Inside this Issue:
Leicestershire LINks May 2009 Update 2 Would you like the LINk to visit your group? 2 Have you been affected by these issues 3 LINks Explained
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Hospital Discharge Procedures 4 Come and find out about the LINk 5 The LINk Moves Out of Transition 5 LINk up with Leicestershire Partnership Trust 6 You Can Influence Future Cancer Care Services 6 EMAS bidding to become an NHS Foundation Trust 7 Swine Flu
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Contact Us
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Issue 2
LINk Launch Success Over a 100 people from all over Leicestershire and who have interests in health and social care joined in to celebrate the official launch of the Leicestershire LINk at the Brite Centre in March. The event was opened with a welcome by the Chair for the event, Greg Drozdz, who introduced the first speaker, Colin Headley. Colin gave a whistle stop review of some of the history of public involvement in health and social care from the 12th Century up to present day. He made special reference to local institutions created in the past by public subscription, which are still Colin Headley welcomes everybody supported and regarded with great affection by local communities today. Colin concluded with an overview of what the LINk is and how it plans to be involved and to improve services for the local population. He also reinforced the LINks commitment to work with the City and Rutland County LINks when appropriate and to work co-operatively with service providers. The second speaker was Meg Galley-Taylor who has special responsibility at Board level for public engagement and involvement in NHS Leicestershire County & Rutland. Meg acknowledged the work that had been done by previous organisations to improve health services for patients and hoped that the knowledge and experience gained would not be lost or wasted. Having LINk representatives working with the Trust would make it easier to listen to local concerns, provide another channel for LINk staff and Debbie Wright feedback and enable the LINk to bring about changes to improve services. enjoying the celebrations Continued on page 7... Page 1
Leicestershire LINks update Since our last newsletter, Members and staff have continued to undertake the vitally important groundwork required to ensure we are an effective, efficient, and recognised LINk, which carries out the Governments intention of being the voice of the people in addressing and challenging local Health and Social care issues. One of the cornerstones of our role is for us to actively involve the people of Leicestershire, seek their views, and address key issues which arise. To achieve this we have: • • •
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Other successes which have been undertaken by members working on the Task Group have included, 084 telephone cost for patients, issues raised by Parish Councils, Continence Materials Management, Parkinson’s disease, and addressing the many questions raised at the public launch.
The immediate future
The Projects Target Group is working on a number of topics including mixed sex wards, identification of concerns expressed about Continued to gain new members Social care provision, Ambulance service Developed our own systems of working and provision. We will soon be addressing Mental Health provision. involvement Established working guidelines with the We are aware that every member does not main Health Trusts (UHL, Leicester Partnership Trust, EMAS, Voluntary Sector have the time, or desire to become actively involved in task groups, though if you are, you and Leicestershire County Council Social would be most welcome. Training, expenses Care) and support can be given. Responded to concerns already received
Positive results
ALL members have a vital role to contribute to our effectiveness by informing us of concerns that come to their attention; joining in Whilst retaining our independence, we have consultation surveys, encouraging new agreed that on issues of major common membership, talking with us to see how they concern/interest, joint workings and approaches are made between all three LINks can become part of the voice of the public of Leicestershire. - Leicester City, County and Rutland. Accordingly, an excellent public meeting on Please do not hesitate to contact us, your Dementia was organised by City LINk which has resulted in significant ongoing work for us contribution will be highly valued and will add to a more effective impact. We do which will hopefully benefit the public of the whole of Leicester & Leicestershire. Currently value your interest and membership. we are in the early stages of jointly organising a presentation on Diabetes.
Would you like the LINk to visit your group? If your organisation would be interested in a visit from the LINk to talk about our role, and the different ways in which everyone can be involved, please contact us. Our contact details are on Page 8 or you could visit the Leicestershire LINk website www.leicestershirelink.org.uk Page 2
Have YOU been affected by these issues? YOUR VOICE matters At the LINk launch a number of health and social care issues were put to the panel, with the emphasis on how different communities would be involved, especially those who may not have been heard in the past. With your help, we want to act on these issues. These are the themes and concerns that were raised: • Health and social care issues that affect younger people
do we involve younger people in having their say? TheHowLINk moves out of Transition • Mental Health services At the April meeting of the Transitional Steering Group of the LINk we approved by a Are you satisfied with the services or are there gaps? What are the key unanimous vote a collection of documents we refer to as the Governance Document. Now issues? that these documents are in place the Steering Group voted to move from being a transitional organisation to a formal or substantive LINk. This means that the Steering Group now • Accessing healthuntil and social care information andlater services becomes the LINk Council such time as elections can be held this year.
Particularly for ethnic minorities and the newer communities, such as Some Eastern people may not know what Governance means, so here is a quick, and I hope, easily Europeans, moving into Leicestershire understood explanation. To put it simply Governance is what stops an organisation dissolving into chaos and anarchy. It is like the constitution of a sports or social club and it defines a set • Older accessfortocertain public transport, to or of rules, whichpeople provide and the authority people to do thepotentially tasks they’veleading been elected social isolation and of health related problems. have volunteered to do. Some the documents are quite detailed whilst others only provide There is which also the of the ‘personalisation of social which raises a broad outline, can issue then have additional documents tacked ontocare,’ them to give more detailed guidance worries as and when it’s required. particular for older people. The sorts of things included in our Governance Document are financial controls, conduct of • Patient transport and getting to and from appointments members, and the relationship between the LINk and the Host organisation. So the main What is youra constitution experience? difference between and governance is that the constitution is usually fixed and can only be altered at an annual or extraordinary meeting, whilst the governance document can grow and develop and as circumstances change, simply by voting at the Council meeting to Get involved join a Task Group include new procedures.
If you have experience of any of these areas raised at the LINk launch and would be The full Governance Document will contact be published on the LINk web and site and updated interested in contributing, please the LINk Staff Team talk ittowill usbe about joining whenever a change is made. Printed versions will be available on request but updates will not and establishing a Task Group. automatically be sent out, however details of changes will be announced in the LINk Real involvement needs to happen Newsletter.
There were also questions about how the LINk will work with and involve African Colin Headley Caribbean communities. will be talking to Akwaaba Ayeh and asking for their advice Chair of Leicestershire LINkWe Council on how we take this forward. Parish Councils are also keen to be involved and raised issues about access to health and social care services for people living in rural areas. We will take up these issues and report back in the next LINk newsletter. If there are other issues you would like the LINk to be involved in, or you would wish to raise with us – please get in touch.
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LINks Explained ‘Make it happen’ is the national strap-line for What areas LINks, which summarises very well what can LINks be LINks are for. ‘LINk’ stands for Local Involvement Network and around the country involved in? they are providing opportunities for individuals, LINks can be involved in any aspect of health groups and organisations to work together to and social care and are particularly keen to make a difference to health and social care involve individuals and groups which often do services. not have a voice. The job of a LINk is to find out what people think is good about local services but also what is not so good, or where there is an identified gap in service provision. Then to work directly with the people who plan and run those services to make improvements, such as NHS Trusts and Local Authorities. For Leicestershire, it offers a wonderful opportunity to existing networks, individuals, organisations and community groups to work together to improve health and social care services.
What power do LINks have? Not only is the LINk an independent network of local people, it also has the powers to: • • • •
Already the LINk is involved in many areas of work in Leicestershire, which include the following: The LINK is supporting the Parkinson’s Disease Society’s ‘Get It on Time’ campaign. We have contacted all the statutory providers of health & social care services locally to ask about their policies in this respect. If you have particular concerns or know of good practice we would like to hear from you The Leicestershire LINk is working with the Leicester City LINk looking at services for people with Dementia. Again if this is an area where you have a particular interest then please get in touch
In addition to health care the LINk also has powers to work with Social Care issues. Are Visit services you in receipt of social care services or are Ask Commissioners for information and get you a carer for someone who is? We would a response within a specific timescale like to hear about what is working well and Make recommendations and get a where the gaps in service provision are. response within a specific timescale; and Refer matters to the Overview and Scrutiny As a member of the LINk you can work with others to try to achieve an improvement in Committee service provision.
Hospital Discharge Procedures Discharge procedures are an essential part of good health and social care. The LINk has been asked to look at how hospital discharge procedures are working in the local hospitals. We would like to hear from you if you have concerns or examples of good practice. The LINk is planning to form a Task Group to work on this area. Maybe this is something you would like to be involved in. Please contact us with any information or to discuss how you might like to be involved in this work. Page 4
Come and find out about the LINk
The LINk moves out of Transition
The LINk is about local people coming together to improve social care and health and about listening to what people have to say about their experience.
At the April meeting of the Transitional Steering Group of the LINk we approved by a unanimous vote a collection of documents we refer to as the Governance Document. Now that these documents are in place the Steering Group voted to move from being a transitional organisation to a formal or substantive LINk. This means that the Steering Group now becomes the LINk Council until such time as elections can be held later this year.
A programme of local events is being organised to take place during May and June in market towns around the county. The aim is to let people know that they have a local LINk, to encourage people to get involved as ACTIVE members, to provide information, and importantly to find out people’s views about services in their localities. In the next few weeks, we will be out and about on market days so that we can reach as many people as possible. We are starting in Loughborough, where we will have a market stand with lots of LINk information, displays and banners, so hopefully you should easily be able to identify us and let us know your views. Where you will find the Leicestershire LINk:
Some people may not know what Governance means, so here is a quick, and I hope, easily understood explanation. To put it simply Governance is what stops an organisation dissolving into chaos and anarchy. It is like the constitution of a sports or social club and it defines a set of rules, which provide the authority for certain people to do the tasks they’ve been elected or have volunteered to do. Some of the documents are quite detailed whilst others only provide a broad outline, which can then have additional documents tacked onto them to give more detailed guidance as and when it’s required. The sorts of things included in our Governance Document are financial controls, conduct of members, and the relationship between the LINk and the Host organisation. So the main difference between a constitution and governance is that the constitution is usually fixed and can only be altered at an annual or extraordinary meeting, whilst the governance document can grow and develop as circumstances change, simply by voting at the Council meeting to include new procedures.
•Loughborough (close to the Town
Hall) Saturday 16th May from 10am •Hinckley, Castle Street
Saturday 30th May from 10am
•Melton, Collectors Market
Wednesday 10th June from 10am
We also need help at these events and are really keen for current LINk members to volunteer to get the word out. So, if you are a member of the LINk and can spare some time to hand out leaflets and speak to people at any of these events, please contact the LINk Host organisation.
The full Governance Document will be published on the LINk web site and it will be updated whenever a change is made. Printed versions will be available on request but updates will not automatically be sent out, however details of changes will be announced in the LINk Newsletter. Colin Headley, Chair of Leicestershire LINk Council
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LINk up with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust Leicestershire Partnership Trust recently held a briefing event to explain to service users and the LINk their response to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Annual Health Check. The Annual Health Check is a selfassessment process in which the Trust declares whether or not it has met the exacting 24 core standards laid out in documents published by CQC. These standards cover such areas as Safety, Clinical and Cost Effectiveness, Patient Focus, Accessible Care, the Care Environment and Public Health. The whole process is subject to independent verification. In addition to the self-assessment there is provision for the Trust Board to include a commentary, which can be supported by factual and anecdotal evidence from service users, carers and organisations like the LINk.
certain areas, which did not fully meet the standards. These areas include improving inpatient care, personal development plans for all staff and additional mandatory training for all patient contact staff in resuscitation and the management and prevention of physical aggression. Also improvements have been made in catering information leaflets, nutritional assessment and food safety management.
This year the internal assessors are recommending compliance with all 24 standards to the Trust Board. This is made possible through a programme of continuous improvement work undertaken following the declaration for 2007/08, which highlighted
To enable the LINk to be ready for next years report there will be a database set-up to record evidence as it is made known and there will be a facility to identify the relevant core standard to which the evidence refers, as well as the site or part of the organisation concerned.
Although it has not been possible for the LINk to submit a commentary with evidence for this year’s report, LINk members who attended this event were very impressed with the information provided by the Trust and the willingness of the Trust to respond to questions. A joint submission has been made by three individual members.
You can influence future cancer care If you have been affected by cancer in any way, your experience can help improve services.
• Working with NHS staff to improve the way that patients are given the news that they have cancer. By joining the Cancer Partnership Group, you • Influencing plans for hospital developments can meet with local NHS staff to discuss ways and changes to treatment services of improving cancer services at your local • Designing, conducting and preparing hospital, GP practice, Hospice and community reports on Patient Satisfaction services. questionnaires If you can help, the amount of time is entirely • Helping decide on the best type of information for patients and carers, and the up to you and all expenses are paid. Actions best time to give the information you may be involved with include: For more information, contact Debbie Wright who is the Macmillan User Involvement Facilitator Tel: 0116 2727218, Mobile: 07733001547 or email debbie.wright@leicestercity.nhs.uk Page 6
EMAS bidding to become an NHS Foundation Trust East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) are inviting people to comment on their proposals to operate as an NHS Foundation Trust.
Public consultation meetings for this area are as follows (confirm your attendance by ringing the Foundation Trust team on 0115 884 5254):
EMAS provide a very wide range of transport and clinical services for patients. By becoming a member, patients and staff will have the opportunity to influence the future service delivery of local ambulance services.
• 16 June 2009 from 6pm till 7pm at the Best Western Hotel, Normanton Park, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8RP.
They provide a vital service to people, so it is important that you let EMAS know your views. A consultation document has been produced and there is information on the EMAS website on www.emas.nhs.uk/ft or you can telephone 0115 884 5254 or email foundationtrust@emas.nhs.uk.
• 18 June 2009 from 6pm till 7 pm at the Peepul Centre, Leicester LE4 6DP
You will see from the article on page 3 of the newsletter that the LINk is inviting people to share their experience and views on patient transport in Leicestershire. This could also provide a really good opportunity to respond to the EMAS consultation – so, please contact us and join a Task Group.
...Continued from Page 1 David Sprason, Cabinet Lead for Adult Social Care for Leicestershire County Council, expressed pleasure that so many people had come to the launch and welcomed the establishment of the LINk, particularly the extension of it’s involvement into social care. This would provide an opportunity for the public to influence local authority and health care organisations to provide the services that local people want and need. He went on to say that: “The involvement of Leicestershire people is essential in the planning and development of all our services and the LINk can make a vital contribution to that and has an important part to play in consultations.” Greg Drozdz spoke as the representative of the voluntary sector and welcomed the possibility of joint working with the LINk. He expressed his personal commitment to being involved and encouraged the extension of co-operative networks across the county. Greg emphasised the need to be democratic and relevant, as he put it: “From Barwell to Bottesford the LINk should be leaders of the community, be evolutionary and sometimes even revolutionary.“ Greg concluded by thanking the speakers and introducing the members of the panel for a question and answer session. The members of the panel were Geoff Smith, LINk Member; Diana Cook , Rural Community Council; Prakash Panchal, Leicestershire Ethnic Minority Partnership; Colin Headley, LINk Chair and Gill Wollerton, Host Project Manager. The event concluded with refreshments and the opportunity for everyone to meet with LINk members and to talk to guest speakers. Page 7
Contact us
Swine flu
Local health agencies are keeping a close eye The Leicestershire LINk covers Leicestershire and is hosted by on the developments regarding swine flu, so that they can respond to any changes. CVS Community Partnership. Although there are currently no cases confirmed in the East Midlands, NHS Leicestershire County & Rutland are advising people that the best way they can protect themselves from infection is by helping reduce the spread of germs.
Based at: Beaumont Enterprise Centre Boston Road Leicester LE4 1HB
This includes:
General email: info@leicestershirelink.org.uk
• Covering your nose and mouth when • •
• •
coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible. Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully. Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people. Cleaning hard surfaces (eg door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product. Making sure your children follow this advice.
Website: www.leicestershirelink.org.uk Gill Wollerton Project Manager Tel: 0116 2293028 Email: gill@ccp.org.uk Ian Clowes Engagement Officer Tel: 0116 2293050 Email: ian@ccp.org.uk
Every household will receive a leaflet on important information about swine flu. For upto-date information log onto the NHS choices Christine Middleton website: www.nhs.uk/Pages/homepage.aspx . Engagement Officer Health advice and information is also available Tel: 0116 2293048 from NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Email: christine@ccp.org.uk Shanti Thanki Information & Admin Officer Tel: 0116 2293103 Email: shanti@ccp.org.uk
Visit the Leicestershire LINk website: www.leicestershirelink.org.uk you can also join our Facebook group Page 8