Agenda Item
6
Lancashire LINk
Local Involvement Network
Lancashire LINk:
who are we?
• Local Involvement Networks (LINks) were
established in 2008 under the Local Government
and Public Health Act 2007
• We offer an Independent Voice in relation to
health and social care issues
• We act as a link between individuals and
communities, and commissioners and service
providers
• We have the power to hold services to account
Lancashire LINk:
where do we work?
• The LINk covers Lancashire (Blackpool and
Blackburn with Darwen have their own LINks) working
with Health Trusts, Local Authority and District
Councils:
• Clinical Commissioning Groups
• Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board
• Primary Care Trusts
• Hospital Trusts
• Lancashire County Council – Adult Social Care
• Care Quality Commission
LINk across Lancashire
The LINk Board has 12 elected members who represent the three localities
Wyre & Fylde
Lancaster
Morecambe
4 elected members
North
Locality
Support staff Lancaster office
Support staff Leyland office
Ribble Valley
Pendle
Hyndburn
Burnley
Rossendale
4 elected
members
Preston
South Ribble
Chorley
West Lancs.
4 elected members
East
Locality
Support staffBurnley office
Central
Locality
Lancashire LINk:
what do we look like?
• Elected Board -12 members, 6 individuals and 6 from
groups/organisations
• Locality groups: Board Members and volunteers
• Members – made up of individuals, representatives from
statutory and voluntary sector organisations, community
groups, user groups, elected members (councillors)
• Bi-monthly newsletter with wide circulation
• Membership is free
• Anyone can join
Lancashire LINk:
what are we here for?
• LINks are independent of the NHS and social
services
• We gather and record feedback from the public
(both positive and negative) anonymously and
confidentially
• We report this back to the Commissioners and
Managers of health and care services
• We also undertake more in-depth engagement
and project work
Lancashire LINk: projects
We have undertaken research and produced
reports on:
• Domiciliary care
• Hospital discharge
• Laundry services in care homes
• Prisoners and ex-offenders access to mental
health services
• What young people think about health services
• Translation and interpretation in healthcare
settings in Lancaster and Morecambe
Lancashire LINk: powers
The LINk has a number of statutory powers,
including the power to:
– Enter and view premises, eg hospital wards
and care homes
– Raise issues with service providers and
commissioners and gain a response within a
specified timescale
– Refer issues to the Health Scrutiny Committee
and the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Lancashire LINk:
how can we help?
• We work closely with Lancashire County Council
and have a presence around health and social
care locally
• We can provide support around engagement, in
particular with ‘hard to reach’ and marginalised
groups and communities
• We can help to organise meetings, events, focus
groups etc. to facilitate wider public involvement
and add value to patient engagement activities
Lancashire LINk:
how can we help?
• We can help to set up patient reference groups
which can assist with patient participation
• Through our newsletter, which has a wide
circulation, we can encourage involvement and
share information about issues which affect local
people
• We can utilise our extensive network of
individuals and organisations to help publicise
the new commissioning process and involve
local people
Thank you for listening
Contact details:
Preston office: 01772 431195
Burnley office: 01282 714384/5
Lancaster office: 01524 844097
E-mail:
lancashirelink@parkwoodhealthcare.co.uk
Website: www.lancashirelink.org.uk