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In 2006 central government decided to replace the
existing system for patient and public involvement in health
services with a new structure called Local Involvement Networks
(LIN-ks).
The role of a LIN-k as set out by the government is:
- promoting and supporting the involvement of people in the
commissioning, provision and scrutiny of local health and social
care services
- enabling people to monitor and review the commissioning and
provision of care services
- obtaining the views of people about their needs for, and their
experiences of, local health and social care services
- making their views known to those responsible for
commissioning, providing, managing and scrutinising those
services.
More detailed information is available in the Department of
Health(DH) leaflet
LIN-ks Explained.
The Department of Health has encouraged each council to set up a
group to help it with the task of both finding a "host
organisation" to support and promote the LIN-k. We set up our
LIN-ks steering group in January 2007 which has a wide-range of
members including service users, carers, voluntary organisations,
member of patient and public involvement forums, councillors and
council officers. The group has played a very active part in
advising us on how to fund and planning for the new LIN-k.
The process of finding a host organisation has been a long and
complex one. Four organisations initially expressed interests, who
were invited to submit tenders. Only two chose to do so, and the
tenders underwent a rigourous appraisal process. The decision on
the host organisation has been made, and the identity of this
organisation will be formally announced when the contract is
agreed. It is the intention for the host organisation to begin its
work on 1 May 2008.
The Steering Group will continue for the next 12 months to
assist and support the host organisation in getting setup. The
steering group will also act as the "transitional body" carrying
out the activities of the LIN-k until the host is in place on 1
May. Hosts are meant to be in place by 1 April.
One of the host organisations first tasks will be to produce
publicity information and setup a website. This page has been
prepared to provide information on progress until the LIN-k's own
website is setup.
Within the next month there will be a form available on-line and
in hard copy on request for people to register their interest in
finding out more about or being involved in the North Somerset
LIN-k. You will be able to download the form here shortly.
If you would like more information about the process of setting
up the LIN-k, please contact our lead officer
Alun
Davies or telephone 01275 884 033 . |