PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’

1. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ Presentation by Barbara Jarvis, Scrutiny Officer, Chief Executive’s Department, London Borough of Merton Barbara.jarvis@merton.gov.uk (020 8545 3390)

2. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ Background to patient and public involvement:- 1. Community Health Councils – CHCs abolished in 2003 2. Patient and Public Involvement Forums – PPIFs established to replace CHCs 3. Each NHS Trust currently has a PPIF

3. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ • New legislation on the way : Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill • Includes a range of new measures including abolition of PPIFs – to be replaced by local involvement networks known as LINks.

4. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ • Implementation date – 1st April 2008 • On this date PPIFs will cease to exist and LINks will come into force. • Local authorities are being asked to prepare in advance of the Bill becoming law in the Autumn of 2007.

5. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ What are LINks? • They will be open to all, with no set membership • Each local authority area will have a local LINk established • LINks enable more local people to have a voice on and social care issues

6. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ • LINks will promote and support involvement of local people in commissioning and provision of local health and social care services, including VS organisations • LINks will make reports and recommendations about how to improve local health and social care services

7. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ LINks will have power to:- • Determine what local issues to focus on • Enter specified types of premises to view services • Request information and receive response • Make reports and recommendations and receive response • Refer matters to the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Merton’s Health & Community Care Panel)

8. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ • A LINk will be independent from the local authority and will be established and supported by an external ‘host’ organisation. • The local authority has responsibility for procuring the host organisation through a competitive tendering process. • Government has promised targeted funding to enable authorities to do this.

9. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ Local authorities are taking steps to be prepared for the new legislation through:- • Identifying a corporate lead • Raising local awareness of LINks • Involving local partners in discussions • Liaising with existing PPIFs on views/concerns • Dialogue with neighbouring boroughs on plans • Feeding issue into neighbourhood agenda

10. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ What has happened so far? • Merton has established a project team led by Director of Community & Housing • Host organisation - discussions taking place on possible market testing in advance of procurement process to gauge levels of interest • Receiving feedback from several early projects which are piloting LINks. • Drawing up a project plan and timeframe

11. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ What happens next? • Project Team continues to meet regularly • We await legislation to be enacted in the Autumn • We await confirmation of targeted funding levels • We will hear from local PPIFs – 23rd July event at Merton Civic Centre • We welcome views from local organisations – which can feed direct to me • A host organisation will be procured early 2008 which will then establish the LINk .

12. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT – ‘LINks’ There is still much more detail to come and Government guidance to emerge in due course, but ANY QUESTIONS?