Local Involvement Networks (LINks)

From April 2008, the Government has replaced Patient Forums with Local Involvement Networks (LINks).
LINks are being introduced to help strengthen the system that enables communities to influence the care they receive.
Backed up by certain powers, LINks will:

• provide everyone in the community – from individuals to voluntary groups - with the chance to say what they think about local health and social care services – what is working and what is not.
• give people the chance to influence how services are planned and run.
• feedback to services what people have said about services so that things can be improved.

A consortium led by Voluntary Norfolk has been selected as the host for Norfolk LINk for the period up to the end of March 2011. More information is available in their newsletter via the following link:

• http://www.norfolklink.org.uk/ 

About LINks on Department of Health website: 

(NHS Norfolk is not responsible for the content of external internet sites)

A stronger local voice

Published on 13 July 2006, ‘A stronger local voice’ sets out the Government’s plans for the future of patient and public involvement in health and social care.

These plans include the establishment of Local Involvement Networks (LINks), which will replace patient forums.

On other websites:

• Department of Health website: 'A stronger local voice’
• About PPI including LINks on Department of Health website