Involvement in what? In the health or social care service in your area!
A Local Involvement Network (LINk) is a network of local people and groups who have joined forces to improve health and social care services by listening to people like you. They're independent of the local council and the NHS and exist throughout England. There's a LINk local to where you live.
LINks are new. They began in April 2008. They will give everyone the chance to have a say in how health and social care services are planned, delivered and reviewed.
The job of LINKs is to listen to the public and pass on what they find to the NHS and Social Services departments.
You can get involved in a way that suits you. You do not have to join a committee or commit lots of time in order to be involved in LINks.
Regardless of your age, background or situation, the LINk wants to hear from you. There are lots of different ways you can do this. You can talk to someone, attend a meeting or fill in a survey or questionnaire.
Each LINk has powers to ask the NHS and Social Services for information and to make recommendations to them so that things can change for the better.
An example
A number of people raise the issue of doctors' surgery opening hours with a LINk. Doctors at the local surgery say they want to open during the evening and at weekends, but they have limited resources.
The LINk offers to help the surgery staff find out the hours that will best suit local people by asking the community for their views. It also asks LINks in other areas how they have dealt with the same issue.
The LINk’s research finds that those who work would prefer more early morning appointments, so they can see a GP but not be late for work.
As a result, the GPs decide the surgery will close one afternoon a week so that they can open for more early morning appointments. They also start a call-back service, so people can have quick telephone consultations.
Each LINk will have an interactive website which will have loads of information about what is happening and how people can get involved. For people who prefer to talk on the phone there will be a dedicated phone number with a real person on the other end.
You can read more about it on the Makes a Change web site and
The Department of Health page about LINks
LINk produces a Newsletter. You can download the January 2009 issue here
The Department of Health has asked the NHS Centre for Involvement (NCI) to be the lead organisation for supplying advice and guidance about LINks.
Visit the
NCI site here.
Local Authority LINks Contacts list - here.
It would be great to have a voice for fibromyalgia, and the more of our members who register the louder that voice can be. You can start by registering today. Go here to register.
Buy-at the FMS SAS on-line shop.
(Local Involvement Network)
