Tel: 023 9282 2251
Local Involvement Network (LINk)
Last updated: 09 May 2012 09:34Having your say on health and social care issues
Portsmouth's Local Involvement Network (LINk) is a group of Portsmouth residents who are interested in having a stronger voice in shaping local health and social care services.
The LINk aims to provide residents with the opportunity to influence services in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them and ensure that communities have a stronger voice in the process of commissioning health and social care. Individuals, local service user groups, and voluntary and community sector organisations can all participate in the work of the LINk.
The Portsmouth LINk works by gathering the views and experiences of Portsmouth residents as an “evidence base” for making recommendations to local commissioners and service providers.
The LINk may use special powers in the course of this work by “entering and viewing” certain types of services and making requests for information. Services providers are bound by a regulatory framework to respond to LINks within a set period of time (20 days).
LINks have the added support in that if they do not receive a response to their reports and recommendations within the specified timescale they may refer matters to the Council’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and receive a response from elected members (click on the following hyperlink for more information about the Portsmouth HOSP).
The Portsmouth LINk operates through a Steering Group and has a registered membership of almost 600 individuals and groups. This group (in particular the Core Group) are accountable to the public and it is for this reason that an election for the roles of Chair and Steering Group Member will be held in November of this year.
The current position of the LINk as the primary vehicle of Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) in Portsmouth will be changing within the very near future. This is because the Health and Social Care Act will abolish LINks and replace them with a new vehicle of PPI called HealthWatch.
HealthWatch will build upon the successes of LINks, and seek to redress some of the limitations which have been identified during their three year period of operation.
For more information about LINks and the introduction of Healthwatch please go to the information sources below:
Portsmouth LINk Website at, www.portsmouth-link.co.uk.
Portsmouth Blog at, http://www.portsmouthlink.blogspot.com/.
LINk Support Officer, Victor Vine.
By Telephone, on the following numbers:
023 9281 1377
023 9282 7110
023 92 841388
You can also write to the LINk, marking your Letter for the attention of Victor Vine, at the following addresses:
Communities Engagement Team,
Customer, community & democratic services,
Portsmouth City Council,
Civic Offices,
Guildhall Square,
Portsmouth,
PO1 2AL.
By Email at haveyoursay@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
For more detailed information about the introduction of HealthWatch please contact Steven Taylor, Communities Engagement Officer, at haveyoursay@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, or telephone 023 9268 8508.
Other useful websites:
IDeA'S Healthy Communities Programme
Local Government Association LINks Newsletter
