20/08/2008
LCVS monitors health and social care
A new umbrella group is to be launched which will hold health and social care organisations in Liverpool to account.
The city council's Executive Board has selected LCVS (Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services) to run the city's Local Involvement Network, known as LINks.
The job of LINks is to make sure local residents, user groups and relevant organisations are involved in the planning, delivery and scrutiny of local health and social care services.
The organisation will look at everything ranging from proposed new major hospital developments through to GP practices and council services such as home care and day services.
They will be tasked with making sure the services commissioned are built around the needs of local people, and also look at areas where they can be improved.
LINks will have a place on scrutiny and overview panels such as the city council's Health, Care and Safeguarding Select Committee, and be able to make recommendations about how services should be improved.
Councillor Ron Gould, executive member for health care, said: "We all use the NHS or some form of social care service at some time in our lives, and it is vital local people are given an opportunity to have a say about how they are shaped.
"This new organisation will be the link between the local community and commissioning organisations such as the council and the NHS. It will act as a go-between to make sure we are delivering the very best services.
"We face major challenges in Liverpool with high mortality rates for diseases such as cancer and a growing elderly population, so the work of this organisation will be vital in helping us meet the needs of local people."
A series of workshops and events were held earlier this year to find out what organisations involved in the delivery of health and social care and people who use the services want to see. This included NHS and social care staff, service providers and community organisations.
Graham Wright, Financial Manager at LCVS, said: "LCVS is delighted to be given this opportunity to host the LINks.
"We are looking forward to working in partnership with LINk members and the health and social care sectors, to improve health and quality of life for people in Liverpool."
LINks covers all health and social care issues within the Liverpool city boundary, and replaces the Patient and Public Involvement forums which focused solely on a particular NHS Trust.
LCVS was selected following a rigorous evaluation of tenders which involved people who use social care services.
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