Presentation to Exeter workshop from Lucy Nicholls, Somerset LINk. 9 June 2011.

1. Somerset Local Involvement
Network
Lucy Nicholls
Development Officer
“The independent patient voice for Somerset.”

2. Welcome
Local
Involvement
Network
LINk
HealthWatch

4. “The independent patient voice”
1974 2003 2008 2010 2012
PPI
forums
Community
Health Councils
LINks
(+ social care)
Health-
Watch

5. Local HealthWatch will :
Build on existing LINk functions :
 Be volunteer-led
 Gather views of local people
 Identifying problems and gaps in services
 Work with third sector, volunteer and user-
led organisations

6. Include possible new functions :
 Take on the PCT PALS function / staff (Signposting and
information on health and social care services / Help
people to access and make choices about care)
 Complaints advocacy responsibility from 2013
(currently ICAS)
 Escalate issues nationally through HealthWatch
England (a new committee of the CQC)
Local HealthWatch will :

7. Who is the LINk?
Third
Sector
orgs
Neighbourhood
Groups
Rural
communities
Individuals
Patients’
Groups
Business
Groups
Carers’
networks
Black and
Minority
Ethnic
User
groups
Communities
of interest
Community
Groups
Tenants’
Groups
Frontline
Staff
LINkLINk

9. Role of the LINk
(& why I use Patient Opinion)
LISTEN to local people’s stories
INVESTIGATE issues of concern to the community
MONITOR local health and social care services
USE ITS POWERS to hold services to account and
get results




10. What LINks should do with
Patient Opinion….
1. Keep an eye on what is happening in your local
area – make yourself known

11. What LINks should do with
Patient Opinion….
2. Keep track of local trends

12. What LINks should do with
Patient Opinion….
3. Add a Local Stories Widget to your website…

13. Tools for the future…. ?

14. Lucy Nicholls
Development Officer
Somerset LINk
lucy.nicholls@helpandcare.org.uk