Somerset Local Involvement Network Lucy Nicholls Development Officer “The independent patient voice for Somerset.”
Somerset Local Involvement Network
Lucy NichollsDevelopment Officer
“The independent patient voice for Somerset.”
Welcome
Local
Involvement
Network
LINk
HealthWatch
“The independent patient voice”
1974 2003 2008 2010 2012
PPI
forums
Community
Health Councils
LINks
(+ social care)
Health-Watch
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
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 :
Who is the LINk?
Third Sector orgs
Neighbourhood Groups
Ruralcommunities
Individuals
Patients’Groups
BusinessGroups
Carers’networks
Black andMinorityEthnic
Usergroups
Communitiesof interest
Community Groups
Tenants’Groups
FrontlineStaff
LINkLINk
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
What LINks should do with Patient Opinion….
1. Keep an eye on what is happening in your local area – make yourself known
What LINks should do with Patient Opinion….
2. Keep track of local trends
What LINks should do with Patient Opinion….
3. Add a Local Stories Widget to your website…
Tools for the future…. ?