The ‘Mums and Midwives’ Shop project in Birkenhead, Birkenhead Community Midwife Team from from Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has won one of the UK’s top midwifery prizes at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Awards. LINk members visited the project before Christmas, and were extremely impressed. A copy of their report is available for download on the LINk website. The shop is staffed by a team of community midwives to provide local women with advice on pregnancy and postnatal issues. Linda Birch, head of Wirral midwifery, said that “the shop has firmly established itself and has proved to be very popular.” The team were rewarded with the Innovation in Midwifery Award for their efforts. The award, sponsored by Philips Avent, was presented at the Ninth Royal College of Midwives Annual Midwifery Awards at a ceremony in London on 19th January 2011. The LINk has started a new programme of Enter and View visits, focussing initally on care homes. The Enter & View Team has met to agree their working methodology, and to agree services to visit. There are now 11 Authorised Representatives, a list of whom can be found on www.linkwirral.org. uk. The first three visits to care homes took place over a day on the 9th March, and the visit reports have been submitted to the relevent homes. As soon as the official responses are received, the reports will be published on the LINk website, shared with the Care Quality Commission and sent to Wirral Council. The programme of visits to care homes will now continue over the next several months - nine visits are being planned for April and May. Visits to Arrowe Park are also being planned for the next few months, with four wards and A&E likely to be visited in the near future. Members of the LINk Board and Support Team, along with several active LINk members, were in attendance at a major regional LINk event at Aintree Racecourse at the end of January. The event, entitled ‘LINks to the Future: LINks and the Transition to HealthWatch’ was organised jointly by the Host organisations for several Merseyside LINks, including Wirral LINk. It was billed as a day for all Merseyside’s Local Involvement Networks to look at what has worked, what hasn’t worked, and what lessons we need to learn for the transition to Local HealthWatch. Around 200 delegates attended the event, including a large contingent from the Wirral who made their way across the water. Feedback was on the whole very positive (apart from a few issues with the sandwiches!) and the consensus seemed to be that valuable information had been shared between the region’s LINks. Diane Hill, Wirral LINk Chair, said in her speech to the conference that “it is important to stress the hard work and achievements of the region’s LINks over the last three years, and to make sure that the opportunities presented by the change to local HealthWatch are recognised and embraced”, a sentiment that was widely applauded by the delegates. The key note speeches for the day were given by Richard Caulfield from Voluntary Sector North West and Radio Merseyside’s Roger Phillips, both of whom praised LINk volunteers and the contribution they have made, and urged delegates to “keep the faith”. For more photos from this event see our Picture Special on page 3... The Government plans for what Prime Minister David Cameron has called “fundamental changes” to the NHS continue to be developed. The LINk is obviously working hard to stay informed about what these changes will mean, nationally but more particularly locally. LINk board members and support staff recently attended an event organised by NHS Wirral and VCA Wirral (the LINk Host), which aimed to inform local community and voluntary groups about the potential opportunities for engaging with the new NHS. In a period of uncertainty and change, it will be even more vital for the voices of patients and the public to be heard, and for people to feel that they have a chance to influence the changes. The LINk will continue to offer this opportunity, and will be endeavouring to help keep people up-to-date about the changes, as well as offering them the opportunity to say what they think. A major part of this will be a relaunch of the Dignity in Care feedback campaign, which will run until the end of 2011 and ask Wirral service users whether they feel that their care services are treating them with Dignity and Respect. Part of the Bill that will affect the LINk specifically is the proposal to replace the LINk with ‘Local HealthWatch’. For more on this, see page two. We will do our best to keep the LINk website updated as the Health and Social Care Bill progresses. Issue 10 LINk members & VCA Wirral staff with NHS and Wirral Council staff and Councillor Brian Kenny Major NHS Changes Enter & View Visits Merseyside LINks Look to the Future By Phil Davies LINk Support Team By Elaine Evans LINk Support Team By the LINk Support Team By the LINk Enter & View Team Following requests from LINk members, we have reintroduced the popular LINk coffee mornings for 2011. The first two events took place in February and March, and were well- attended and well-received. Both were held at Willow Bank Court in Wallasey. The main topic of the first morning was Infection Control and was run in conjunction with Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH). Alison Quinn (Senior Prevention and Control Nurse from WUTH) delivered a presentation on her team’s role within the hospital, and New LINk Coffee Mornings By Elaine Evans LINk Support Team LINKED UP NEWS April 2011 “Growing Stronger Communities - by joining together, many whispers become one voice” A nice cup of LINk tea... Wirral Mums & Midwives Team Wins Top Award Story Continues on Page2
Transcript
The ‘Mums and Midwives’ Shop project in Birkenhead, Birkenhead Community Midwife Team from from Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, has won one of the UK’s top midwifery prizes at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Awards.
LINk members visited the project before Christmas, and were extremely impressed. A copy of their report is available for download on the LINk website.
The shop is staffed by a team of community midwives to provide local women with advice on pregnancy and postnatal issues.
Linda Birch, head of Wirral midwifery, said that “the shop has firmly established itself and has proved to be very popular.”
The team were rewarded with the Innovation in Midwifery Award for their efforts. The award, sponsored by Philips Avent, was presented at the Ninth Royal College of Midwives Annual Midwifery Awards at a ceremony in London on 19th January 2011.
The LINk has started a new programme of Enter and View visits, focussing initally on care homes.
The Enter & View Team has met to agree their working methodology, and to agree services to visit. There are now 11 Authorised Representatives, a list of whom can be found on www.linkwirral.org.uk.
The first three visits to care homes took place over a day on the 9th March, and the visit reports have
been submitted to the relevent homes. As soon as the official responses are received, the reports will be published on the LINk website, shared with the Care Quality Commission and sent to Wirral Council.
The programme of visits to care homes will now continue over the next several months - nine visits are being planned for April and May. Visits to Arrowe Park are also being planned for the next few months, with four wards and A&E likely to be visited in the near future.
Members of the LINk Board and Support Team, along with several active LINk members, were in attendance at a major regional LINk event at Aintree Racecourse at the end of January.
The event, entitled ‘LINks to the Future: LINks and the Transition to HealthWatch’ was organised jointly by the Host organisations for several Merseyside LINks, including Wirral LINk. It was billed as a day for all Merseyside’s Local Involvement Networks to look at what has worked, what hasn’t
worked, and what lessons we need to learn for the transition to Local HealthWatch.
Around 200 delegates attended the event, including a large contingent from the Wirral who made their way across the water. Feedback was on the whole very positive (apart from a few issues with the sandwiches!) and the consensus seemed to be that valuable information had been shared between the region’s LINks.
Diane Hill, Wirral LINk Chair, said in her speech to the conference that “it is important to stress the hard work and achievements of the region’s LINks over the last
three years, and to make sure that the opportunities presented by the change to local HealthWatch are recognised and embraced”, a sentiment that was widely applauded by the delegates.
The key note speeches for the day were given by Richard Caulfield
from Voluntary Sector North West and Radio Merseyside’s Roger Phillips, both of whom praised LINk volunteers and the contribution they have made, and urged delegates to “keep the faith”.
For more photos from this event see our Picture Special on page 3...
The Government plans for what Prime Minister David Cameron has called “fundamental changes” to the NHS continue to be developed.
The LINk is obviously working hard to stay informed about what these changes will mean, nationally but more particularly locally. LINk board members and support staff recently attended an event organised by NHS Wirral and VCA Wirral (the LINk Host), which aimed to inform local community and voluntary groups about the potential opportunities for engaging with the new NHS.
In a period of uncertainty and change, it will be even more vital for the voices of patients and the public to be heard, and for people to feel
that they have a chance to influence the changes. The LINk will continue to offer this opportunity, and will be endeavouring to help keep people up-to-date about the changes, as well as offering them the opportunity to say what they think.
A major part of this will be a relaunch of the Dignity in Care feedback campaign, which will run until the end of 2011 and ask Wirral service users whether they feel that their care services are treating them with Dignity and Respect.
Part of the Bill that will affect the LINk specifically is the proposal to replace the LINk with ‘Local HealthWatch’. For more on this, see page two.
We will do our best to keep the LINk website updated as the Health and Social Care Bill progresses.
Issue 10
LINk members & VCA Wirral staff with NHS and Wirral Council staff and Councillor Brian Kenny
Major NHS Changes
Enter & View Visits
Merseyside LINks Look to the Future
By Phil DaviesLINk Support Team
By Elaine EvansLINk Support Team
By the LINk Support Team
By the LINk Enter & View Team
Following requests from LINk members, we have reintroduced the popular LINk coffee mornings for 2011.
The first two events took place in February and March, and were well-attended and well-received. Both were held at Willow Bank Court in Wallasey.
The main topic of the first morning was Infection Control and was run in conjunction with Wirral University
Teaching Hospital (WUTH). Alison Quinn (Senior Prevention and Control Nurse from WUTH) delivered a presentation on her team’s role within the hospital, and
New LINk Coffee MorningsBy Elaine EvansLINk Support Team
L I N K E D U P N E W SApril 2011 “Growing Stronger Communities - by joining together, many whispers become one voice”
A nice cup of LINk tea...
Wirral Mums & Midwives Team Wins Top Award
Story Continues on Page2
about the NHS placing the highest priority on protecting the public from infection. Alison’s presentation lasted around 10 minutes and the audience has the opportunity to ask questions at the end.
The second coffee morning was
a similar format, but the focus was on Personalisation, with a talk from Christine Beyga (Interim Head of Care Services at Wirral Council). Christine spoke about the principles behind Personalisation, and how Wirral Council intend to achieve this, in a presentation entitled ‘Transforming Adult Social Care in
Wirral - Making it Personal’. More information about Personalisation can be found in the info bar below right.
More detail on these two events, including reports and the slides of the personalisation presentation can be found by visiting the LINk website.
These coffee mornings will continue throughout 2011, and there has already been great interest from people wanting to present or attend.
If there is a topic that you would like to see covered at a coffee morning, please contact the LINk Support Team.
Coffee Mornings a Great SuccessPage 2 April 2011LINKED UP NEWS
continued from page one...
As part of the Government’s proposed NHS reforms (see page one for more on this), it is proposed that LINks will be replaced by organisations called Local HealthWatch.
Local HealthWatch will be establised from April 2012 to be the chamption of patients, people using services, carers and the wider public. The roles of Local HealthWatch could include ‘influencing’, ‘signposting’ and ‘advice’.
A Transition Plan has been published by the Department of Health describing the proposed process for setting up Local HealthWatch. A link to this document is available from the LINk website.
In her introduction to the plan, Joan Saddler, National Director for Patients and the Public wrote that “Local HealthWatch will also
have an important new focus on supporting the diverse needs of individuals, helping them to find the information they need so they can make the most of the wide range of choices available to them. And, as sometimes happens, if people do not have a good experience of NHS care, Local HealthWatch will also be the place they can go to get help if they need it to make a complaint.”
Locally, this process is being monitored and managed by a Transition Stakeholder Group made up of LINk members and representatives from Wirral Council, NHS Wirral, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
If you would like more information about the work of the transition group, please contact the LINk Support Team.
HealthWatchTransition Group Continues Work as Transition Guidance PublishedBy the LINk Transition Group
It’s been a busy few months for LINk Active Members, Board, and Support Team. As well as the coffee mornings, regional event, enter and view visits, and regular meetings covered elsewhere in this issue members have also been seen at the VCA Wirral / NHS Wirral ‘Future of the NHS’ event (pictures opposite), and at various training courses and other events.
Notable amongst these training events was the Media Skills and Interview Training course completed by LINk members Audrey Meacock, Debbie Smith-Anderson and David Seal, along with the LINk Support Team’s Elaine Evans, who said “the training was really informative and good fun - the members and I got a lot out of it.”
As noted elsewhere, we are currently seeing major changes to the NHS, both nationally and locally. A couple of snippets of local news:Wirral Community NHS Trust
The new Wirral Community NHS Trust came into being on 1 April 2011. The Trust provides a wide range of community health services to people in their own homes, and was previously part of NHS Wirral. They will be seeking to become an NHS Foundation Trust. For more information visit www.wirralct.nhs.uk.Appointment of PCT Chair
James Kay has been confimed as Chair of NHS Wirral until 31 March 2011. James has been Acting Chair of the Primary Care Trust (PCT) for several months.
EventsNHS News
Personalisationmeans starting with the individual as a person with strengths and preferences who may have a network of support and resources, which can include family and friends. They may have their own funding sources or be eligible for state funding.
Personalisationreinforces the idea the individual is best placed to know what they need and how those needs can be best met. It means that people can be responsible for themselves and can make their own decisions about what they require, but that they should also have information and support to enable them to do so.
In this way services should respond to the individual instead of the person having to fit with the service. This traditional service-led approach has often meant that people have not received the right support for their circumstances or been able to help shape the kind of help they need.
Personalisationis about giving people much more choice and control over their lives.
What is Personalisation?
Taken from a presentation by Christine Beyga, Interim Head of Care Services at Wirral Council. For more information visit: www.wirral.gov.ukwww.scie.org.uk/adults/personalisation.aspwww.puttingpeoplefirst.org.uk
Wirral-based charity Cruse Bereavement Care have been personally selected by Prince William and Catherine Middleton to benefit from their Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund.
Cruse has been chosen on the strength of its work with the Armed Services. The charity has recently developed specialised training for its volunteers so that they can recognise and respond to factors specific to military deaths that can further complicate the grieving process. This allows them to provide appropriate, high quality care to the military family whenever necessary, whether in the immediate aftermath of a death or months or even years later. This support is vital and has been proved to be of huge benefit to
those affected by a death in service: as one widow explains, “nobody wants to admit they need help but I needed help. Cruse did really help me. For the first year I don’t think you can ever see yourself rebuilding your life or having a life - but you can”.
Cruse, which has over 50 years’ experience in supporting bereaved people, also provides a telephone helpline, email support and a range of publications useful to the Armed Services and their families, including a military section on its website.
Prince William and Miss Middleton have asked that anyone who might wish to give them a wedding gift consider giving instead to a charitable fund. This fund can be donated to via the website www.royalweddingcharityfund.org.
Royals Support CruseBy Karen PriorLINk Support Team
By the LINk Support TeamBy the LINk Support Team
After the success of the LINk Dig-nity in Care Campaign last year, the Dignity and Communications Sub-Groups, with the help of the LINk Support Team, are preparing to re-launch the campaign for 2011.
Diane Hill, LINk Chair, said “thank you to everyone who con-tributed to the survey last year. We’re hoping for an equally good response from the local community when we relaunch in June”.
The response cards have been re-designed, and again will be free to complete and return. If you would like to be involved in this major piece of LINk work, please contact the Support Team for details.
Full details will be sent out soon!
Department of Health: • Modernising Care ServicesWirral Community NHS • TrustTransition to HealthWatch• NHS changes• CQC - standards of care to • expectUpdate on Respite and Care • Home provision from Wirral CouncilVCA Wirral achieves quality • awardNWAS Foundation Trust • application
The LINk is carrying out an A&E Survey. If you or anyone you know have had an experience (positive or negative) in Arrowe Park Accident & Emergency Department, please contact Elaine Evans at the LINk Support Team on 0151 203 2111 ext 21 or [email protected]. Your contirbution is vital to this survey, and any feedback you give us will be kept strictly confidential.
It’s Back! Dignity & Respect Cam-paign to Continue
Recent news from linkwirral.org.uk
A&E Survey
Picture Special A few pictures from LINk events so far this year...
By the LINk Support Team
By the LINk Support Team
By the LINk Support Team
Page 3 April 2011LINKED UP NEWS
LINk Coffee Morning, February 2011
Regional LINk Event, Aintree - January 2011
Alison Quinn’s Infection Control PresentationAttendees take part in a workshop
Christine Beyga talks about Personalisation
LINk Coffee Morning, March 2011
Future of the NHS Event, Hulme Hall
March 16th 2011
John Lancaster, Head of Provider Services NHS Wirral
Tony Excell on Equality Impact Assessments
Delegates listen to Diane Hill
Diane Hill’s Presentation
Roger Phillips, Radio Merseyside
Wirral LINk members, VCA Wirral and Wirral Council staff and Esther McVey, MP for Wirral West
Delegates network over coffee
Page 4
Following the announcement that the LINk will be replaced by Local HealthWatch from April 2012, it was proposed that the majority of the LINk Board continue in their role, and that four new members should be added to the Board. This is to provide continuity during the transition year whilst ensuring that fresh ideas and expertise is brought onto the Board.
In line with the LINk Governance, an Extraordinary
Meeting of the LINk was called on Thursday 24th February 2011 at Bebington Civic Centre, Bebington Suite at 4:30pm to vote on this proposal:
To create a Transition/Caretaker Board to assume all the powers and responsibility of the current LINk Board from April 1st 2011 to March 31st 2012.
22 people attended the meeting and the proposal was agreed by 13 votes.
There is a seat available on the Board for a representative for
the LGB&T community - if you are interested in taking up this opportunity please contact the LINk Support Team.
LINk Board Members - 1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012
11 current members will continue:Diane Hill, Audrey Meacock, Keith Heller, Barbara Moody, Peter Walton, Joyce Hayward, Murdo Kennedy, Jean Maskell, Diane Morley, Robin Eley-Jones and Stanley Mayne
2 new co-opted active members: David Seal and Tricia Harrison
2 co-opted inclusivity members: Raza Moula from WMO (Wirral Multicultural Organisation) representing BME community, and a representative for the LGB&T community (TBC)
Wirral LINk and the LINk Support Team would like to thank all the past and current Board Members and Active Members who have worked so hard on the LINk.
LINk Support Team Karen Prior, LINk Manager (part-time) Ext. 203Elaine Evans, LINk Support Officer Ext. 211Phil Davies, LINk Comms & Information Officer (part-time) Ext. 207Lisa Phillips, LINk Admin Support Officer (part-time) Ext. 209
To contact LINk staff call 0151 203 2111 (+ Ext)Office Hours 9.00am - 4.30pm
Extraordinary Meeting - Plans for 2011By the LINk Board
Contact Details
April 2011LINKED UP NEWS
Editor: Phil DaviesDesign: Phil DaviesTo subscribe or change your contact details, phone 0151 203 2111
LINKED UP NEWS is published on behalf of Wirral LINk by:VCA Wirral, Fire Station, Exmouth Street, Birkenhead, CH41 4NF
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this news-letter is accurate, but we cannot guarantee accuracy and our articles do not con-stitute legal or professional advice.Opinions expressed in the newsletter are not always to be taken as expressing the opinions of Wirral LINk or VCA Wirral. Advertisements, products or services listed are not necessarily recommended by Wirral LINk or VCA Wirral.
LINk Board Meetings in PublicFriday May 6th 9.30am start at the St Saviour’s Parish Church, Oxton.Some Sad NewsSadly, Wirral LINk Board Member Les Makin passed earlier this year. Les was a well respected, trustworthy and completely honest man who it has been a privilege to know, and he will be sadly missed by the LINk Support Team and his colleagues on the LINk Board. Dignity in Care Working GroupThis group will now meet after the Enter and View Sub-Group. The next meeting will be held at Birkenhead Fire Station on May 23rd, starting at
1pm. Please note this meeting is yet to be confirmed. Please contact the LINk Support Team for details.NHS Wirral Issues GroupThe next meeting of this group will be on DATE DATE at Birkenhead Fire Station, starting at TIME. If you would like to attend, please contact Elaine Evans or Lisa Phillips.Communications Sub-GroupThe next meeting of the Communications Sub-Group will be held on Wednesday 4th May at Birkenhead Fire Station, starting at 10.30am.The Well-Being of WirralThursday 26th and Friday 27th May, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. This event is being run by the Older
People’s Parliament - contact 0151 666 2220 or email [email protected] for details. The LINk will have a stand at this event on both days - if you are available to help out on the stand, please contact the LINk Support Team.Christian Cancer Friends TogetherMeets twice monthly in West Kirby, all welcome. Contact Marie on 0151 625 8775 or Pat on 0151 638 6370Do you have responsibility for your grandchildren aged under 18? Age Concern Wirral want to know more about the issues that grandparent carers face - contact Ian Bourbonneux on 0151 653 4404
Classifieds and diary datesBy the LINk Support Team & the LINk Board
The current charges for dental care are excessive and are a disincentive to maintain one’s teeth. Are there any plans to review the charges that we have to pay?
Name and address suppliedHow will my regular visits to my
neighbourhood GP be affected by the Government’s changes to the structure of the PCT in Wirral?
Name and address suppliedI’d like to say how helpful the
Home from Hospital service that is provided by VCA Wirral in Liscard is, the volunteers could not be more helpful and considerate - nothing is too much trouble for them.
Name and address suppliedSend your thoughts, queries and
LINKED UP NEWSIf you have articles, events or features that you would like to see in the next edition of LINKED UP NEWS, please contact Phil Davies.The deadline for the next edition is 1pm on Friday June 10th 2011.
If you’d like to attend, it would help us if you could let us know (so we have enough coffee!) Please call Lisa on 0151 203 2111 ext 209
St Saviour’s Church, OxtonThurs. 19th May, 10am to 12noonDying Matters WeekFeaturing a talk from Dr Murray Freeman End of Life Lead for NHS Wirral
The Pavilion, Birkenhead ParkThurs. 16th June, 10am to 12noonDignity and Respect
