Winter 2011

Rutland LINknewsletter

Inside This Issue:

GP Patient Groups 2 and LINks

Rutland Shadow Health & 3 Wellbeing Board

NEW Steering Group 4-5

Policy Update 7

Recent Events 8-9

Get Involved 10-11

A Busy Six Months for Rutland LINk

I write this as we all enjoy fi ne Autumn weather and I refl ect on the very busy Spring and

Summer at Rutland LINk. I think it has been the most productive period we have had since Rutland LINk started in 2008.

Our year started with Communities in Partnership (CiP) starting work as our Host, a strange term for the organisation that provides our offi ce support, organises our meetings and public events and provides us with policy briefi ngs on all things health and social care. Our aim at Rutland LINk is to be an organisation that brings together individuals, groups and organisations in Rutland to enable them to have a voice in infl uencing the planning, design or redesign, commissioning and provision of local health and social services. The LINk does this by working in a collaborative and inclusive way across Rutland. The best way to achieve this is to meet with and get the opinions of as many people as possible across Rutland. So in the last six months

we have organised three public meetings on a variety of issues with expert speakers to explain what was happening but more importantly allowing the service users and public to feedback their opinions.

We ran four briefi ng sessions across Rutland to allow as many people as possible to learn more about LINk and to consider joining the Steering Group. The results of the elections to the Steering Group were announced on 12th September, the new Steering Group had an induction day on 15th September and its fi rst Steering Group meeting was on 20th September. Within days various members were involved with a diverse range of issues, for example taking a seat on the Dementia Commissioning Board and partaking in a Primary Care Trust (PCT) Stakeholder Event, allowing LINk to voice Rutland’s opinions and needs.

Cont. Page 2

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As you know the Health & Social Care Bill had a pause earlier this year while the Minister listened. However

the pause did not slow down the pace of change. The main

change is that responsibility for purchasing services

to meet our healthcare needs is moving to Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) led by GPs. Another change resulting from the Bill is the formation of Health & Wellbeing

Boards (HWBB) in each Local Authority area.

Again LINk members are

involved in regular meetings of the CCG covering Rutland and the HWBB to make sure that service users and the public are represented. LINks all over England are also changing as a result of the Bill, October 2012 should see Rutland LINk evolve into Local HealthWatch.

While all this was going on our new website was under development, if you have not paid it a visit do have a look - rutlandlink.co.uk - it will keep you up to date at this rapidly changing time.

Kathy Reynolds, Interim Chair, Rutland LINk Steering Group

Plans are forging ahead to bring together an East Leicestershire & Rutland Patient Participation Chairs Network. This Network will aim to strengthen and empower local GP Patient Participation Groups in the area of the East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group. One of the key objectives of the Network will be to build strong working relationships and partnerships with main stakeholders, which will include both the Leicestershire and Rutland LINks.

This work stemmed from a joint LINks conference with GP Patient Groups to explore the potential for working together to improve patient

and public experiences of the NHS. Over 100 people attended this event and overwhelmingly agreed that there were lots of reasons why it made sense and could only work to benefi t everyone.

Rutland LINk has already reserved a co-opted seat for a Representative of the Patient Participation Chairs Network on its Steering Group, so that we can share issues of common interest and concern.

If you want to fi nd out more about this important piece of joint work, please contact Gill Wollerton on 0116 229 3028 or email gill@communitiesinpartnership.org.uk

Closer working between GP Patient Groups and LINks will mean a stronger voice for patients in Rutland

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The Health and Social Care Bill (2011) will cause the establishment of a Health & Wellbeing Board (HWBB) in each Local Authority (LA) area. The HWBB will have a duty to encourage integrated working between decision makers and service providers. The Government envisages the HWBB as the focal point for decision making about local health and wellbeing. It will work to improve the strategic coordination across local NHS, social care, children’s services and public health. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) will be required to consult with HWBBs when drawing up their annual plan.

Over 130 out of 157 LAs have set up shadow HWBBs. Rutland is not formally recognised as an “early implementer” although Rutland County Council (RCC), NHS Leicestershire County & Rutland Primary Care Trust (LCR PCT) and the East Leicestershire & Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (EL&R CCG) appreciate the importance of setting up a Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board sooner rather than later. The Board met in shadow form for the fi rst time in July 2011. The Shadow HWBB acts as an advisory body to Rutland County Council Cabinet, LCR PCT and EL&R CCG. The Board will become statutory

once legislation has passed; this is expected by April 2013. At this point it will then become a committee of Rutland County Council with executive powers.

Rutland’s HWBB is structured as follows to provide commissioning leadership, democratic accountability and public involvement:

• The Leader of the Council and the Portfolio holder for Health & Social Care who chairs the HWBB.

• The Director of People for RCC.

• The Director of Public Health covering RCC.

• One representative of the Local HealthWatch, currently Rutland LINk.

• The Chair of the EL&R CCG or a representative of the Chair.

• The Chief Executive of the Primary Care Trust (PCT) or a representative.

• One representative from the Voluntary and Community Sector as nominated by the Voluntary Sector Consortium.

• A representative of the NHS Commissioning Board will sit on the Board when RCC is drawing up joint strategic needs assessments and related strategies.

The Responsibilities of HWBBs include:1 Identifying current health and

wellbeing needs and priorities for Rutland through:

• Regularly producing and updating the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

• Producing a “Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy” in response to the JSNA. The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy will provide a strategic framework for local commissioning plans.

2 Have oversight of public sector resources, where appropriate.

3 Shadow Health and Wellbeing Boards will also feed into the authorisation process for CCGs giving their views on whether CCGs are prepared to fulfi l their functions. HWBBs will also be able to object to a shadow CCG’s boundaries prior to authorisation.

4 The NHS Commissioning Board will seek the views of the HWBB when compiling their annual assessment of CCGs, in particular with relation to whether the CCG has aided the delivery of the joint health and wellbeing strategy.

5 The HWBB must communicate and engage with local people in how they can achieve the best possible quality of life and be supported to exercise choice and control over their personal health and wellbeing.

6 The HWBB will be expected to achieve better outcomes for users and communities through integrating commissioning and provision.

The HWBB will be a powerful executive committee of RCC. To ensure that Rutland LINk (and after October 2012, Rutland Local HealthWatch) have a strong voice on the Board it is necessary for them to have a strong and active membership representing all sectors of the Rutland community. So please encourage your friends to join Rutland LINk.

Rutland Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board

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In September, all LINk members were invited to vote to appoint new members to the Steering Group. Thank you to everyone who put their names forward as candidates and also to those who voted. The members of the group are as follows:

Diane Brent I was the first chairperson of the North Lincolnshire Patient & Public Involvement Forum (PPIF). During my chairmanship, I endeavoured to maintain impartiality between the conflicting priorities within the Forum membership and the various working groups to ensure that evidence was gathered in an unimpeachable manner and that the subsequent reports were seen to be objective and presented a well-reasoned conclusion.

Peter Golden I have been a long-term Rutland County Councillor. For many years I sat on the executive of Voluntary Action Rutland. In 2010/11 I chaired RCC scrutiny on future of Ketton branch GP surgery. During my time as Cabinet member, the Council successfully re-provided the two out-dated elderly person’s homes and one Learning Disability accommodation inherited from LCC. With my experience I have a wide knowledge of social care in the county in particular but also of health provision.

Joyce Marston I was a secondary school teacher for many years, latterly with responsibility for pastoral care and as such had an interest and concern for the health and welfare of pupils and staff. During the last five years I have been a volunteer at a Day Care Centre and have observed the changing facilities available to older people in our community. I would like to see the very best care and services available to all ages especially in Rutland.

Meet the Rutland LINk Steering Group

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All Steering Group meetings are held in public and everyone is most welcome. There are opportunities at the start of the meeting for members of the public to ask questions. All meeting dates are published on www.rutlandlink.co.uk

Rutland LINk at Uppingham MarketLocal residents took the opportunity to chat with Kathy Reynolds, Chair of Rutland LINk and Julie Hodder, LINk Development Offi cer at the stand shared with Voluntary Action Rutland, to fi nd out more about the work and development plans of the LINk.

Visitors to the stall were able to take away information about local community groups and events and support for people living in Rutland. This was successful in helping the LINk to fi nd out what local residents think of health and social care services and what they feel is important. It was also an opportunity to discuss with people how they can become more involved in decisions about health and social care in Rutland. As a result, several new members have signed up to join the LINk, ensuring that their voice is heard in seeking to bring about improvements to local services.

Gillian Pearson My principal interests lie with the changes happening with Rutland Memorial Hospital, The Children’s Heart Unit at Glenfi eld and Peterborough City Hospital.

Margaret Demaine My working experience is as a teacher. I have served as a Parish Councillor, CAB Adviser, present member of Uppingham Surgery PPG and served as a Forum member of the Leicestershire, Melton & Rutland PPIF, until the Forum was replaced by LINk. I care passionately for the NHS and for its future.

Kathleen Reynolds My interest is in the delivery of an effective and effi cient Healthcare Service. With a background in Biomedical Science I worked for the NHS for 13 years. However most of my career was spent working at a senior level for a number of companies who developed and supplied the technology necessary for today’s advanced healthcare services.

Meet the Rutland LINk Steering Group

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‘Good Thinking’ is the name of the service introduced in 2009 as the means to Improve Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). The Good Thinking service provides support for people with anxiety, depression and other common mental health problems in Rutland and Leicestershire. This service is delivered by Rethink in partnership with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and Assura, a cooperative of primary care doctors.

The Good Thinking service has a number of centres in GP surgeries and different community sites across Rutland and Leicestershire. Currently only GPs can refer patients to therapy, however it is hoped that in the future a system of self-referral can be introduced.

At a recent Good Thinking briefi ng we were informed how the service has developed over the past 12 months. We would like to share this information with you now in order to dispel a number of myths and misconceptions which have surrounded it.

Rutland Memorial Hospital, OakhamPatients can collect hearing aid batteries from the Main Reception, Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm. Patients can also contact Rutland Memorial Hospital Reception on 01572 722552 and leave their details for batteries to be posted to them.

Melton Hospital Patients can collect hearing aid batteries from the Main Reception, Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm. Requests can be sent to the hospital for hearing aid batteries along with a stamped addressed envelope for batteries to be posted out.

Good thinking

Myth Busting: these are the facts

Hearing aid battery service

• The service has trained 61 clinical IAPT staff (34 Hi-intensity, 27 Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs))

• Another 10 PWPs in training

• 13 part-time Counsellors and 11 Mental Health Facilitators

• Completed treatment for 5133 patients in 2010-2011

• It has achieved a success rate for these patients over 46% which is close to expectations within NICE Guidelines

• The average cost per completed case is only £531 which represents an effi ciency saving of £219 over the projected cost of treatment when the service was commissioned

• 52% of all patients were seen by a therapist within 3 weeks

• 30% were seen within 4-6 weeks

• 11% were seen within 7-9 weeks

• 5% were seen within 10-12 weeks

• None were seen within 13-15 weeks and the remaining 4% were seen within 16-19 weeks

• A recent survey of patients who had completed treatment found 91% of patients supported the service and felt it had helped them

To fi nd out more, contact Rethink on 0845 456 0455 or visit their website - www.rethink.org

Find out more about the Good thinking service at -

www.goodthinkingtherapy.org

8.30am-4.30pm. Requests can

stamped addressed envelope for batteries to be posted out.

February - March The House of Commons committee stage took place between February and March. It is here MPs conducted a detailed examination of the Bill.

January -The Government published its Health and Social Care Bill in January 2011.

July - September Recess - Parliament does not sit all year round and within this period MPs carry out their other duties.

7th September Third Reading - the Bill received its third reading by 316 votes to 251 enabling the Bill to move forward to the House of Lords.

November - House of Lords Report Stage

This provides further opportunity to consider all proposals for change to the Health and Social Care Bill.

April - May The Government used the natural ‘pause’ in the parliamentary process - between the committee and report stages - to ‘listen’ further on concerns about the draft legislation. It was at this time, the NHS Future Forum was set up to ask professionals and members of the public their views on the Bill.

June - As a direct consequence to the NHS Future Forum’s Report to Government, changes to the Bill were tabled.

6th September

Report stage - this stage provided MPs with the chance to consider further amendments (proposals for change) to a Bill which had already been examined in committee.

October - House of Lords The Health and Social Care Bill came under scrutiny from Peers in the House of Lords.

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Following the House of Lords Report Stage, the Bill will have its third reading. Each House will then consider the other’s amendments. There is still a long way to go before the Bill becomes Law. Rutland LINk will continue to monitor the progress of the Health and Social Care Bill and ensure our members are fully aware of any changes that may have an impact.

Policy Update

Hearing aid battery service

Rutland LINk made their views known at a Health and Social Care Bill Listening Event hosted by One East Midlands. The Listening Event was one of the Government’s policies to provide local people with another opportunity to tell the Government what they thought of the proposed changes to the NHS. The lively debates brought to light that people were sceptical about the choice agenda, feared the consequences of what competition might bring and wanted the listening exercise to be extended.

The views and concerns gathered from these events were fed back to the NHS Future Forum (this forum is an independent group of the country’s leading NHS professionals and patient representatives who were tasked with analysing the result) who then presented the Government with a number of recommendations.

As a direct result of the Forum’s report, the Government has delayed the start of Local HealthWatch to October 2012. This means we will be working hard during this transition year on the important work of the LINk.

Health and Social Care Bill

Timeline

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More than 35 people including individuals and voluntary and community organisations came along to the Falcon Hotel in Uppingham to find out more about how local health services are provided and how changes to the NHS may affect people living in Rutland.

Dr Dave Briggs, Chair of the East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group talked about planned care and the role of the new Clinical Commissioning Groups. Questions which arose included the provision of additional services at Rutland Memorial Hospital, Out of Hours services and how local residents can access up to date health information.

Mark Dewick and Mark Roberts from Leicestershire Partnership Trust talked about community health services, including Community Nursing, Intermediate Care, Specialist Palliative Care and End of Life Care, as well as proposed changes to improve the way people access and receive their health care.Gareth McCague, Executive Officer for Community Pharmacy Services across Rutland and Leicestershire provided an insight into the role that Community Pharmacies play in not only administering medication but management of chronic conditions and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Better care choicesPeople joined Rutland LINk at Victoria Hall, Oakham in August to hear about changes to Adult Social Care Services. The aim was to provide an opportunity for people to find out more about Personalisation of Services, including Personal Budgets and Direct payments and how this is provided for people living in Rutland.

The changes that are happening are intended to enable individuals easier access to services with a greater choice of care and support needed, most importantly to them. Vicky Todd from Rutland County Council gave an informative presentation about how this is provided throughout Rutland, including the key areas:

Improved Access: to general services, ensuring that these are available to everyone living in Rutland, such as advice, advocacy, information, education and leisure.

Early Intervention and Prevention: Providing services that support people at an early stage to stay well and be independent for as long as possible.

Choice and Control: Ensuring people have the opportunity to choose how their needs are met as opposed to having to ‘fit in’ with what’s on offer.

Inclusion: Ensuring that people have the opportunity to be part of the community and recognising the important role played by carers.

Discussion groups provided an opportunity for everyone to share their experiences and put questions to members of the Adult Social Care team. Rutland LINk will continue to work closely with the County Council to look at issues identified.

YOUR Health Services – Now and in the futureRecent events Event summary reports are available

on our website. Please contact the LINk office for paper copies.

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We held a very informative event, which was attended by over 30 people, mostly carers of people with dementia. Emma Spencer from the University Hospitals of Leicester gave an extremely interesting talk about what it’s like living with dementia, the various symptoms and diagnosis. There were lots of questions, which Emma was very happy to answer.Charles Lawrence spoke about

Rutland Reminders, which is a singing group for people with dementia and their carers. Volunteers play a key role in ensuring that everyone has fun and takes part in some way. Rutland Reminders also provide books on dementia, which can be especially useful for people who are newly diagnosed, as well as those living with dementia. This event was not only informative

but enabled the participants to ask their questions and speak to others with similar experience. The event raised an issue around the lack of carers support, which Rutland LINk will be following up.

For more information about Rutland Reminders, visit www.rutlandreminders.org.uk or contact Diane Ellard on 07779 413889.

Rutland LINk joins hands with neighbouring LINks to improve ambulance services

Have you ever felt like:• Making your views known about

the ambulance service

• Working with other like minded people to make sure the service you and the general public receive are of quality and good standard

• Getting involved and making a difference for the people of Rutland

If your answer is YES, then you will be pleased to know that Rutland LINk will be joining Leicestershire and Leicester City

LINks to seek improvements in the care given to patients who need the services of East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS).

This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in a group which has been working towards improving ambulance services since January.

If you are interested in joining or fi nding our more about the Joint LINk East Midlands Ambulance Service Task Group, please contact Saima Khan on 0116 229 3048 or emailsaima@communitiesinpartnership.org.uk

People living with dementia event

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Speaking to local people helps the LINk to identify issues of real concern. We work closely with the NHS and Local Authority services to ensure these are heard and acted upon to bring about improvements. This is your chance to raise issues and influence change. We want people like YOU to join our new Group and be involved in helping to make really positive changes to local health and social care services. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact the LINk office on 0116 229 3103 or email julie@communitiesinpartnership.org.uk

We want YOU to join our NEW GROUP finding out what YOU think about Health & Social Care services in Rutland

Get involved

Do you have a Neurological Long Term Condition? Do you feel that services could be improved?If your answer is YES, then you may want to come along to the joint LINks Neurological Task Group, which is working on putting a case to the new Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) for how services could be greatly improved at probably less cost. The CCGs have told us that they want to hear about people’s experiences of services and their ideas for how these could work better and provide better outcomes for patients.

We are planning an information event, which will bring voluntary organisations who provide services,

information and in some cases training, as well as hopefully the Multi-Agency Neurological Team in Nottingham to talk about how it works in their area. We will keep you informed about this event but in the meantime, if you want to be part of the Neurological Task Group and work towards raising the profile of these conditions, please join us at our next meeting on Monday 5th December at 2pm at The Brite Centre, Leicester. Contact Gill Wollerton on 0116 229 3028 or email gill@communitiesinpartnership.org.uk for more information.

Leicestershire LINk and Rutland LINk have formed a joint Dementia Task Group, which is providing input into the development and implementation of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Dementia Commissioning Strategy. The LINk Dementia Task Group have representatives on the Joint Dementia Commissioning Group, which is developing the Strategy. If you have any experience

Joint workon Dementia

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of Dementia, please come along to the Dementia Task Group. If you are interested in hearing what is happening and would like to infl uence the implementation of the Strategy, please contact Kamini Patel on 0116 229 3019 or email kamini@communitiesinpartnership.org.uk

on Dementia

Have YOUR say on Residential Care Services

2012 up and coming events

Residential Care Services are changing. Do you want to know more about how Residential Care is provided, the support available for making the right choice of home and the ways in which they are regulated? Come along to our event to fi nd out more about Residential Care Services for the Elderly in Rutland on Tuesday 6th December, 9.30am – 12.30pm at Greetham

Community Centre and make your views known! There will be guest speakers from the Care Quality Commission, East Midlands Care Association and Age UK.

For further details and to book your place, contact Julie Hodder on 0116 229 3018 or email julie@communitiesinpartnership.org.uk

Date Event Topic DetailsEarly February Carers This is an opportunity for carers to hear

about available services and to discuss what support should be available. The event is open to everyone who has an interest in caring for people.

End of February

Ambulance Services

An information event about ambulance services, including how the service operates throughout Rutland and response times with an opportunity for you to feedback your views.

Early March Stroke Services

An event for people to fi nd out about stroke services and support available for people living in Rutland.

Date Event Topic Details18th January Mental Health An information event about Mental Health issues,

specifi cally depression, anxiety drugs and alcohol. Rethink and other organisations will be on hand to explain the mental health services they provide.

End of January Hospital Care/ Hospital Services

An opportunity to fi nd out how these services are provided and to let us know your views.

How are they provided and regulated?

What support is available in choosing the right care home?

New Website Visit the websitewww.rutlandlink.co.uk

Connect with Rutland LINk on FacebookWe will be posting Health and Social Care news items, giving you an opportunity to join in discussions and have your say!

Rutland LINk Leafl et

We are happy to visit community groups or organisations to talk about what the LINk does and our transition to HealthWatch. We are also keen to fi nd out what people have to say about their local health and social care services.

Please contact the LINk offi ce on 0116 229 3019 if you would like us to come and talk to your group.

In June we launched the new Rutland LINk website. The new website has been given a brand new look and you will be able to fi nd news, information on our events, LINk activities, download documents and much more...

The Rutland LINk leafl et has been refreshed and includes a tear-off slip for those who would like to join the LINk. These have been distributed across Rutland to organisations and groups. If you would like copies for your group or organisation, please contact the LINk offi ce.

Would you like to know more about Rutland LINk?

If you have a view, Rutland LINk needs you!

Anyone who wants Anyone who wants their voice to be heard their voice to be heard their voice to be heard their voice to be heard can join

Contact Us

Freepost RSCK-LBKH-UBGL Rutland LINk Leicester LE4 1HB

Telephone: 0116 229 3103 Email: rutlandlink@communitiesinpartnership.org.uk Website: www.rutlandlink.co.uk

Contact us