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John O'Sullivan
12:20pm Friday 9th May 2008
There's more to healthcare than being in hospital...and South Downs Health NHS Trust looks after people at home, in clinics and health centres with a whole range of different services.
South Downs Health, which provides services mainly in Brighton and Hove is pushing ahead with developments which really make it easier for people to live independently, such as nurses specialising in helping those with chronic respiratory disease and heart failure. The Trust also provides centres such as Knoll House in Hove for people who have just come out of hospital and need extra care or support before going home. For those who have had strokes or suffered brain injuries or who have lost limbs there are rehabilitation centres in Shoreham and Brighton.
This is your chance to put questions to South Downs Chief Executive John O'Sullivan.
Your Say YourArgus
Beetle, says...
12:39pm Fri 9 May 08
John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
12:44pm Fri 9 May 08
Thanks for your question
NHS funding has increased significantly over the last 5 years but we can always do with more as people's health needs are increasing
The real problem we as providers face is that we need to make a 3% efficiency saving each year to make the overall increases go even further
Richard, Seven Dials says...
12:47pm Fri 9 May 08
John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
12:54pm Fri 9 May 08
What it means for us is that we have to work very closely with the Primary Care Trust, GPs and the Royal Sussex County Hospital to plan and set up new services that are of the highest quality.
This means making sure we have the right buildings and right staff to do this
the real question is what does it mean for you
I'll give 1 example - we have recently set up a new community service for people with breathing problems - when they have a problem they are looked after by a community team in their own home rather than having to be admitted into hospital
The feedback I get from patients and GPs is that this is a fantastic improvement
Smoker, says...
12:56pm Fri 9 May 08
John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
1:02pm Fri 9 May 08
Funny you should ask this question - it's exactly the question I asked the manager of our stop smoking service last week
and the answer is ....
we saw a large increase in people wanting to stop smoking in the run up to 1st July last year but this has fallen off since then as many pubs now have open spaces that allow people to smoke and drink in relative comfort
This is a shame really as we need to give people every help to stop smoking
If you were thinking about giving up why don't you contact our stop smoking service - I'm sure the Argus might want to do a follow up story !!
Doctor Kazoo, says...
1:05pm Fri 9 May 08
John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
1:11pm Fri 9 May 08
you don't need to be a Doctor to be Chief Executive of an NHS Trust but i do need to be able to call on top clinical advice from within the Trust. Our last Chief Executive was in fact a Doctor
The skills I need are a sense of humour, a passion for the services we provide, an ability to talk to people about what really matters to them and listen. Most of all I need to support all the leaders throughout the organisation to make the right decisions to help people and improve patient care
Skunky, says...
1:14pm Fri 9 May 08
John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
1:19pm Fri 9 May 08
People always say there are too many managers in the NHS and we are an easy target
we spend £70m of tax payers money each year and employ 1500 staff and I need to make sure that we manage this well
most of the managers in our services come from a clinical background and would not call themselves pen pushers
I do need to always make sure the balance is right though - so thanks for your question
Jeff, says...
1:21pm Fri 9 May 08
Do you think the Fit For The Future consultation is transparent and fair or have the big decisions about the future of our hospitals already been made.
Thanks,
Jeff
John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
1:26pm Fri 9 May 08
I don't belive that the big decisions had already been made.
The recommendation that West Sussex and Brighton & Hove PCT's are considering shows that the feedback from the public consultation has made a difference
The big point for me is that we need to change how we debate these issues in the future. Set piece events aren't the best way
we need to involve the public at a much earlier stage and get you to help come up with the solutions
Colbert, says...
1:27pm Fri 9 May 08
John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
1:31pm Fri 9 May 08
There are real concerns about this
We read everyday that people want better access to GP services and the government are looking at how to deal with this
Speaking from my own experience we have been providing services from Hove Polyclinic for the last 10 year working very closely with GPs - and have plans to develop a GP surgery on the same site
The benefit to patients is that they can go to Hove rather that RSCH for X-Ray and other services that individual GP practices could never provide themselves
John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
1:37pm Fri 9 May 08
If you have any comments please post them and I will respond
If you have any further questions please email me on john.osullivan@south
downs.nhs.uk
Have a nice weekend
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South Downs Chief Executive John O'Sullivan
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John O' Sullivan, The Argus says...
12:32pm Fri 9 May 08
I'm delighted to be here this lunchtime to answer any of your questions