SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has circulated two patient surveys aimed at improving services in Accident and Emergency and Outpatients wards.

1700 patients in the Southport and Ormskirk area, chosen randomly from recent attendance at the relevant departments, should expect to see one of the 7 page questionnaires landing on their doorstep in the next few days, and are being urged by officials to have their say and return them promptly.

Jonathan Parry, Chief Executive of Southport and Ormskirk NHS Hospital Trust stressed that this is a key part of the review of the services provided and commented.

"The Trust values the views of it's patients tremendously and any feedback they give will be acted upon and should ensure an improvement in our provision for outpatients and those requiring emergency treatment. Indeed, every patient who receives a questionnaire should make the most of their chance to be heard."

The questionnaires cover topics such as access and waiting, environment and facilities, testing and treatment and overall impressions.

Full details can be found on this web page  NHS Survey.

NEW guidance to help new and expectant mothers at work will be launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at a conference for midwives, GPs, health visitors and other health professionals.

The free two guidance booklets - A Guide for new and expectant mothers who work - aimed at employees, and New and expectant mothers who work - a guide for health professionals, will be published on March 24, 2003 at the conference organised by the Sheffield Occupational Health Advisory Service.

The aim of the employee guide is to help answer some of the questions new and expectant mothers may have about continuing to work while pregnant or returning to work after giving birth. In particular, it sets out what action new and expectant mothers need to take and what action their employer must take to protect the health and safety of the new and expectant mother and that of her child.

The health professionals leaflet aims to inform health professionals, who provide advice to new and expectant mothers, on employers responsibilities and advise on what they can do to help ensure that their patients are not exposed to risks at work. 

Both the leaflets, which will also be on put on HSE's website, will compliment the employers' guide New and expectant mothers at work - A guide for employers, published last year. Pregnancy is not an illness; women should not be signed off sick for ill-health problems, which could be resolved by her employer meeting their legal duties. Employers are responsible for protecting the health and safety of new and expectant mothers from hazards and risks in the workplace. 

THE Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) is delighted to confirm a major collaboration between Royal and Sun Alliance (R&SA) and leading American company Unisys.

Unisys has secured the contract to operate R&SA's life insurance business and has chosen to base this operation in Liverpool, thanks to funding from the NWDA and Liverpool City Council.  Additional support from Liverpool Vision and The Mersey Partnership. 

Unisys is seeking to create a centre of excellence for financial outsourcing services in Liverpool, gaining the ability to recognise the strong financial and customer service skills available to the area. The company also aims to win additional contracts in order to extend the Liverpool operation.

Unisys will employ over 1000 people in Liverpool City Centre. This concurs with the government's latest figures announcing Liverpool as the largest growth area for employment outside London.

Mike Shields, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said:- "This announcement is marvellous news for Liverpool, and is an excellent demonstration of the growing confidence in Merseyside. It is also a fantastic example of key regional partners working and succeeding together to boost the economy of England's Northwest and shows what we are able to achieve when we work together."

Councillor Mike Storey, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:- "The City Council has worked closely with partners to secure this major transatlantic investment into Liverpool. This follows hard on other major financial services investors, including the Bank of New York and Coutts recently choosing Liverpool. There is some £3 billion worth of investment currently taking place in the city. Liverpool is working hard to become the most business friendly city in the UK and this latest investment announcement demonstrates that we really are becoming England's Capital for job creation."

Thomas O'Brien, Chief Executive of The Mersey Partnership, said:- "This welcome collaboration confirms again Liverpool is an ideal location for investment in business services. Unisys is the latest leading US company to recognise the skills and opportunities available on Merseyside and follows investments from many companies including IBM and US Airways. As Britain's friendliest city we look forward to welcoming the management and staff of Unisys to Liverpool and working with them in the years ahead." 

Jim Gill, Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision, said:- "I believe that this is a critical moment in the regeneration of the City Centre Business District. With two other major commercial developments imminent, we are now able to offer the supply, the skills and the environment which are essential if we are to re-establish Liverpool City Centre as one of the country's premier commercial destinations."

Southport Reporter is Trade Mark of Patrick Trollope.   Copyright © Patrick Trollope 2003.