Minutes of the Cross-Party Group of Neurological Conditions

Tuesday 22nd November 2013

Derwen Conference Suite, Hafen Cymru, Carmarthen

 

Present

Rebecca Evans, AM (Chair)

Elin Jones, AM

Ann Sivapatham, Wales Neurological Alliance and Epilepsy Action

Maggie Hayes, Wales Neurological Alliance

Alan Thomas, Wales Neurological Alliance and Ataxia South Wales

Kate Steele, Wales Neurological Alliance and Shine Cymru

Dr Tanya Edmonds, Neuropsychologist, ABMU

Dr Zoe Fisher, Clinical Psychologist in Neuropsychology

Audrey Rogers, Assistant Director of Therapies and Health Science Hywel

Dr Claire Willson, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist - UHW

Dr Helen Payne, Consultant Clinical Psychologist/Neuropsychologist – Hywel Dda

Jane Hodson

Sarah Price

Steve Jones MS Nurse Specialist

Melanie Hayes, Shine Cymru

Sandy Mather, West Wales Neurological Alliance and South West Wales Neurological Alliance

Ian Folks, Previously Chair West Wales Neurological Alliance

Robert Messenger, Coordinator for Children with Complex Needs, Carmarthenshire County Council

Colin Sanders, Parkinsons UK Champion for West Wales

David Murray, Wales Neurological Alliance, Cure Parkinsons

Gerald Crowley, MS Society Branch Chairman

Margaret Crowley SU

Steve Walford, Ataxia South Wales (Newport and Cardiff)

Margaret Evans, Ataxia South Wales

Dawn Morgan, Ataxia South Wales

Emma Hughes, Genetics UK

Claire Hurlin, Chronic Conditions Lead 

 

 

 

Apologies

 

Mark Isherwood AM

Ana Palazon, Wales Neurological Alliance and Stroke Association

Joseph Carter, Wales Neurological Alliance and MS Society Cymru

Urtha Felda, Wales Neurological Alliance

Dave Maggs, Wales Neurological Alliance

Kevin Thomas, Wales Neurological Alliance

Kathryn Davies, Director of Therapies Health Science Hywel Dda

Dr Rowena Matthews, GP & Medical Director Hwyel Dda

Catherine Poulter, CRT Locality Manager, Carmarthenshire Council

Janet Lewis, Social Worker with adults with Neurological Impairments

Simon Thomas AM

Emma Whitley, Pembrokeshire CRT Locality Manager

Paul Manning, Shine Cymru

Jan Russell, WAMES

Dr Malin Falck, Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Neuropsychology

 

 

Rebecca Evans AM welcomed everyone to the meeting, thanked the venue and Wales Neurological Alliance for acting as secretariat for the Cross Party Group Neurological Conditions.

 

Rebecca Evans AM introduced the following presentations (please click on picture to link to the PowerPoint):

 

1 - Wales Neurological Alliance – Overview presented by Kate Steele, WNA

 

 

 

2 - Psychological Support for People with Neurological Conditions in West Wales, Ian Folks – Previous Chair of West Wales Neurological Alliance

 

3 - Its not just the shakes - Patient/Service User Experience David Murray

 

4 - The Perspective of  a Neuropsychologist - Dr Tanya Edmonds, Lead Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, AMBU

 

 

5 - Neurologist View Dr Claire Hirst - Consultant Neurologist, Hywel Dda

 

 

 

6 - Clinical Lead for Neuropsychology in C&V Dr Claire Willson - Clinical Lead for Neuropsychology in Cardiff & Vale

 

Audrey Roberts, Assistant Director Therapies and Health Science, Hywel Dda Health Board

Rebecca Evans AM invited Audrey Roberts Assistant Director Therapies and Health Science, Hywel Dda Health Board to provide a response to the presentations.  Audrey expressed that she had found the information insightful.  Audrey advised that the presentations had scoped out gaps in service provision. She also expressed how powerful the presentation was from David Murray and that the Case Studies were useful in mapping how resources can be shared.


Audrey advised that Hywel Dda are currently working within their Population Health Programme, this programme seeks to establish more effective ways to deliver services. Neurology is one of those worksteaams.  The information provided at this meeting will feed into that.

Audrey also stressed that attendees should use the Neurological Conditions Delivery Planconsultation to feed back information.

 

Summary and Close Rebecca Evans AM


Rebecca Evans thanked those who presented at the meeting and expressed that she, along with her colleague, Elin Jones AM (who is also a member of the Health and Social Care Committee) and the Cross Party Group for Neurological Conditionswould seek to take the issues raised forward.

End.

 

*Update* (added 02.12.13 – MH)

Following the Cross Party Group Neurological Conditions meeting, and as promised,  Rebecca Evans AM asked the following question to the Business Minister, Lesley Griffiths AM on 26.11.13

Rebecca Evans:

Following the very successful meeting of the cross-party group on neurological conditions in Carmarthen on Friday, I would like to ask for a statement updating us on access to neurotherapy. We heard how neuropsychology in particular can improve patients’ quality of life, and the outcomes for people with neurological conditions, and it can also save the NHS money by avoiding more costly interventions. However, access seems to be patchy and limited at the moment.

 Lesley Griffiths 

Thank you for the question, Rebecca Evans. The Minister for Health and Social Services has recently published a consultation on neurological conditions, along with a delivery plan, which, obviously, recognises the very valuable part that neuropsychology and neuropsychiatry can play. We expect local health boards to include the provision of neuropsychological support as one of their specific priorities in the delivery of services to people with neurological conditions. As I say, the draft plan has been published, and I would encourage everyone to respond by 31 January next year.

 (transcript available here: http://www.assemblywales.org/docs/rop_xml/131126_plenary_bilingual.xml )