Trafford LINk

Hello everyone

Even though the Health and Social Care Bill hasn't finishes going through Parliament yet some of the changes affecting LINks are becoming clearer. Here are a few to start off with.
Local HealthWatch will be an independent organisation, employing its own staff, submitting accounts and so on.
Members of the Local HealthWatch Executive Board will be appointed not elected. There is likely to be an application and even possibly an interview process. Current LINk members may be offered a role as associate members or similar.
Local HealthWatch will have a seat on the newly formed Health and Wellbeing Boards (In many areas these have been set up in shadow form with a LINk member, often the Chair, currently sitting).
Local HealthWatch will provide information to support patient choice, either directly or by signposting.
A new body, HealthWatch England, is being set up to provide leadership guidance and support to Local HealthWatch organisations.
Many current functions of LINKs such as engagment and enter and view will continue transferring to the new organisation.
There are still many unanswered questions as to how this is going to work. I hope to be able to give more detail over the coming months as it becomes clearer. LINks are currently funded to the end of March 2012 so with Local HealthWatch not starting before October there is a gap in funding that needs to be addressed to enable a smooth transition.
My aim over the next few months is to support the transition while still maintaining the work of LINk. We are lucky enough to have some great volunteers as LINK members here in Trafford, I hope they will be able to offer the same skills and experiences to HealthWatch.

And finally..........

There has been a theft at Euro Disney. A man has been charged with taking the Mickey.
Bye for now

Ruth