Issue - meetings

To consider progress with the review.

The Panel noted that, due to the highly specialised nature of the consultation work that was planned with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), it had only been possible to identify two appropriately qualified organisations to undertake the work.  These were the Norah Fry Research Centre at the University of Bristol and the National Development Team.  The Norah Fry Research Centre had decided that their location would make it difficult for them to provide the level of support that was required.  However, the National Development Team had indicated that they were able to meet fully all the project’s requirements and the Panel concurred with their provisional appointment.

The consultation process would shortly begin and the learning Disabilities Partnership were currently in the process of identifying appropriate participants.  The results of the consultation would be reported back to the Panel in November to allow them to take on board its findings in the questioning of local primary care practitioners. 

The Project Steering Group, of which all of the Members of the Panel were also members, would look in more detail at the issues that it was felt that the consultation should focus upon.  The Group would be meeting on Monday 18 September at 6:30 p.m. to do this.  Future meetings of the Group would, were possible, be arranged to take place immediately before Panel meetings.

The Panel felt that it would be useful for them to visit a day centre for people with learning disabilities in order to gain some impression of the issues facing them and it was agreed that this would be arranged with the Head of the Learning Disabilities Partnership.

It was noted that date the fourth meeting of the Panel would need to be moved and agreed that, subject to the availability of Members not present at the meeting, it would be moved to Tuesday 14 November.