Who we are
The Cambridgeshire LINk was established as part of a new government initiative for local communities to have a stronger voice in the way their health and social care services are planned and run.
In July 2006, the Department of Health published plans to strengthen the ability for local communities to influence the care they get through LINks. Until now, one of the ways the NHS has listened to patients has been through Patient and Public Involvement in Health Forums (PPIF) but they ceased in March 2008.
Cambridgeshire LINk will build on the work of the forums but they will be open to everyone to join. The LINk will cover all publicly funded health and social care services in the area, no matter who provides them.
The LINk will:
- Ask local people what they think about their health and social care services and give them the chance to suggest ideas to help improve services.
- Investigate specific issues of concern to communities.
- Use its powers to hold services to account and get results.
- Ask for information and get an answer within a specified amount of time.
- Carry out spot checks to see if services are working well.
- Make reports and recommendations and receive a response, and
- Refer to higher authorities, issues where service providers seem reluctant to accept findings and take appropriate action.
By regulations, LINk participants will have the power to enter and view service delivery in provider premises but must do so under conditions which reflect the individuals’ rights.
How will the LINk work?
The LINk has the potential to:
- Provide a single approach to monitoring health and social care. Cambridgeshire LINk will be tasked with finding out the views of local people and holding the Local Authority, the NHS and providers to account.
- Provide a stronger, more independent voice. A LINk is truly independent. Hosted and supported by community organisations with experience of engaging a wide range of people.
- Be more representative of the community. Cambridgeshire LINk will ask every section of the community for their views and experiences. It won’t just amplify the views of more groups and individuals, but also provide a platform for those who might not often have their voices heard.
- Make community involvement more convenient. Many people who receive health or social care services would like to influence services but do no have time to join groups, etc. We will provide more ways for more people to be heard and work harder to engage with people who may be easier to ignore. We will provide more opportunities for everyone to express their views.
We would like to hear your feedback and comments. General contact form
FAQ's
If you have any questions about Cambridgeshire LINk that are not listed on this page, please send them to the LINk office and we will find the answer and post it here for everyone to see.
- Why should I join Cambridgeshire LINk?
- Is Cambridgeshire LINk a voluntary body?
- Is LINk like the Patient and Public Involvement Forums just renamed?
- How was the LINk host in Cambridgeshire selected and who appointed them?
- What local services will LINks cover?
- What powers does the LINk have?
- If I have a concern or complaint about my doctor/ dentist or an issue with my council flat, how can LINks help?
- What will LINk do with any suggestion as I make on Health & Social Care issues in Cambridgeshire?
- Q. Why should I join Cambridgeshire LINk?
- A. Cambridgeshire LINk is the new way for people to have their say on health and social care services in their community. If you want the find out about health and social care services locally and have your say in decisions about these services, then Cambridgeshire LINk is for you. Individuals and organisations can all be participants of Cambridgeshire LINk. The more it becomes a "network of networks", the more strength it will have in the community and the stronger its voice will become.
- Q. Is Cambridgeshire LINk a voluntary body?
- A. No, all LINks are created by a law passed by Parliament - the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 - which sets out their legal duties and powers. In addition, Government has issues Regulations and Directions describing the detail of LINk activities which have the force of law and must be complied with. This gives the LINk considerable authority to work directly with the NHS and Local Authority on behalf of the local community.
- Q. Is LINk like the Patient and Public Involvement Forums just renamed?
- A. No, LINk are distinctly different because for the first time their remit covers both health and social care services in an entire county and participation will comprise both individuals and organisations. The legislation creating LINks also abolishedPatients Forums across England on 31st March 2008
- Q. How was the LINk host in Cambridgeshire selected and who appointed them?
- A. Following a competitive tender, Cambridgeshire ACRE along with a delivery partner - Age Concern Cambridgeshire - was appointed by Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver the "LINk Host role" for the Cambridgeshire LINk. Cambridgeshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is the Rural Community Council for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Founded in 1924 they are a registered charity, as well as a company limited by guarantee, responsible for the delivery of a wide range of advice, information and support services to local communities. We have several hundred members, including parish councils, village hall committees and other community groups, plus some individuals.
- Q. What local services will LINks cover?
- A. LINk's remit covers all publicly funded health and social care services in Cambridgeshire, except children's services which are covered by separate arrangements. It does not matter who provides the service; as long as the users of the services are publicly funded, it falls within the remit of LINk.
- Q. What powers does the LINk have?
- A. Legislation provides LINk with powers to help carry out their role and places duties on the NHS and the local authority to provide information and access to premises.
- Q. If I have a concern or complaint about my doctor/ dentist or an issue with my council flat, how can LINks help?
- A. Cambridgeshire LINk does not handle individual complaints because there are bodies already doing that. LINk can point people in the right direction to obtain help with concerns and complaints.
- Q. What will LINk do with any suggestion as I make on Health & Social Care issues in Cambridgeshire?
- A. It is the role of Cambridgeshire LINk to seek out the views of the public, service users, patients & carers about particular issues on Health & Social Care and then to represent those views to the commissioners and providers of those services usually the NHS and the local council. LINk will have clear and open processes to show how views are gathered in particular issues, what views are expressed, how they were put forward, and what was said and done about them as a result.