpful when we hold our management committee meeting there; the staff at Health Link who regularly take messages and help in other ways; and to the speakers who have contributed to our meetings

The Chairs sincere thanks went to members of the Management Committee who have worked hard during the year, taken some difficult decisions with courage, and made time for meetings, answering e-mails etc, etc, in their very busy schedules. Particular thanks to Francine Bates who re-joined the committee for the year to help us plan the future, and to Mike O’Donovan from LTCA who also joined us during the year.

Last but not least, the Chair thanked - members and associate members – for their continuing support during this time of transition. The Chair looked forward to working together in year ahead and the developments in health, social care and PPI that it will bring.

“The Annual Report” was adopted.

Presentation of the Accounts

The accounts were presented by Mike O’Donovan adopted.

Election of Management Committee

The chair invited volunteers to join the management committee. The Management Committee members for 2007-2008 are: Sally Brearley, Geraldine Amos & Judith Wardle Angeline Burke, and Mike O’Donovan
One volunteered to be co-opted onto the committee. Not sure who the chap was

Special thanks were extended to the management committee for their dedication and individuals who have left the Patients Forum.

Presentation at the Patients Forum Annual General Meeting 2007

Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, Chair of the National Voices Working Group presented “NATIONAL VOICES” and gave an overview and update on National Voices, and highlighted the vision, financing and model. Baroness Jill Pitkeathley invited questions and answers from the group.

Lord Layard, Director, Well-Being Programme, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE
Presented “INCREASING AWARENESS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES” and gave an overview on the National strategy, described the new role and training for therapists and informed the group that this would be part of the NHS Operating Framework in the Autumn of 2008. Lord Layard invited questions and answers from the group.

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