Appendix A

Appendix A
Formal and Informal Public Consultation Meetings

During the public consultation period a series of formal and informal meetings took place attended by 354 members of the public. At each meeting a presentation was made on the health investment plan and questions and comments invited from the audience.

Formal Public Meetings

Five formal meetings have been held covering the whole of the catchment area of the health investment plan. The proceedings were recorded and a transcript prepared of the questions and answers. The meetings held were:

Location	Date	Attendance (excluding speakers)
Town Hall, Peterborough	15 January 2002	16 members of the public and 6 NHS staff
Neale Wade College, March	23 January 2002	19 members of the public and 5 NHS staff
Arts Centre, Stamford	8 February 2002	33 members of the public and 8 NHS staff
Power League, Stanground College	11 February 2002	11 members of the public and 6 NHS staff
Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough	6 March 2002	41 members of the public and 11 NHS staff

The issues raised by the public can be grouped into five main areas:

· The capacity of the local NHS to meet the demand for health services,

· Access to services, particularly hospitals,

· The availability of resources, including funding,

· The quality and appropriateness of NHS buildings, and

· The Private Finance Imitative.

There was also a range of questions seeking information or clarification on specific parts of the plan and the consultation process. The transcript of the questions raised by the public and the panels’ replies are included at the end of this Appendix.

Informal Meetings

Nine informal meetings were held with local voluntary groups, clubs and associations and statutory bodies:

· Parkinson’s Disease Society, 23 January 2002, 19 people..

· Peterborough DIAL, 30 January 2002, 15 people.

· The Welcome Club, Market Deeping, 30 January 2002, 36 people.

· Meeting with leaders of the Pakistani community, 6 February 2002, 3 people.

· Community Health Council Members, 13 February 2002, 15 people.

· Peterborough Towns Women’s Guild, 18 February 2002, 27 people.

· Wellbeing Select Committee, 21 February 2002, 12 people.

· Peterborough Pensioners Association, 25 February 2002, 37 people.

· Oundle Rotary Club, 4 March 2002, 29 people.

· The Italian Community Association, 6 March 2002, 41 people.

The general response from these groups was supportive, although there were some specific concerns raised relating to the problems of public transport access, the need to develop local access to specialist services and concerns over staff shortages and waiting times.

NHS Staff Meetings

Two open meetings were also held for NHS staff working throughout the area. This was in addition to the normal team briefing and internal communications processes. A special Estates department Forum was also established for those groups of staff who may be directly effected by any transfer of services and employment to the private sector.