Health chiefs think it’s good to talk

HEALTH chiefs in Swansea Bay have agreed to revamp the communications department so it gains better insight into services which are working well and those which need improving.

The new-look directorate of insight, communications and engagement will require the appointment of a director and potentially additional staff in the future, subject to funding.

The directorate will analyse patient and staff surveys for a particular service and also look at what the service’s outcomes are. It will also factor in complaints and legal cases, among other things, and then report back to management and clinical groups.

The existing team, according to interim director of communications and engagement Nick Samuels, was smaller than that of similar size health boards.

He also said staff across the health board felt communication was a weak point for the organisation.

Mr Samuels he wanted “permanent engagement” with staff and the public, and a better understanding of external audiences.

The new directorate will bring the existing communications, engagement and fundraising activities under one roof.

Health board chairwoman Emma Woollett said she thought this approach would be very helpful.

“We are in the people business, and if you are in the people business you have to communicate,” she said.

Concerns were raised about the cost implications.

Mr Samuels said the “basic proposal” would reallocate money already in the budget pot rather than adding to the workforce bill, but that future expansion would require new money.

Independent board member Mark Child said he believed a good communications team was a key element for an organisation, not just an added extra, and that the ways of being able to disseminate information were growing by the day.

Last year the health board asked the public for its views on a proposal for Morriston, Singleton and Neath Port Talbot hospitals to evolve into individual centres of excellence – and 1,250 people completed a survey about it.

Morriston Hospital would focus on urgent and emergency care, complex care, specialist care and regional surgery; Singleton would be the centre of excellence for planned healthcare, women’s health, cancer care and diagnostic tests; and Neath Port Talbot Hospital would be the centre of excellence for orthopaedic and spinal care.

Mwoyo Makuto, chief officer of Swansea Bay Community Health Council – a patient watchdog – said it was important that the public was “equally excited” about the health board’s work.

She said more than 4,000 people had contacted the community health council last year.

“People have ideas which are extremely valuable,” she said.