County Durham Local Involvement Network (LINk): Workplan

Work Plan - Get Involved

Seizing the Future

Three LINk members continue to attend the Seizing the Future Delivery Oversight Board meetings to ensure the implementation plan is followed and targets are achieved. These LINk members feedback updates to a larger working group, who can then in turn highlight any issues as they arise.

Stroke

A small working group of LINk members meet in partnership with Darlington LINk on a quarterly basis with NHS County Durham to discuss the development of stroke services in the area. This groups looks at acute services, rehabilitation and community services.

Older Peoples Mental Health

LINk members met to look at the Older Peoples Mental Health Strategy in June 2009 and fed back their comments to Durham County Council and NHS County Durham. This resulted in a LINk member being invited to be part of the Strategy Implementation Team.

Carers Strategy

LINk members met in April 2009 and their feed back on the Carers Strategy was given to NHS County Durham and Durham County Council. A small working group of LINk members continue to meet to ensure that the strategy is implemented to time and to plan.

Rural Health

Following the closure of the Rural health Commission County Durham LINk hopes to work closely with NHS County Durham and other third sector agencies to progress this issue further. Rural Health Week will take place from 19th to 25th September 2010.

Lack of Provision of Day Opportunities

Mental Health Day Care - The LINk were involved in helping to facilitate service user events between June and August 2009. Feed back has been provided to Durham County Council on how the consultation was delivered.

Learning Disability Strategy - LINk members met in May 2009 and gave their feed back to Durham County Council on the Learning Disability Strategy. A further meeting was held in October to provide LINk members with an update on the Strategy.

Alcohol

A LINk event was held in May 2010 to raise awareness and showcase the work currently being done in County Durham around alcohol and its effects on health.

LINk members represent the LINk at the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy meeting as well as at its working groups which focus on Prevention, Control and Treatment.

Alzheimer/Dementia Services

LINk members have met four times and have agreed that the focus of the work by County Durham LINk will be promoting/championing the Dementia pathway. This work is ongoing. If you would like to be involved, contact host@pcp.uk.net or 01325 327431.

Provision of Talking Therapies

LINk members have met five times to look at the provision of talking therapies across County Durham. A LINk member has now been invited to attend the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Steering Group (IAPT). Further meetings will be held over the next few months. If you would like to be involved, contact host@pcp.uk.net or 01325 327431.

Domiciliary Care

This work plan issue has been postponed until 2010/11.

Personalisation

A LINk event was held in February 2010 to raise the awareness of what personalisation means. Personalisation is about people having choice and holding their own budgets. A working group is now to be established to take this issue forward. If you would like to be involved contact host@pcp.uk.net or 01325 327431.

Residential Care Homes

LINk members met twice and looked at Durham County Councils consultation on the proposed closure of seven Council run Residential Care Homes in County Durham. The members drafted a response to the consultation which can be found on the reports page.

GP Patient Forums

Following the event in April 2010 this workplan issue is now complete.

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LINk County Durham