1. Annual Health Check 2008-2009 (completed)

As part of the Annual Health Check, the Healthcare Commission had asked the Greenwich LINk to collect evidence on the performance of the three trusts in the borough by engaging with local people and finding out their experience of local services. In order to collect evidence, the Greenwich LINk ran a series of workshops to look at Greenwich PCT, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Oxleas Foundation Trust.

2. Participating in the Commissioning Strategy

The Greenwich LINk will participate in both NHS Greenwich and Greenwich Council's Commissioning Strategy and represent the people of the borough to ensure the services are; commissioned according to the needs of local people, easily accessible, and contribute towards the reduction of health inequalities.

3. Somali Community Health

Two Somali voluntary groups participated in the PCT Annual Health Check workshop. This workshop highlighted a number of issues faced by the Somali Community when accessing PCT services. Greenwich LINk has worked with NHS Greenwich to ensure that the concerns were addressed and where possible suitable actions were taken and recommendations responded to.

4. Evaluation of the pilot scheme for personalised budgets - Social Care Transformation Agenda

Self-Directed Support and Individual Budgets is about offering choice and control so people assessed as eligible for support from Greenwich council Directorate of Adult and Older people's Services can choose to organise their own support rather than the Council organising services for them. Self-Directed Support is now being piloted in Greenwich for eight months from September 2009. The pilot will be evaluated by a panel in which the Greenwich LINk will participate in.
 

5. Discharge Patients' Pathway and Experience

The Greenwich LINk have developed a questionnaire to capture the quality and patients' experience of discharge and recommend areas for improvement. The questionnaire will be given to patients leaving Queen Elizabeth Hospital and will also be available on a number of wards including; A&E and Urgent care and will also be made available through the Council to social care users.

6. Mental Health

The Greenwich LINk aims to gather information from current resources to scope what service users, carers and voluntary groups think of the services provided by Oxleas Foundation Trust and to use this information to build an action plan covering mental health services.

7. Discharge Pathway and Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients

The Greenwich LINk has developed a questionnaire to capture the quality of care given to stroke patients as they leave hospital care and are cared for in the community. Stroke patients will be asked to complete a questionnaire following discharge from hospital and then follow up questionnaires after three or six months. this will allow the Greenwich LINk to determine the quality of care given to patients through their recovery.

8. Maternity Services

The Greenwich LINk, working with Maternity Services Liaison Group, will conduct outreach activities for mothers and pregnant women with the aim of gathering their views on current maternity provisions and how services can be improved to better meet their needs.

9. Governance Arrangements

The LINk Executive Committee are currently in the process of developing and ratifying governance arrangements for the Greenwich LINk. This Governance Framework seeks to be a comprehensive document and to ensure that the Greenwich LINk operates according to the highest standards. A governance task group meet regularly to develop the Governance Framework. Once ratified by the Executive Committee, it will be made public and will be reviewed on a regular basis.

10. Training for LINk Members and Participants

Training and learning opportunities for LINk Members and Participant will be prioritised over the coming months so that those representing and supporting the LINk have the necessary tools to carry out their roles effectively. If as a LINk Participant, you require training to carry out your role, please contact the LINk team.