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Local Involvement Network (LINk)

Having your say on health and social care issues

Portsmouth's Local Involvement Network (LINk) is the new way Portsmouth people to have a say how services from local social care and health services are provided.

The LINk aims to provide more people with the opportunity to influence public services in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them, ensuring:

communities have a stronger voice in the process of commissioning health and social care and making key decisions about local health and social care services
both individuals as well as local user groups, and voluntary and community sector organisations are involved
people’s views and experiences of health and social care services in their area are gathered and recommendations made to local commissioners and providers.

The city's LINk has a set of powers which enables members to:

enter specified premises and view the services provided as well as collecting the views and experiences of users of health and social care services
request information from service providers and receive a response within a specified timescale
make reports and recommendations and receive a response within a specified timescale
refer matters to the relevant the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee and receive a response from elected members

How are we making this happen in Portsmouth?

In Portsmouth a steering group has been meeting since April 2007 to help prepare plans for the LINk in the city.

The interim group is made up of people from former patient and public involvement forums, the hospital and primary care trusts, and staff from across the city council.

The city's interim LINk Development Group brings together representatives from the former patient and public involvement forums, voluntary and community sector, user and carer groups and interested individuals. Portsmouth's 'proper' LINk will start from September 2008, when a 'host' organisation is up and running.

Want more information?

To find out more, check out the weblinks below, visit the external websites linked on the right of this page or contact the host organisation;

The Health Advocacy Partnership
5, Spa Road,
Melksham,
Wiltshire.
SN12 7NP

Telephone: 0845 094 9497

Fax: 01225 701138

E-mail: portsmouthlink@hapuk.co.uk

A survey entitled ‘Join the national LINks conference reference group’ is now available on the LINks exchange website

Click on external link on the right to view and complete the survey now