LINk County Durham

 

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A Community Voice in Health and Social Care

Welcome to our website

LINk News Update

New start date and more funding announced for local HealthWatch bodies

Further details on the establishment of local HealthWatch bodies, including a new start date and extra funding, have been set out by Health Minister Andrew Lansley. Following feedback from local authorities and Local Involvement Networks, the start date has been moved from October 2012 to April 2013. It has also been agreed to supply additional funding to be used to establish Local HealthWatch. To read the full announcement please visit the Deapartment of Health website: www.dh.gov.uk.

County Durham LINk working in Partnership with Council for Voluntary Services (CVS'S) in County Durham

Numerous CVS's across County Durham have agreed to provide support to LINk District Repsentative to help them find out more about what the issues are in their area. The role of the CVS is key as they will use their existing networks to reach local people and groups and promote the LINk through holding local engagement events and arranging surgeries to find out what people think about local health and social care services.

To find out more about these partner organisation please click on the logos below to be redirected to their website.

Dates for your Diary

County Durham LINk Surgery dates for the East Durham Area

The LINk representative for the East Durham area will be available for you to visit to share your views, concerns and opinions about Health and Social Care on the following dates

• Thursday 9th February 2012 - 1pm to 3pm at Eastley Community Centre, Stockton Road, Seaham, SR7 8DX
• Wednesday 7th March 2011 - 10am to 12 noon at Blackhall Community Centre, Heselden Road, Blackhall Colliery, TS27 4LG

County Durham Round Up

The items included in this section are an overview of what's happening in County Durham. The meetings, events and consultations posted here are organised by external parties, therefore we do not accept responsibility for their content or organisation and they are not covered by our expenses policy.

Socially Enterprising- An action learning programme for Voluntary and Community organisations

This 13 week programme explores how being “socially enterprising” can support organisations on the journey towards increased sustainability. To ensure that Socially Enterprising is right for you and your organisation, you are invited to attend an Information Session about the programme, to be held from 3pm to 4.30pm on 25 January at the Pioneering Care Partnership, located at Carers Way, Newton Aycliffe, Co. Durham DL5 4SF.

This will provide you with an opportunity to meet the delivery team and other likeminded organisations who are interested in participating. It is also your opportunity to ask questions about the Programme.  If you would like to attend the Information Session please reserve your place by contacting Carol Kerr on 0191 587 8000 or by email at Carol.Kerr@acumentrust.org.uk. Please provide the name and address of your organisation, the names of attendees, a contact telephone number and email addresses. 

Adult Mental Health Service User and Carer Group

CANVAS and SURF Group is looking to recruit new members. Meetings are informal and open to all mental health service users and carers in Durham, Chester le Street and Derwentside.  Guest speakers attend to speak on topics, such as benefit queries to shared activities.  They meet on a monthly basis 1.30pm – 3.30pm on the last Tuesday of the month.  Refreshments are provided and expenses paid for. The next meeting is Tuesday 31st January at Alzheimer’s Society  South Approach, Bullion Lane, Chester le Street, DH2 2DW.

EngAge Network Events

Become a ‘Confident Consumer’.
This training helps you identify age discrimination, be more assertive in requesting services and how to get the help that you need. It may help you take a pair of shoes back to a shop, speak up for your group at a meeting, or just feel more confident in expressing an opinion. If you would like to join a training course near you please contact the EngAge Team. It can be delivered to any group or individual as long as they are 50+ and living in County Durham. Individuals can express an interest and will be signposted to the next available course. FREE

Regular monthly social and friendship group for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people Takes place on the second Wednesday in the month between 11:00am - 1:00pm with a shared lunch at Belmont, near Durham City. Please contact Clare Midgley on 0191 3839750 to discuss your needs.

Contact the EngAge Team on 0191 3839750 or email engage@ageukcountydurham.org.uk  if you would like to find out more.

Acting Together- Get involved in checking services and make a difference!

‘Acting Together’ is the name the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has given to involving people as Experts by Experience in inspections of health, mental health and social care services.  People who have personal experience are making an important impact on how services are checked and are judged to be up to standard.  By carrying out inspections of services with an inspector, they are valued members of the inspection team and are paid for the visits, or other work they do. If you want to make a difference and you have personal experience of services or are a family carer they are keen to hear from you.You can: email ExpertsByExperience@ choicesupport.org.uk or call Kathy Steele on: 07785 622407

Healthy Dales

The Dales Health Network is keen to start work around identifying local projects, organisations or societies that may deliver work around themes related to health in the Dales area. Examples of projects or community groups delivering on health related themes include social gatherings / networks, which involve some sort of physical exercise, promoting healthy eating, formal or informal counselling / talking therapies, art activities, trips or visits to other places, training, support groups, or focused specialised activities.

The Dales Health Network is interested to start to map and list information around any project that is being delivered in the area, to be able to offer support. If you require any further information regarding this request contact Julie Simpson Community Development Officer on 0191 370 8750 or email julie.simpson-csu@durham.gov.uk.

Update on tobacco packaging consultation

Consultation on cigarette packaging has been put back until Spring 2012. Follow the link to the full text of the Written Ministerial Statement:  19-Health-TobaccoControl 

Hyper acute stroke service is now centralised at University Hospital of North Durham (UHND)

The change follows a public consultation on a single site for hyper acute stroke within the Trust, and the subsequent decision by our PCT commissioner NHS County Durham and Darlington on 1 November. It means that, from 9am on 19 December, all patients in the Trust’s area who have stroke symptoms will be taken by ambulance to UHND.

New Information Leaflets -

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