Linking up for better local health

Waltham Forest Council, the Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Whipps Cross Hospital have appointed Voluntary Action Waltham Forest (VAWF) to help implement and support the new Local Involvement Network for Health (LINks).

LINks are designed to encourage local voluntary groups and residents to become involved in improving standards in the service of local health and social care services. They give residents the chance to talk about their views and experiences of local care services and what they think should be done to improve them.

Waltham Forest LINks will benefit local people by giving them the opportunity share their real-life experiences of healthcare in the borough. It will eventually replace the traditional Public-Patient Involvement Forums.

For example, if you have had a negative experience when accessing care in the borough, and think you have an idea to improve the service, you could become involved in LINks. By sharing your experience you could help to improve that service for other patients in the borough.

VAWF will work with local voluntary and community groups, the Council and other local partners to conduct visits to local health services and research the delivery of local services.

It is expected that Waltham Forest LINks will be fully operational by April 2009.

Cllr Liz Phillips, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult and Older People, said: “I’m pleased that Voluntary Action Waltham Forest will help implement and support LINks. They will be able to use their local networks to ensure that local people are involved in the design and delivery of local health services.”

For more information