106. Evidence submitted by Winchester
& Eastleigh Healthcare Trust PPI Forum (PPI 44)
How should LINKs be Designed
Remit and level of independence
Remit
— Reflect local concerns and help shape
local services.
— LINKs wishing to work with and be
associated with hospitals should be able to do so.
— LINKS associated with hospitals should
monitor the services provided within the hospital but keep in
touch and work with pre and post hospital services provided by
NHS and Local Authorities.
— Work jointly with other PPI LINKs
eg PCT based LINKs.
— Engage with the public at every opportunity—concentrating
on issues relating to the hospital but passing on other issues
to appropriate LINKS.
Independence
— Complete independence of any statutory
body.
— Support organisations should be independent
too.
Membership and Appointment
Membership—anyone
— With an interest in improving local
health services and with time to spare.
— Willing to deal with a fair amount
of paperwork—reading documents, helping to produce reports,
etc.
— Willing to meet and talk to groups
and people in the community (engaging with the public).
Appointment
— Should be undertaken by an independent
body that really understands the role of LINKs—what it means
to be a member and what is expected.
— Appointees should be able to assess
and preclude inappropriate applicants, eg, those with prejudices.
— Appointments should be made simple
and the process carried out speedily and efficiently.
Funding and Support
Funding
— From central government.
Support
— Support as provided by a good FSO
who knows the patch and understands the role of the LINKs.
Areas of Focus
— Hospital based LINKs should focus
on the needs to maintain a good service for its patients.
— They also need to understand the
needs of the local health economy and the Hospital's relationship
to the whole. Therefore the Focus may well need to shift outside
the Trust—eg.
— LINKs would still need to focus on
the views of its local community.
Statutory Powers
— Are essential—without them
LINKs could be ignored.
Relations with local Health Trusts
— Statutory powers will help to strengthen
the links with local Health Trusts.
— Hospital based LINKs would need to
develop a working relationship with their Trust or continue with
the relationship previously developed by the PPI Forum.
National Co-ordination is an absolute necessity
— Maybe undertaken by Healthcare Commission.
How should LINKS Relate to and Avoid Overlap with
LA structures and OSCs
— Communicate through support team.
— Important to keep a good relationship
with OSC—two way traffic needed.
Foundation Trust Boards and Member Councils
It is questionable whether there would be a
role for Hospital based LINK when its Hospital becomes a Foundation
Trust.
Inspectorates including Healthcare Commission
Assume Healthcare Commission would be the major
body monitoring the performance of LINKs.
Shirley Kenneally
Winchester & Eastleigh Healthcare Trust PPI Forum
January 2007
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