LINKED UP NEWS October 2010
“Growing Stronger Communities - by joining together, many whispers become one voice”
Wirral’s Future: Be a part of it By Wirral Council Press Office & the LINk Support Team Wirral Council has pledged to engage with residents, staff, stakeholders, businesses and community groups right across Wirral in a huge consultation process that will shape the future of Council services. So far the Council has already distributed over 11,500 questionnaires and the consultation roadshow team have spoken to more than 4100 people at 49 different events and locations across the borough. Leader of Wirral Council, Councillor Jeff Green said: “I am delighted that so many people are taking such a keen interest in the consultation, taking the time to find out more and giving us their views on how the Council should be spending their money. This admin-
The LINk has recently completed it’s first major report, which looks at the process of being discharged from hospital on the Wirral. The report, which has been shared with NHS Wirral and Wirral Universities Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was carried out by the LINk to follow up a previous survey by Wirral Older People’s Parliament which led to Wirral University Teaching Hospitals setting up a “Patient Flow Group” to improve the discharge process. The report concluded that al-
Wirral’s communities. “In a few months, we will be setting the Council’s budget therefore, local residents, staff and communities who want their voices to
The Coalition Government has outlined a series of proposals for the future of the NHS. Issued back in July the White Paper, ‘Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS’, sets out wide-ranging and significant changes to the NHS. As part of this process, four public consultations are being carried out. Of particular interest to the LINk is the proposal to replace LINks with a new body called HealthWatch from April 2012, contained in the
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Council staff at a roadshow - the Consultation runs until Friday October 22nd
istration has promised that no part of Wirral will be ignored or left behind, so I am really impressed that we are receiving ideas, suggestions and comments from across all of
though WUTH had done a lot to improve the patient’s experience of the discharge process, implementation of the discharge process lacked consistency. A sub group of the LINk, including Diane Hill, Sheila Kennedy, Diana Nightingale, Maureen Makin, Barbara Moody and Stanley Mayne, worked hard on designing and distributing four surveys, looking at discharge to Wirral services, to Cheshire West and Chester services, at the experience of people in the discharge lounge, and at care professionals opinions of the process. Almost 200 responses were
Active Membership
improvements to care services on the Wirral. It is volunteer-led, and Local Involvement Network mem- the more people who are able to get bers who would like to take a more involved, the more we will be able active part in the LINk are being en- to do”, and she encouraged memcouraged to get involved in ongo- bers to get in touch with the LINk ing work. Diane Hill, LINk Chair, Support Team. appealed for anyone with relevent The activities which are currently expertise or available time and en- available for active members to thusiasm, to look at the LINk work- get involved with are distributing plan to see if there are areas where Dignity in Care Cards, undertaking they can contribute. Speaking after training to become and Authorised the LINk Board Meeting on October Representative, helping to man the 5th, Diane said that “Wirral LINk is ‘kiosk’ at Arrowe Park Hospital, about working together to achieve Story Continues on Page 3 By the LINk Support Team
Government Consults on Future of the NHS By the LINk Support Team
LINk Reports on Hospital Discharge By the LINk Support Team
Issue 8
Image of Arrowe Park Hospital
received in total, which were then compiled by the LINk Support Team. Recommendations in the report included: brief job swaps to improve understanding and communication between WUTH staff and staff in the community; meetings with spe-
cialist forums to improve communications between Wirral LINk and health and social care professionals; Inter-operable computer systems between Wirral University Teaching Hospitals and community services to also include the cross-boundary Story Continues on back page
LINk Support Team Settles In Support Team Although the new system is still not entirely up-to-speed, the situaAs reported in the last issue, the tion is improving and the team hope LINk Support Team have moved that normal service will be resumed offices, along with the rest of VCA very soon. Wirral, and are now based in the We would like to thank all LINk Fire Station in Birkenhead. members for their patience and forThe move is now complete, but the bearance during this transition. process has not been without diffiSeveral LINk meetings have alculties. In particular, installation of ready been held in the commua new digital telephone/computer nity rooms or the VCAW meeting system led to unforseen ongoing room at the Fire Station, with more technical issues, which at times has planned for the near future. made it difficult to contact the LINk LINk Support Team Ccntact Details, back page By Lisa Phillips and Phil Davies, LINk Support Team
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LINKED UP NEWS
October 2010
Wirral LINk: Addressing the Future By the LINk Support Team In response to the recent proposed changes to the NHS, including changes to the way local patient and public involvement is carried out, Wirral LINk held two events during September and October to let active LINk members contribute their thoughts and ideas about the future direction of the LINk. The first ‘Addressing the Future’ Event was held in Bebington Civic Centre on Thursday 16th September, with a follow-up event held on October 4th in the Lauries Centre in Birkenhead. The aim of the events was to update LINk members about the changes, and to look at how members can take more of an active role in the work of the LINk. The events were reasonably attended, with nearly fifty people attending across both days. Representatives from statutory organisations (Wirral Council and the NHS) were invited to the afternoon in Birkenhead, in keeping with the LINk’s committment to working in partnership with care commissioners and providers. Issues discussed included Enter and View visits, involving active members, keeping LINk members informed, responding to the NHS White Paper, and the transition to Health Watch. Also discussed was the range of options open to the LINk for requesting information from the NHS
What are my opportunities to get involved?
Dignity in Care
As part of the ongoing Dignity in Care Campaign we need volunteers to distribute the Feedback Cards. If you are able to take a few of these cards to your local library, lunch club, community centre, dentist, GP or pharmacy, please get in touch.
Task Groups
We are looking for members for the following task groups:
Long Term Conditions Patient Safety Alerts If you would be interested in joining these groups, contact Elaine Evans.
Enter & View Training
The LINk is looking to increase its bank of trained ‘Enter & View’ Authorised Representatives. Training in the necessary requirements, sensitivities and constraints will be provided and members will need to have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. If you’re interested, please let us know ASAP.
Arrowe Park Kiosk
The LINk regularly has a presence in Arrowe Park Hospital foyer, to tell members of the public and NHS staff about the LINk, gather feedback and promote the Dignity in Care campaign. The next dates are October 26th and December 2nd, and we need volunteers who can spare an hour or so to man the stall.
If you would like to be involved in any of the above work streams, please contact the Support Team and from Wirral Council. These information requests can range from informal email requests via the LINk Support Team to written Freedom of Information requests. The LINk has formed good relationships with providers and commissioners of health care and social care, and communications with these organisations are on the whole very good. A key finding of the two days was that the LINk Board needs to communicate more clearly with mem-
bers via the LINk Support Team. Steps have already been taken to ensure that this happens and that active members are informed about available opportunities. LINk Vice-Chair, Audrey Meacock, said “the LINk Board were very aware that we need to make sure that LINk members are fully involved, particularly in light of the proposed changes to the NHS and the potential transition from LINks to Local HealthWatch.
‘Equity and Excellence’ Continued from Page 1 consultation entitled ‘Increasing Democratic Legitimacy in Health’. The LINk Board has coordinated a response specifically to this consulation. The other three public consultations are: • Transparency in outcomes - a framework for the NHS • Commissioning for patients • Regulating healthcare providers The Government has pledged to increase health spending in real terms in each year of this Parliament, and say that the reforms are to give patients more choice and control, so that services are more responsive to patients and designed around them. The underlying principle of the changes will be “no decisions about me without me”. Under the new plans, patients will be able to choose which GP practice they register with, regardless of where they live, and choose between consultant-led teams. More comprehensive and transparent in-
formation, such as patients’ own ratings, will help them make these choices together with healthcare professionals. Groups of GPs will be given freedom and responsibility for commissioning care for their local communities. Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts will be phased out. Management costs will be reduced so that as much resource as possible supports frontline services. The reforms build on changes started under the previous Government. Further consultations are being planned by the Department of Health for later this year, including consultations on the Improving Choice Strategy, the Public Health White Paper and the Information Strategy. Wirral LINk Board have coordinated a response to the first of these consultations, and have also made comments on the proposals to establish HealthWatch. These responses are available in the News section of the LINk website.
“We await much further detail, particularly for how Local HealthWatch will relate to Healthwatch England which will be part of the Care Quality Commission” Wirral LINk Board
Murdo Kennedy, one of the LINk Board Members who coordinated the response, commented that “Among many far reaching proposals are that LINks will become Local HealthWatch by 2012, with an additional remit for taking on individual complaints. We are starting to talk to stakeholders and GP representatives about transition arrangements and about building a system where complaints feedback can be used constructively to improve outcomes and effectiveness without getting bogged down in delays and expense with lawyers.”
We would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to attend these events, and we will be doing our best to translate your feedback into action.” LINk members who would like to be more actively involved are encouraged to contact the LINk Support Team using the contact details listed on the back page. Some of the available options for volunteers are shown above, with additional opportunities expected to arise shortly.
LINk Starts to Tweet By Phil Davies LINk Support Team
You can now get Wirral LINk updates via Twitter. Twitter is a social media website that lets users send out updates, or ‘tweets’ of up to 140 characters. Dont worry if you don’t quite “get it” - the communications subgroup has arranged for some ‘social media’ training for LINk members. If you want to get more involved in communicating online about health and social care, this half day session might be for you. A date has been provisionally booked for November 13th at UK Online in Liscard. Numbers are limited, tobook a place contact Phil Davies on 0151 203 2111. Follow the LINk at www.twitter.com/LINkWirral
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LINKED UP NEWS
October 2010
LINk Workplan Update
Dignity in Care Campaign Group recommends that the LINk works on topics gathers pace By the LINk Support Team
including Patient Safety Alerts and Dignity in Care
The LINk’s Dignity in Care Campaign continues to gain momentum. By the LINk Support Team Nearly 200 responses have been The LINk’s workplan sub-group received, with Wirral residents and has been working hard over the past service users telling us about their few months, looking at the issues care experiences, both positive or received from the public and from negative. LINk members and distilling them There will be a renewed drive to into a workplan for the next year. distribute and collect feedback cards This process has been complicated over the next few months, before an by the uncertainty about the forinterim report is published later in mat of the LINk after March 2011, the year. For more information, visit when it looks likely to become the LINk website. Local HealthWatch. The end result Diane Hill, LINk Chair, said is a workplan up to March 2011 “thank you to everyone who has that covers the main topics raised filled in the Dignity in Care cards at LINk events, continues ongoing already, telling us about the services projects, and allows for urgent isand how they’ve been treated”. sues to be addressed as they arise. Ongoing work topics include Personalisation, Dignity in Care, Discharge, Stroke, Care for the Elderly and Patient Safety Alerts. These topics will often just be periodic monitoring of the effects of changes as a result of previous work, but can also involve taking a previous project on to a new stage where there are ongoing issues and concerns.
Wirral LINk is ready to make tracks into 2011
In relation to new work, some topics will be dealt with simply by a request for information. Others may require a new ‘task & finish’ group to be set up and carry out detailed work plans after approval by the LINk Board. The LINk will also respond to significant new concerns and issues as they arise. New work already identified includes Quality Accounts, long term conditions,
healthcare for children and young people, and nursing home ratings. The activities needed to support this work includes formal “Enter and View” visits, involvement and outreach work. Active members are being encouraged to get involved in any areas of work that interest them or where they have expertise. Please contact the LINK Support team for more information.
• Care Quality Commission publishes community mental health survey Continued from Page 1 LINk Coffee Mornings • Memory Matters in Wirral To allow members and the pub• Health Options: Home, or a and sitting on the Long Term Conlic to become more involved, the stay in the Park? ditions and Patient Safety Alerts LINk will be holding several coffee • Opinions about Mental Health sub-groups. mornings over the next few months. Trust services in the North In addition, members can also At these events, speakers from the West come to any LINk Board meeting • Flu vaccination plug from as an observer, and can contribute NHS and Wirral Council will give presentations on topics that will health expert their feedback and experiences via hopefully interest members and • LINK responds to NHS the LINk website. stimulate debate and feedback. Consultation For more on any of these stories visit www.linkwirral.org.uk
The dates for these events are not available at the time of going to press, but will be publicised on www.linkwirral.org.uk and in writing to LINk members as soon as the date, venue and speaker have been determined. If you have an idea for one of these coffee mornings, please let the LINk know via the Support Team.
Recent news from linkwirral.org.uk By the LINk Support Team
Stop Press! 3SA Event Announced
Active Members Asked to Come Forward
Classifieds and diary dates By the LINk Support Team & the LINk Board
Christian Cancer Support Group Meets twice monthly in West Kirby, all welcome. Contact Sister Marie Wirral Third Sector Assembly on 0151 625 8775 or 0151 638 (3SA) is in the process of planning 6370 an event in partnership with NHS LINk Board Meetings in Public Wirral to inform voluntary & comNovember 9th, 9.30am start at the munity groups about the changes to Pavilion in Birkenhead Park the NHS and what they will mean December 7th, 9.30am start at the for the third sector on Wirral. Pavilion in Birkenhead Park This event will be held on NovemArrowe Park Kiosk ber 24th at Wallasey Town Hall. The LINk will have a stand in ArMore details will be circulated to rowe Park hospital main foyer on 3SA and LINk organisational memOctober 26th and December 2nd. bers over the next fortnight.
By Dennis Jones, VCA Wirral
We are currently looking for volunteers to help man the stand. Discharge / Dignity in Care Working Group These groups have been combined, and the next meeting will be held at Birkenhead Pavilion on Thursday 28th October starting at 9.30. Communications Sub-Group The next meeting of the Communications Sub-Group will be held on Friday December 5th at Birkenhead Fire Station, starting at 9.30am. Merseyside LINk Event A regional event for Merseyside LINks to look at transition to HealthWatch is being planned. More de-
tails are expected shortly. Social Media Training Training in using social media will be held for LINk members on November 13th (TBC). To book a place, contact the LINk Support Team. LINKED UP NEWS If you have articles, events or features that you would like to see in the next edition of LINKED UP NEWS, please contact Phil Davies. The deadline for the next edition is 12noon on Friday December 3rd.
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LINKED UP NEWS
Professionals help local groups By Karen Prior & Julie Podmore, VCA Wirral
ProHelp has previously helped with one-off projects, such as a structural survey, marketing or business plan, a property valuation or accountancy advice, or with projects that need support from a number of professional disciplines and provide an opportunity for ProHelp members to work collaboratively. The guiding principle of ProHelp is that members approach projects in the same way as they would approach an instruction from feepaying client - the only difference is that the community client is not charged. Locally we have a bank of very enthusiastic Professionals ie Solicitors, Accountants, Surveyors, Architects (Landscape and Community), Banking Advice, Construction, Graphics and Photographic, and Structural Inspectors who work with local voluntary & community organisations to offer support and advice on a 100 hour pro bono basis.
Organisational members of the LINk may be interested in the services offered by Wirral ProHelp. ProHelp’s aim is to ensure that local community groups can access free professional help and advice with issues that might otherwise hinder their work and projects. They focus support in areas of greatest need, examples of the sorts of projects they help with are: • When and how should I negotiate a new lease for my building? • Are my employment contracts in good order? • How can I adapt my building to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act? • Does my organisation need a brand identity? • Are my accounting systems robust enough to deal with our rapid growth? ProHelp offers ac“Professional firms cess to a How can I access range of make a real difference to ProHelp? profesour local communities To see if your sional exis pertise by providing some of organisation eligible for sup- members their service for free” port, visit www. include sovcawirral.org.uk, licitors, acor contact Julie countants, Julie Podmore, ProHelp Coordinator Podmore, ProsurveyHelp Co-ordinaors, architects, public relations, tor, on 0151 203 2111 (ext 220) or marketing and management conjulie.podmore@vcawirral.org.uk. sultants who undertake one-off Further information and applicaprojects. Each ProHelp group is a tion forms can also be found on local network of professional firms www.vcawirral.co.uk in the Projwho often work collaboratively on ects and Services section. larger projects.
October 2010
“Process lacks consistency” Continued from front page...
cess has lacked consistency. Our recommendations include brief job Neston and Willaston GP practices swaps between hospital and comwho use the hospital’s services; munity staff, inter-operable comand a “Red Book” personal care puter systems record system for for hospital and patients with long community staff term conditions. and a “red book” Murdo Kennedy, personal care rewho wrote the final cord for people report, commented with long term that ”although conditions.” Wirral University The response to Teaching Hospithis report from tals (WUTH) NHS NHS Wirral and Foundation Trust Wirral Univerhas done a great sities Hospitals Copies of the final report are available deal to improve the NHS Foundation patient’s experience Trust will appear on the LINk webof the discharge process, the implesite as soon as it is received. mentation of their discharge pro-
Wirral Council Consults Continued from front page...
be heard, need to make sure they complete and return their questionnaire now.” The Council has already had over 1200 responses and still has another three and a half weeks of roadshows remaining, visiting places such as supermarkets, shopping centres, libraries, youth centres and Birkenhead market. Of particular interest to LINk members might be the Adult Social Care Options Paper, which outlines in detail the recommendations for
social care provision for adults. Annette Roberts, Chief Executive of VCA Wirral, said that the consultation “is a great chance for Wirral residents and organisations to let the Council know what they consider to be the important issues”, and encouraged all LINk members to complete the survey. The survey can be completed at any council office, one stop shop, sports centre, youth hub or library, by catching one of the roadshows, or completing it online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/WQVLTRV
Contact Details Wirral Local Involvement Network (LINk) c/o VCA Wirral, Fire Station, Exmouth Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4NF Tel: 0151 203 2111 Fax: 0151 666 5300 Email: wirrallink@vcawirral.org.uk www.linkwirral.org.uk
LINk Support Team
Karen Prior, LINk Manager (part-time) Ext. 203 Elaine Evans, LINk Support Officer Ext. 211 Phil Davies, LINk Comms & Information Officer (part-time) Ext. 207 Lisa Phillips, LINk Admin Support Officer (part-time) Ext. 209 To contact LINk staff call 0151 203 2111 (+ Ext) Office Hours 9.00am - 4.30pm
Success Story: Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm When the lease for the café premises at Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm in Bidston was due to expire in 2009, Farm Manager John Jakeman successfully submitted an application to Wirral ProHelp for assistance from a Property Surveyor. Wirral ProHelp member Chris Johnson of Smith & Sons Property Consultants, based in Hamilton Square, visited the café premises for an inspection and subsequently provided a full valuation including the property’s current rental value. This enabled a new four year lease to be drawn up and signed by the private proprietors who now run the café.
Editor: Phil Davies Design: Phil Davies To subscribe or change your contact details, phone 0151 203 2111 LINKED UP NEWS is published on behalf of Wirral LINk by: VCA Wirral, Fire Station, Exmouth Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4NF Copyright © 2010 Wirral Local Involvement Network (LINk) Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this newsletter is accurate, but we cannot guarantee accuracy and our articles do not constitute legal or professional advice. Opinions expressed in the newsletter are not always to be taken as expressing the opinions of Wirral LINk or VCA Wirral. Advertisements, products or services listed are not necessarily recommended by Wirral LINk or VCA Wirral.