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BUSINESSNAME

Health and Care Together

Wigan Borough Local Involvement Network Summer 2009

Health andHealth andHealth andHealth and

Care TogetherCare TogetherCare TogetherCare TogetherWigan Borough Local Involvement Network (LINk) Newsletter 17 January 2012

Dignity Action Day 1st February 2012

You have a right to receive a good standard of care and to betreated with dignity

Tell us your story...see article on page 2

The latest news on Healthwatch is that it willbe formally established on 1st April 2013 rather

than on1st October 2012!

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February 1st: Dignity Action Day -You have a right to receive agood standard of care and to be treated with dignity

What does good care mean to you?

Do you know of anyone receiving excellent care what does that care look like?

Have you had an assessment made of your care needs recently (carersassessment)? Has the care package met you needs?

Tell us your thoughts by sending a quick e-mail or writing us a note, phoning ortexting us and we will ring you back (contact details on the back page).We will use the information you send about what is working well , what is not sogood and what you think good care is to inform services so care in Wigan can beimproved or celebrated.

"It might well be that the difference people make individually is a mere rippleon the surface of our care system, but each of those ripples added togethercreate a wave, a social movement, and if this makes life better for some -

then it has to be worthwhile."

Sir Michael Parkinson, Dignity Champion

David Camerons Patient Care Improvements the local story

Prime Minister David Cameron plans to introduce patient ledinspections of hospitals and a new friends and family test to askwhether patients, carers and staff would recommend their hospital.

Chris Arkwright, the lead person for Health and Care Together, gives an assuranceto local patients, I want everyone in Wigan to know that these arrangementsalready exist in the Borough. Health and Care Together has an independent team

of lay visitors who have the right to go anywhere where public money is spent onhealth and social care and find out what people think about services they receive.They have visited and reported on two local care homes looking into the caregiven to some of our most vulnerable people. We need more people to speak upabout local services especially in these current times of cuts in public spending.

This newly trained team is planning more visits which will include local hospitalsand will be interested in patient dignity, hospital cleanliness and food and drink forpatients.

If you are interested in telling us about your own or a relatives stay in hospital orwould like to know more about training to be a lay visitor please contact the officeon 01942 705522.

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Chairs Letter

Hello again, Happy New Year to you all. I hope that you have allenjoyed Christmas and the New Year.

My New Years resolution is to complain more when people arerude to me, sell me something that isnt fit for purpose, whensomeone doesnt do what they say they will do or they dont dowhat they are supposed to do.

To be truthful, I began this campaign before Christmas. I currently have a healthproblem that is being investigated. My first appointment took several months toarrive, tests arranged and appointments made. Eventually everything wascompleted then I received an appointment for the results . . . next July!I didn't just accept it -I did something about it and not only had it moved forwardbut alerted commissioners to the length of waiting times for some appointments.

So my message is this, health and social care services wont know things are notworking as well as they think they are unless someone tells them. This is whereLINks can help, by highlighting good and bad practice so that things can changefor the better for patients and the public. If you have something to say about yoursor someone elses experience of health and social care services then we wouldlove to hear from you. If you know about it, shout about it!

Chris ArkwrightChris ArkwrightChris ArkwrightChris ArkwrightChair of Health and Care Together.

Future Steering Group meeting datesThe dates for the forthcoming steering group meetings are: 27th February 2012,19th March 2012, and 23rd April 2012, 1 pm start at The Carers Centre Hindley. Ifyou wish to attend please Tel 01942 705522

New Dementia Caf to Open in Ashton

Following the success of the Dementia Caf in Leigh (Kingsleigh MethodistChurch), I am pleased to tell you that we are opening another Dementia Caf inAshton in Makerfield. It is open for any person with a dementia type illness andtheir carers.The caf will be held at: The Diamond Club,

Grey Road, (Off Old Road),Ashton-In-Makerfield,WN4 9QW

On: Tuesday February 7th 2012 from 10.30am to 12.30pm, and thereafter on the1st Tuesday of every month at the same times.(Except 5th June as this is a Bank Holiday for Queens Diamond Jubilee)Please ring 01942 247837 to let us know if you will be attending.

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Patient Participation GroupPatient Participation GroupPatient Participation GroupPatient Participation GroupNetwork NewsNetwork NewsNetwork NewsNetwork News

Our Pathfinder Work taking us to HealthWatch Group Work

Patient and Public Engagement intheNewCommissioning

System

There is a useful NHS Confederation discussion paperavailable which quite nicely summarises engagementsuggestions for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

CCGs need to get their heads around this stuffbecause, as this paper reminds us CCGs will beexpected to have put an approach to engagement inplace in order to achieve authorisation by the NHSCommissioning Board.

http://www.nhsconfed.org/Publications/discussion-paper/Pages/PPE.aspxIt doesnt do exactlywhat it says on the tin, as it really

focuses on Clinical Commissioning Groups, and doesntfocus on the new commissioning system in its entirety(i.e. it doesnt mention Health and Wellbeing Boards).But its a good discussion paper and gives an honest view about some of theproblems and difficulties of engagement.

It includes a handy one-page summary of Common techniques used inengagement work which lists engagement techniques, their advantages anddisadvantages, and when they might be used.

Health & Care Together, Wigan Borough LINk is beginning to work with bothCCGs in this Borough, i.e. Wigan Borough CCG and United League CCG asthey develop their engagement work, because, again to quote from this paper:

CCGs will achieve most benefit by undertaking a thorough evaluation of existingpatient and public engagement mechanisms before embarking on newapproaches and obviously, being an active LINk we already have drawers stuffedfull of this sort of information and mapping that weve been using for the lastthree years at leastso nows the time to get it out and share.

As the paper states, CCGs will be able to build on existing and developingarrangements to engage patients through Patient Participation Groups (PPGs).

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However, GPs new responsibilities for commissioning services will mean theyneed to consider additional issues and as the Directed Enhanced Services(DES) only relates to patient engagement at practice level, the Health & CareTogether development of a PPG Network will allow CCGs locally to holddifferent kinds of conversations with their patients in relation to the provision ofservices.

Health & Care Together will continue to support the PPG Network, using thepowers of the LINk and the additional powers as LINks evolve intoHealthWatch.

@ NETWORKING

Health & Care Together (Wigan Borough LINk) has just carried out a stock takeof Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) around the Borough. There are 69 GPpractices across the Borough and as far as we are aware the number of PPGshas increased to 41, but please do tell us if you know more! Of the 41, 29groups have joined the Health & Care Together PPG Network.

If you are a new PPG, or an existing group which has not yet joined, would yourPPG be interested in becoming part of the Wigan Borough PPG Network, toshare information and ideas and to become a participant of Health & CareTogether, learning more about the future of NHS Services and the transition of

Local Involvement Networks (LINks) into HealthWatch?

Member PPGs send along one or two representatives of their group to thequarterly Network meetings who then receive updates from local organisationssuch as the Clinical Commissioning Groups on their activity, updates fromHealth & Care Together on the development of Healthwatch and to have theopportunity to share their ideas and information and future work.

All PPGs are also given the opportunity to submit articles to the dedicatedPatient Participation News pages of the Health & Care Together newsletter,

which is circulated around the Borough.

The next PPG Network meeting will be held on Thursday, 17 th April 2012 at TheCarers Centre, Frederick Street, Hindley, Wigan, WN2 3BD.

If you would like a copy of the agenda for the next meeting or more informationon how to get involved please contact Karen Wilson by email tokarenw@thebha.org.uk or telephone 01942 705839.

The next newsletter will be published in March 2012 so if you would like your

PPG to feature in this edition please, send an article and if possible aphotograph, to Karen Wilson.

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Mental Health SupportRichmond Fellowship

Richmond Fellowship is a specialist mental health provider. Our services areavailable to any resident of Wigan borough who is experiencing mental healthproblems.

We believe that recovery is a journey, and is different for each person. OurCommunity Link Workers support people to identify their personal goals andaspirations via a support plan. We aim to achieve the best possible quality of lifefor every individual. We also offer service user led friendship groups; service userled activity groups and are currently developing a peer support service.

If you feel we can help you and for further information please contact MaggieLanghorn, Service Manager on 01942 255 394 or email:maggie.langhorn@richmondfellowship.org.ukOffice address: Hyndelle Lodge, King Street, Hindley, Wigan. WN4 9JW

Safer In TownMaking Wigan Safer for People with LearningDisabilities

Wigan & Leigh People First are setting up a Safer in Town scheme to help peoplewith a learning disability feel safe when they go about their everyday life in Wigan.

Every person joining the scheme will get a Safer in Town fold-out card. Shopspubs, banks, cafes, libraries and any other public buildings, are being asked todisplay a Safer in Town logo in their window.

If the person gets into any difficulty, they can go into one of these premises. Therethey will be helped to contact someone from the contact list on their fold-out card.

Get in touch if you are either a shop or business who wants to help, or you have alearning disability and would like a contact cardplease contact:Wigan & Leigh People First, The Song Room, Bishopgate, Wigan, WN1 1NL,telephone: 01942 233353, email: info@wiganandleighpeoplefirst.co.uk

https://twitter.com/WLPeople1stwww.facebook.com/wiganandleighpeoplefirst

Office for Disability Issues seeks to fulfill potential

The Governments Office for Disability Issues (ODI) is committed toensuring that people with disabilities are able to realise their potential

and aspirations regarding education, work, and independent living.

As part of their work, the ODI is currently undertaking an involvement programme

asking disabled people about the barriers they face. To take part or for furtherinformation visit http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/odi-projects/fulfilling-potential.phpSubmissions to be made by 5pm, Friday 9th March 2012.

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Benefits Bus will be coming toWigan and Leigh in February &March!

Wigans new public services hub is open for business

Wigan Boroughs new multi-million pound public services hub the Wigan LifeCentre, is officially open for business.

The Information, Learning and Neighbourhood Zone offers residents of theborough a new gateway to all public services in the borough through a state-of-the-art customer contact centre.

The centre also boasts a new public library,including childrens and reference sections alongwith community space and offices for voluntarysector organisations.

Early reports from the opening day on Monday 9 thJanuary suggest that business is good!

The Wigan Life Centre is situated between Hewlett Street and The Wiend in theheart of Wigan Town Centre, the 6500 sq ft building is the culmination of thecouncils 217M Life Centre project.

Do you know about the changes to Housing Benefit?Will you be affected by the new changes to Housing Benefit?Not sure? Then visit the bus and find out if the changes affect you?

The bus will be at the following locations in February:

2nd February Standishgate, Wigan Town Centre (opposite WHSmith)

3rd February Bradshawgate, Leigh Town Centre (opposite McDonalds)

24th February Standishgate, Wigan Town Centre (opposite WHSmith)

16th March Bradshawgate, Leigh Town Centre (opposite McDonalds)

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Health and Care Together is . . . a Local Involvement Network (LINk),(every Borough in the country has a LINk). These have been set up to give allindividuals the opportunity to comment on the health and social care services theyreceive.

Here at Health and Care Together we listen to your views and pass them on to

the people who plan and run services with the intention of making them better. Weare the network that can give you your voiceto make a positive change to thecare you receive.

Anyone can get involved with Health and Care Together.If you would like to contribute to our newsletter pleasecontact the office.

Do you want to LINk up?So many ways to get involvedcome along and have somefun whilst making a difference!

If you would like to be kept informed about Health and CareTogethers events, would like to participate, or require anyfurther information, write to us at:Freepost RRZR-ACRS-BAJT,Wigan Borough Local Involvement Network,1st Floor Office CT3, Wigan Investment Centre,

Waterside Drive, Wigan, WN3 5BA. Tel: 01942 705522,01942 705839, or e-mail info@healthandcaretogether.co.ukAlternatively you can text your views on 07525 237731.

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