Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

1. Present.
Pam Powell (minutes), Peter Smith, Melrose East, Biku Ghosh, Emma Mills, Brydon Williams, Peter Sampson (chair), Rachel Giaccone, Michelle Hall.

Apologies: 
Jill Curtis, Robyn Phillips, Iestyn Harrigan, Cath Price, Dave Williams, Anna Cannon.                                                                                    

2. Minutes of last meeting.  The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record.  

3. Matters arising.

·         Finance. We are still awaiting the £4,500 due from WAG but this is on the way.  

·         Website. This is now being updated regularly by Iestyn  

·         Health Systems Partnership Fund. This is a UK wide health partnership fund and Wales is seeking to have a say in how this is run, so it does not just involve the UK and have nothing to do with Wales.  

·         Annual Charity Commission Report. The audited funds for this completed year have now been signed off at the Aneurin Bevan health Board. The annual report now to be submittedby David Williams.  

·         Case studies. The staff at Dilla hospital has now started doing this. Biku / Robynwill assess this on the next visit.   

·         Study leave and funding. The meeting at which Biku and Melrose were to give a presentation to the Aneurin Bevan Health board on 22nd December was cancelled due to the bad weather and is rescheduled for 23rd February. The 5 points listed in the last minutes will be part of the presentation. After the meeting with Paul Williams (Chief executive of NHS Wales) on 3rd November a letter has been received with regard to study leave and Peter Sampson is in discussions with the trust about this. The issue of ‘pennies from heaven’ is being pursued. With regard to the dormant trust funds, discussions are on-going and this is an issue that affects all health boards. All trusts need to become more flexible on this matter and we need to get clarity from the charitable commissioners.   

·         Argus. There has been an article about the link printed in the newspaper.  

·         Motorbike ambulances. All of the older motorbike ambulances are now being serviced. The new one at Chichu is working fine and has so far taken mothers to hospital 13 times and more than this number to the health centre. The one at Chelekelectu had a problem but this was found to be that the driver was too weak and so a replacement driver had to be found. It is now running well. The company has agreed to pay the costs involved if necessary  

·         Mustse charity. This meeting between Biku, Melrose and the fund trustees has been rescheduled for  21st February so as to be able to give a breakdown of the fund  spending, and to thank them for the support and funding they have given us for the last 2 years.  

·         Wales for Africa health links group meeting.  This meeting was attended by Biku. There was a good discussion between the 8 links that attended. They decided that they would like to remain independent but have support from NHS and Public Health of Wales. It was decided to have an advisory board of 6 elected members who would meet every month to discuss policy etc., and then all the links would be invited to a 3 monthly meeting for presentations and discussions on activities. All the health links will be invited to nominate a person and if there are more than 6 there will be an election and this will take place at the AGM on 22nd February. Biku is willing to stand for election to represent our group and our members agreed that we would like him to represent our link.