Health group will champion patient views
INCREASED competition and GPs controlling budgets have grabbed the headlines – but the health reforms are far more wide ranging.
Giving patients a greater voice is cited as a major aim in the health and social care bill.
Patients representatives in Plymouth, who are helping lead national change, are seeking views from members of the public.
Under the proposals Local Involvement Network (LINk) patient representative groups countrywide will be superseded by a new organisation called HealthWatch.
LINks replaced Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) forums in 2008.
Plymouth LINk is a group of volunteers supported by a team from Colebrook Housing Society which works to improve health and social care services.
The aim is for HealthWatch to be a 'consumer champion' playing a leading role in monitoring the services.
Chris Boote, Plymouth LINk chair and South West LINk representative on the national Healthwatch Advisory Board, said: "While it is an exciting and busy time for us, it is clear that many people are confused about what is happening and what the changes will mean for them.
"So as well as listening to their concerns we are making sure those concerns are heard because one of the duties of HealthWatch will be to check that all local services can evidence they are putting patients first.
"It is vital that people feel confident to tell us about their experiences and their views on what sort of future they want to see."
Plymouth LINk has hosted a number of events to inform people about the role of HealthWatch, which will continue to represent local people's views, but will also provide information on health and social care services and how to access them.
Health and Wellbeing Boards are also being developed to oversee health services. These will include councillors, clinicians, social care, children's services, public health and Healthwatch.
Plymouth LINk can be contacted on 01752 202407 or through their website: www.plymouth-link.co.uk
Comments
by Arfurmo
Saturday, February 18 2012, 7:45AM
“The announcement that Cameron is to meet certain health groups to the exclusion of others,represents a tactic as old as the hills. Divisions represent a criteria of expected divide and rule, The tactic being, to invite organisations that show a semlbence of following the Health Ministers dictate, anouncing that the goverment have many organisations that are now willing to se their point of view and accept with reservatons. Those outcast organisations not invited will be subject to several alternatives. first, a last minute invite putting the percieved hard liners on the back-foot in an attempt to push them into a more concillitory frame of mind or secondly, leaving them out alltogether having the effect of such bodies having to rely on those favoured groups by recieving an outline of the subjects discussed by those attending. The latter precieved by goverment ministers as the uncooperative organisations. fInally portraying the view to all and sundry, that the views of the uninvited are not worth considering. Not trying to teach such organisations representatives how to suck eggs . Just attempting a layman's perception.”