Recent Consultations & Involvement
NATIONAL
There were several major government consultations over the course of the summer 2009, when most voluntary organisations meet less frequently. GOPA decided that it only had the time and resources to formally respond directly to one of them and chose the DWP consultation on older people 'Building a Society for All Ages':
Building a Society for All Ages - Dept of Work & Pensions - 15th July to 12th October 2009 - Local Forums and Seniors' Networks and Facilitators consulted. Comprehensive response discussed by GOPA's Management Committee in September and submitted to DWP.
Shaping the future of Care - together - Dept of Health Green Paper - 14th July to 13th November 2009 - 5 members of GOPA's Management Committee and 3 members of staff participated in Gloucestershire County Council's 'Big Care Debate' consultation on GCC's response to the Green Paper.
Consulation on the Fair Access to Care Services Guidance - Another major Dept of Health consultation, launched on 14th July, coinciding with the consultation on the Green Paper on Care and clearly related to it!
Age Discrimination in the provision of Health and Care Services - Equalities Office consultation - July to 30th September 2009 - GOPA participated in a South West Region Review of Age Discrimination in Health and Social Care at the 'Full of Life' event in September.
LOCAL
GOPA is involved or being consulted in various regional and local issues:
South West Regional Review into Age Discrimination in the provision of Health and Care Services (See National consultation referred to above).
Consultation by NHS Gloucestershire (the Primary Care Trust) on several different matters relating to older people, such as Extra Care Housing and Patient Transport.
Gloucestershire NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust 'Patient Experience' programme.
Forthcoming NHS Local Involvment Network LINk consultations on Hospital Discharge, Podiatry and NHS Dentistry.
Involved in a new Working Party reviewing Gloucestershire County Council and NHS Gloucestershire's Strategies for Older People
Involved in the Putting People First programme with the County Council and NHS Trusts (see elsewhere for details)
Represented on the Health & Wellbeing Partnership Board
Supporting various Older Persons' Forums and Seniors' Networks around the County (see elsewhere for details).
Supporting existing Hubs and helping to coordinate groups to establish new ones around the County (see elsewhere for details).
Had a stand at the 'Full of Life' event and had GOPA's founder and former Manager, Mick Churchward, honoured for his 'services to the community'.
Had a Trustee attend a joint NHS/GCC consultation on 'Reablement'