In May 2020, Combined Healthcare was proud to launch a new online facility as part of its ongoing commitment to openness, transparency and innovation.
Using our unique ‘Ask the Board’ facility anyone can use a webform – available by clicking here – to make a comment or suggestion or ask a question in advance of each Open Trust Board meeting. A response is provided as part of the Chair’s Report to the Board meeting, which are publicly available as videos shortly after the meeting.
The archive of previously asked questions and our responses is provided below, together with a link to the relevant filmed response.
How to search the archive
You can search all responses or filter by the name of the person asking the question or a date range of Board meetings.
You can also do a full word search of any comments, questions or suggestions.
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How to see the details of an individual response
To read the details of our response, click on the questioner’s name.
To view our Chair’s video response, click on the link below the question.
If you have any questions about “Ask the Board Online”, contact the Communications Team at communications@combined.nhs.uk
Francesca Potts
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I recently attended your Engagement Event at Port Vale. It was a great opportunity to get involved with interactive debates, hearing from experts and networking with new and potential partners.
A key detail I picked up on was how you are starting to engage with isolated communities, for example, visiting a farmers market. Please can you share how you intend to reach the homeless community? This demographic is disproportionately affected by mental health, substance misuse, and homelessness which are inextricably linked.
Geraldine Casey
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After viewing the comments of the board meeting January 2022, I feel nothing has been lost in translation. I understood fully from the letters my son received from the Ashcombe centre that he was to be discharged from Kniveden even though he has severe enduring mental illness. There has been no consultation period regarding the closure of Kniveden with service users and families. Guy Massey, support worker at Kniveden has supported clients and carers during the closure. Guy has arranged a one-day placement for my son at Tittesworth. This has enabled my son to see his peers and maintain the important friendships he developed at Kniveden. My son has also joined the Munroe Club, this has helped my son to socialise and take part in activities to maintain his mental health. Hopefully the club will continue to grow and thrive. Could combined healthcare support the club to extend these activities to include a walking group and gym membership? Guy previously arranged walking groups during the pandemic and gym membership organised as part of the Kniveden project. Could Guy continue these activities as part of his role in the community?
Yours sincerely
Geraldine Casey
Richard Woodward
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I was a client at knivedon and I question I asked Kenny answers were a total fabrication of the truth we were told we had to be discharged from knivedon no other options were on the table only volunteering and the things they offered on the canals churned Valley railway 1 was 8 the other 10 miles away with no bus routes and no thoughts about people with suicidal thoughs ie water and trains when I put letters of representations in to the ashcombe ce of trust about the clients needs I wad told by Charlotte it was not there problems we would have to go to our GPS as they would people in touch with the appropriate authorities and no client could stay and volunteer at knivedon and I understand 2 clients are doing this there wad no consultations just we had no choice and just because I was a client why was I lied to treated like a idiot with contemp I am a carer for my brother it 2 moths since I last went to knivedon and received no discharge for myself or my brothers care plan who is his str who is his spycriatic nurse and what's his full care plan I think at least we need the truth and you accept the whole thing has been handled unprofessionally and in a uncaring manner from supposeidly caring people why was I treated like a imbecile that's what hurts most
Maureen Roberts
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The County Council have taken the decision to sell the land that Kniveden occupies but the decision to discharge all of the 59 Service users had already been made,but the County Council has repeatedly confirmed that they will identify a suitable site to replace Kniveden
Will the Trust except this offer,if not why not
Will the Trust reconsider the decision that forcibly removed the Service Users from Kniveden to return
I believe that the recovery collage commences on the 07/03/22 but with a very low uptake,will the Trust therefore allow the displaced Services Users to return with immediate affect
I personally advised that a planned protest that was due to take place outside the Ashcombe Centre be postponed, the Service users planned a silent protest to reflect that they did not have a voice
Both the Trust and the Board I hope are ashamed that they have never despite the concerns that have continually raised by both the Service Users and their Families have never been persued,had the Trust and the Board taken the time to asked the people who were going to be affected what was really happening at Kniveden The Service Users and Families have never misunderstood the message from the Ashcombe Centre the message was you are being discharged with no exceptions
To make it plain there was and remains another agenda that was being led by the Ashcombe Centre
Maureen Roberts
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I am confused about the reply from the Board at the meeting held on the13/01/22 regarding the questions asked by both Servivce Users and Carers about the future of Kniveden and I hope that the following information will clarify for the Board what has taken place at Kniveden
Since 2020
the Ashcombe Centre has been activity trying to remove all of the service users from Kniveden,and we the Service users and carers have been trying to change the the decision that had been made to remove ALL of the service users from Kniveden
The Ashcombe CENTRE had always made it clear that once the 8 week course had been completed they would all be discharged and it would be up to them to find a suitable volunteering opportunity and if there was any deterioration of their Mental Health then they should seek help from their own GPS,it was also suggested that the reason they were being discharged was they had all become dependant on the service delivered by Kniveden,THE ASHCOMBE CENTRE HAS IN AFFECT BY NOT ONLY TAKEN FROM SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY A SERVICE THAT PROVIDED A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT THEY HAD THEY ALSO WERE PREPARED TO ALSO TAKE AWAY THE FRIENDSHIPS AND SUPPORT THEY GAVE TO EACH OTHER,Kniveden has always been a low cost service to deliver and they also brought a good income each year with the contracts they had with the Trust but other organisation who used the services provided
When the County Council announced they were selling the land I could not stand-by and watch the service users spiral into relapse so I found a venue and took 30 there following their enforced discharge from Kniveden,they were all discharged in week commencing 14/02/22
The Trust has kindly paid the rent for the next 12months and the insurance and we are extremely grateful but the Trust has made it clear they want no further involvement with Munro's but the reality is without the continued support we are receiving from the support worker from Kniveden Guy Massey we are going to fail and also we need help to get some funding as I have had to supply the money to buy games and craft items and to date I have personally have spent in excess of a thousand pounds just to provide the minimum we need to operate
I HOPE GOING FORWARD THAT THE TRUST CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT GUY MASSEY HAS CREATED AT TITTERSWORTH FOR THE SERVICE USERS AND THEY ALLOW HIM TO HELP US CREATE A SERVICE AT MUNRO'S I WOULD ALSO ASK THE BOARD TO RECOGNISE THAT THE ASHCOMBE CENTRE HAS BEHAVED IN A DISGRACEFUL MANNER TO BOTH THE SERVICE USERS AND CARES IN THEIR DECISION TO DISCHARGE IN EXCESS OF 50 PLUS PEOPLE AND OFFER AN A IMMEDIATE APOLOGY TO EVERYONE CONCERNED FOR THE HIGH HANDED AND UNCARING WAY THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED, EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION AND THE FACT THAT SOMEONE HAS CONCEALED THE TRUTH FROM BOTH THE TRUST AND THE BOARD SHOULD BE CALLED TO ACCOUNT
Richard Woodward
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When you say there are other things to do what are they and why has there not been any proper consultations about this from the ashcombe centre in the past few years the Brandon centre shut walking group stopped art and social group stopped all at a minutes notice to clients and nothing else found for them to do
Judith Johnson
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As the Kniveden Partnership Leek transitions to a Recovery College, the current service users , some with learning difficulties and enduring mental health conditions are about to be discharged from the partnership late Jan.2022.This established group supports in a non judgemental, safe ,low key relaxed way a group of vulnerable people who are shunned by society. In the midst of a pandemic, they need continuing from people they trust ,having endured mental health problems for a large part of their lives.A few precious hours of respite for the users, carers,parents and supporters knowing they are safe and supported must not be underestimated.
Please would you confirm what support the Ashcombe Centre are planning to provide for their ongoing support following their enforced discharge from the Kniveden?The lack of information of a support plan is causing stress and anxiety. The service users do not understand why this group cannot run alongside the Recovery College on this large site when there are 7 days in a week.
Jean Amison
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Why wasn’t all our hospitals each given designation of being either Covid or non Covid status so that normal NHS duties & operation backlogs could continue to operate in some. This would better utilise the time of staff who did not work on Covid wards.
Geraldine Casey
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4th January 2022
To whom it may concern,
My Question is why is Kniveden closing to the current attendees? My son attends Kniveden and has benefited greatly from his time there. The gardening work has increased his self-esteem, confidence and helped him to keep his mental health stable. He has made friendships with his peers who support each other during their time there. The leaders at Kniveden are professional and caring in their approach to the clients. My son has severe enduring mental health problems and has spent long periods of time in the Harplands and community hospital Summer View and Florence house. Now stable for 8 years and living independently in shared housing. The recovery model has always been central to his treatment plan. Contrary to disabling him Kniveden has helped him to remain stable and happy. As a carer I am very concerned about the changes at Kniveden and the effect this will have on him, attendees and carers.
Yours sincerely
Geraldine Casey (Mrs)
Maureen Roberts
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The 25 gardeners who remain at Kniveden will under the terms of the present consultation will be forced to leave Kniveden the week commencing 17th of January.
Can I please ask what provision has been made for the future
Of clients,and what will replace the respite for the carers once Kniveden is closed to them
Ian Syme
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14/10/21
Darwin Centre; CAMHS 4w waits; CAMHS 18w RTT.
Trust Board Papers highlight the extreme challenges in recruitment and retention of clinical staff that have obvious implications for service provided by the Trust.
a. Does the Trust expect to recruit to all vacancies at the Darwin Centre within this fiscal year?
b. How many CYP at present waiting longer than 18w on the CAMHS RTT pathway? Does the Trust have a ‘date’ whereby the the requisite standard re CAMHS 18w RTT will be achieved and hopefully sustained?
c. Similar to b. Above CAMHS 4w (Refer to Assessment), Does Combined have a target ‘date’ when this standard will be achieved and hopefully sustained?
Michelle Craggs
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08/07/2021
Can you please tell me how many young people with ADHD get transferred over to adult services?
How many of these young people will regularly see a psychiatrist to meet the nice guidelines?
Michelle Craggs
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Can you please explain the role of the QB testing for ADHD patients? At the moment I’m hearing parenting saying this is used as a diagnostic tool. Which is what it’s not intended to
Michelle Craggs
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08/07/2021
How will the trust address the long waiting lists for Camhs? Many children are struggling due to the very long waiting lists and it’s not acceptable.
Michelle Craggs
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08/07/2021
Will the Camhs team be given training about writing and producing reports for EHC plans? At the moment many Camhs workers don’t understand their role and importance in this process.
Michelle Craggs
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08/07/2021
The trust must embed digitalization very quickly. It’s silly a waste of money and resources writing prescriptions. Patients need to focus on their recovery and carers spend all their time caring they should not be chasing prescriptions that the trust write.
When will the trust consider moving over to digital prescriptions that can be sent to the pharmacist?
Jamie Ward
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13/05/2021
I have had a few questions lately around long term Covid community clinics. Are there any specific clinics currently available for patients to access support/aftercare if they fit the criteria?
Emma Boote
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13/05/2021
Adults and children can have both Autism and ADHD, yet when it comes to a diagnosis you can only choose one to be assessed for. If you are diagnosed with one, you then get told well you can’t have an assessment for the other and it wouldn’t make a difference if you have a diagnosis, it does make it different, a diagnosis gets you a self understanding, finding support groups, medication if needed, help from school, college, university and employees, a beefed sense of the world we live in.
Please can you stop asking parents and patients to choose which one they need the most help with. As we sometimes do not know we function differently than others.
Please can this be changed ?
Ian Syme
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11/03/2021
Childrens Services:
Trust Board papers item11 Q3 Safeguarding Report (pge 49) identifies emerging data showing Covid 19 restrictions in combination with other vulnerabilities having a significant impact on children and young people including severe neglect, substance misuse, sexual assault, suicide, sudden infant death and non accidental injury. Furthermore data nationally is now emerging that children who have had covid infection can also suffer clinically significant ‘Long Covid” symptoms including significant Mental Health needs.
CAMHS prior to the Covid Pandemic were stretched!
Are the Trust acquiring data now that identifies substantial unmet Mental Health needs amongst these children and how with your partners (N.Staffs Combined Healthcare CAMHS cannot possibly address this increased need alone) will the Trust ensure such children will not be subject to increasingly extended waits to identified services?
Louise Williams
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14/01/2021
Why isn't more being done for our SEN children?
Jamie Ward
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14/01/2021
A resident who has multiple conditions such as, Asbestosis and COPD but does not receive oxygen (and therefore does not fall under the immediate priority list) would like clarity on where they fall under the Covid-19 Priority Groups. Can an update be provided as to where they fall and how long they may likely have to wait (we appreciate this may not be possible to identify waiting timeframes).
Jamie Ward
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14/01/2021
Residents have asked if there are any dedicated Covid-19 virtual support groups for long term suffering Covid-19 patients?
Jamie Ward
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14/01/2021
Due to the ongoing limitations of traditional Enter and View procedures, would North Staffs Combined Healthcare NHS Trust consider working with Healthwatch Stoke to trial and test a virtual form of Enter and View?
Michelle Craggs
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14/01/2021
Can the trust share an example of a good care plan?
What warrants a good care plan?
Should all care plans be at this standard?
What do I do when the care plan doesn’t reflect the above answers?
Jamie Ward
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14/01/2021
We have been informed by a number of residents that there seems to be an inconsistency in the delivery of vaccinations. Some residents have had both doses of vaccine while other residents are still waiting on the first. Can this be clarified as to why it may be happening?