This newsletter provides information on upcoming changes to the LINk and the establishment of new Local HealthWatch organizations. It discusses questions that LINk members have about the transition and outlines some key differences between the LINk and Local HealthWatch, including that Local HealthWatch will have additional duties like providing information to support patient choices and NHS complaints advocacy. The newsletter also includes short articles on other healthcare topics like a BMA request for assurances on patient data confidentiality under new government proposals.

1. Issue 34 January 2012
Please note: Opinions expressed in this newsletter are the views of the author, and are not attributable to the Lancashire LINK.

2. WORLD
LEPROSY
DAY 2012
JANUARY 29
ONE BODY...
Many members
World Leprosy Day
We will not turn
away
In times of despair.
We will come near,
walk alongside.
We will care...
WWW.LEPRAHEALTHINACTION.ORG

3. Contents 3
6
Editorial
4 The LINk and Local Healthwatch.
LINk News
7
5 Signs of the times?
Summary of Transport Survey 2010.
6 NHS 111 service.
7 BMA seeks confidentiality assurances over patient data.
8 Board Member profile.
Night-time Hours Service changes.
9 Patient Stories.
UHMBT Hospital Appointments.
12
8
Shock report reveals human rights abuse.
13 Health and Social Care Update Number Four.
The Dilnot Proposals on Funding of Care Services.
14 Counting the cost of care.
16 Counting the cost of care - Patients’ stories.
17 Cancer patients hit by return to work proposals.
Out-and-About
12
10 Out-and-about with the LINk.
17
19
20
Features
18 Lancashire Hospital trusts feature in highest death rates.
19 Is your care up to standard?
20 999 Call Categorisation.

4. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
4 Editorial
The LINk We hope to keep you informed as things takes
shape.
and Local HealthWatch
In the meantime, we are happy to answer some
commonly asked questions:
As many LINk members will be aware, under
the Government’s health and social care Will Local HealthWatch be the same as the LINk?
reforms, the LINk will be replaced by new
Local HealthWatch organisations in October Local HealthWatch organisations will carry on
2012. with all the involvement and scrutiny activities of
The new Health and Social Care Bill states that the LINk, including promoting involvement;
‘Local HealthWatch organisations will be the local obtaining views; monitoring health and care
consumer champion across health and social services; making reports and recommendations;
care.’ and carrying out enter and view visits.
But the proposals have prompted many questions However, Local HealthWatch will have several
from LINk members who have asked what will extra duties, including providing information to
happen to the LINk over the next few months, and support patients to make choices about their
how will the changes take effect. health or social care and providing, or signposting
people to NHS complaints advocacy services. As
We are happy to reassure our members that the well as this, the Government states that there
LINk will still be carrying out its activities as usual must be a Local HealthWatch representative on
over the next few months. That means we will still the newly established Health and Wellbeing
be dealing with your issues and concerns around Boards.
health and social care, and feeding these to
commissioners and managers within the NHS and What sort of organisation will Local HealthWatch
Lancashire County Council. be?
We will still be keeping you informed of ongoing The Government proposes that Local
developments concerning national and local HealthWatch will not be a ‘network’ organisation
health policies, via our newsletter and other in the way that the LINk is. Instead it will be a
bulletins, and inviting your responses. ‘body corporate’. This is a legal term which simply
means it would be constituted as an organisation
We will still be organising events and conferences in its own right, with its own constitution and
to provide people with the opportunity to have arrangements for making decisions in an
their say on health and social care. accountable way.
And we will still be keeping our band of trained This is likely to mean Local HealthWatch would
volunteers busy as they undertake enter and view be set up in the same way as many local charities
visits to care homes and health settings, or carry and voluntary organisations. The government
out ‘mystery shopping’. sees this as a way of making sure that Local
HealthWatch is really independent and
However, at the same time, we hope to provide answerable to local people.
information on developments around Local However, there will still be an important role for
HealthWatch, as they arise, and will also be patients, service-users and those interested in
helping to support the promotion and roll-out of championing health and social care to become
Local HealthWatch within Lancashire. involved in Local HealthWatch.
Lancashire County Council is taking the lead on The role of local Local HealthWatch will be
the development of a Lancashire Local overseen by HealthWatch England, a national
HealthWatch and discussions are currently taking healthwatch organisation.
place on the structure of this new organisation.

5. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
LINk News 5
Signs of the times? attendant directed me to one of stress of trying to park their car,
the car parks, but I couldn’t find a finding where they need to be
car parking space. going, or finding enough money
Do hospital direction signs put for car parking.
you in a spin? Does trying to ‘Because all the direction arrows
find an empty hospital parking were pointing one way, I followed ‘I realise there are no easy
space drive you to distraction? them all the way to the end – only answers to this, but are there
If so, the LINk would like to to be met by a ticket barrier. But I ways hospitals could come up
hear from you. didn’t have a ticket because I with more imaginative solutions:
hadn’t parked – and there was a staggered visiting hours,
We would love to hear your views queue of irate drivers behind me, perhaps? Better advertising and
on which of the region’s hospitals waiting to come out! promotion of public transport? A
fare best –and worst – when it realistic maximum charge so that
comes to parking and direction ‘I had to somehow manoeuvre my family members who need to stay
signs. car and backtrack to find a car with their loved ones are not
parking space, which I did penalised with a hefty parking
As anyone who has to visit a eventually. But I was miles away bill?’
patient in hospital, or attend from the maternity unit. By this
hospital as a patient or outpatient, time, I was feeling really hot What are your experiences of
will readily testify, visits can be under the collar, anxious to see hospital signs and car parking?
fraught with tension and anxiety my daughter-in-law and Which hospitals fare the best and
at the best of times. Trying to find grandson. worst in relation to parking? The
where you are going or LINk would love to hear your
somewhere to park can send ‘The day before, my daughter-in- views and experiences. Contact
stress levels soaring even higher. law’s mother had driven up from angelan@theBHA.org.uk
her home in Reading, arriving at
LINk news editor and community lunchtime, to spend the full day at
engagement officer Angela Norris the hospital. When she got to her
had this experience when she car later that night, she was
visited Royal Preston Hospital dismayed to find she had been
recently to see her daughter-in- charged £10 to park for the day.’
law and new grandson, Stanley.
Commented Angela: ‘Many
Angela recalled: ‘It was afternoon people who visit hospital may
visiting and I queued for what have concerns and worries about
must have been 20 minutes to get the patients they are going to see,
on to the hospital site. A car park without having the additional
Summary of Transport Survey 2010
Research by Lancaster-based One Voice Disability Forum reveals that most people with disabilities rely
on buses for transport and find them affordable, reliable and comfortable.
However, nearly half of those interviewed said they needed help when travelling and pointed to problems with
ramps as an area of concern.
Wheelchair users said some bus drivers did not know how to use the ramp, or were reluctant to get out of their
seat to lower the ramp. Other users reported that some drivers were not aware the bus could be lowered to the
kerb. Problems were exacerbated by unhelpful drivers and, as a result, many wheelchair users no longer used
buses.
The research also discovered that taxis are a popular form of travel for disabled people and most taxi drivers
are responsive to their needs. However, some taxis do not have straps to secure a wheelchair and many
people reported difficulties in booking a taxi at peak times.
The report calls for more information on public transport services to be available in large print. For a copy of the
report email one-voice@btconnect.com

6. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
6 LINk News
advisor will ask you questions
NHS 111 service about your symptoms and,
based on the answers you
The NHS 111 service is there to give you give, they will give you advice
advice if you think you have an urgent health on which service is the best for
need, but you are not sure what to do. you, based on where you live
and the closest service
As reported in the November newsletter, 111 is the available. If the call advisor
number for a new free to use telephone service thinks you need emergency
which gives advice on which service to use if you attention they can immediately
have a minor injury or illness that needs medical dispatch an ambulance.
attention but is not an emergency.
If you are feeling unwell or have an injury, it can be 999 remains the single number to call if you or
difficult to know which NHS service to use, someone you care for has a serious or life
especially if you have a number of different threatening health emergency such as a serious
services in your area such as a walk-in centre, a accident, a heart attack, a stroke or breathing
minor injuries unit or urgent care centre as well as problems.
your local high street pharmacy, your GP and If you have used 111 since it was introduced we
hospital. would be interested to hear your thoughts. Please
Calling 111 gives you access to a trained call contact lancashirelink@thebha.org.uk or call
advisor, who has information about the different 01772 431195.
services available to you in your area. The call
Together we can keep Lancashire moving this winter

7. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
LINk News 7
BMA seeks confidentiality assurances over patient data
The BMA has warned the Nathanson, head of science and ethics
Government that ‘they must ensure at the BMA said: ‘Whilst the BMA does
patient confidentiality is protected' believe the use of anonymised health
in light of the Prime Minister's data could benefit patients, we are
announcement that patient records concerned that elements of the
will be made available to the Government's proposals could, if
privately run life sciences industry implemented, undermine patient
for research purposes. confidentiality.'
The NHS Health and Social Care She said the BMA was particularly
Information Centre is to set up a worried that researchers from large
‘secure data linkage service' by commercial companies would be able Dr Vivienne
September, 2012. This will provide to access patient records, find out Nathanson
extracts from patient data to life about people’s health status and
sciences businesses for research, treatment, and then may try to contact
including research into drug
treatments.
David Cameron this week assured the
public that any records would remain
them.
In response, a Department of Health
spokesman said: ‘The data will be
“
Whilst the BMA
does believe
anonymous, claiming ‘this doesn't
stored electronically and linked when the use of
required to meet a specific health anonymised
threaten privacy' and patients could
question. This means the data the health data
opt out of having their data shared.
researcher receives will be only that is
Patients will also have access to their relevant to the research'.
could benefit
GP records by 2015, with details of the patients, we
*Article from The Pulse, the journal for are concerned
full timetable to be published by
the BMA -http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/
September 2012.
newsarticle-content/-/
that elements
The Department of Health plans to article_display_list/13153083/bma- of the
announce a consultation to change the raises-alarm-over-nhs-patient-data- Government's
NHS Constitution so that patient data sharing-plans proposals
is automatically included in clinical could, if
What do you think about the
research, but giving patients a clear implemented,
Government’s plans to share patient
opportunity to opt-out ‘if they wish to
do so'.
data with the research industry? Will undermine
they compromise patient patient
Health secretary, Andrew Lansley, confidentiality? How will patients be confidentiality.
said: ‘What we are talking about is not informed of their right to ‘opt out’?
”
patients' individual medical records. Email the Lancashire LINk with your
What we're talking about is linking up views: lancashirelink@theBHA.org.uk
all the data sets across the NHS to
create what is population-based data
about the success of new treatments
across the NHS and the ability to link
up research data with the data about
how patients are responding in
research trials'.
But the BMA raised concerns over
patient confidentiality. Dr Vivienne

8. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
8 LINk News
Night-time hours
Board member Can you name your favourite
service changes
profile book?
Not really. There are too many, Burnley’s night-time out of hours
but Sophie's World by Jostein doctors’ service has been moved
Name:
Gaarder is one. I almost never from the St Peter’s Centre in
Michael Swarbrick
go to the cinema without falling Burnley to Burnley General
Job title: asleep. Hospital. As part of a trial run over
Vice-chair the winter months, GPs will be
Can you tell us one fact about based at the urgent care centre
Which area do you work in or yourself that others might be from midnight until 8am each
represent? surprised to hear? night.
I am interested in the changes Although I was physically This will be the only change to the
to the structures of Health and disabled at birth, at the age of service at St Peter’s, which will
Social Care because I can 18 I was called into the army continue to operate as normal at
remember what it was like and served 2 years in the all other times.
before the foundation of the RAMC. (Well, the Korean War
NHS. It would be good if the Health bosses said the scheme
was on. If you were male, could
NHS survived for my would test whether it is feasible to
stand up and didn’t have flat feet
run both services together on a
grandchildren. you were in.) permanent basis in the future.
How long have you been Information from NHS East
involved with the LINk? Lancashire shows a low take-up
Since it began. of people using the service
What brought you to the between midnight and 8am,
averaging at fewer than two
LINk?
patients per evening.
The NHS keeps me alive. I owe
it something. It is felt that by co-locating the GP
out of hours service with urgent
What do you feel are the care services at Burnley General
strengths of the LINk? Hospital this will ensure that
It strives to be the independent patients receive the right
voice of patients and ordinary treatment from the right doctor
members of the public. It has no however they access the service.
reason not to tell the truth as The GP out of hours service
patients see it. operates as an appointment-
Can you tell us a little bit based service where patients can
about your career call the new 111 service when
background? their GP practice is closed. The
111 service assesses patients
I left school at 15. On the way to
and determines whether the
a career in education I worked
patient needs to attend an urgent
for two breweries and improved care centre or see an out of hours
my education in my spare time. I GP. Where a patient needs to see
took full advantage of the fact a GP out of hours they will be
that in those days a part time given an appointment over the
university education was phone and advised where to
affordable but I was an old attend, thereby avoiding any
student by the time Lancaster confusion where a patient needs
awarded me a Ph.D. to go for treatment.
What are your hobbies and If you have had to use the service
interests outside of work? since the changes were
My grandchildren. implemented and would like to
share your experience with us
please contact
karend@thebha.org.uk

9. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
LINk News 9
Patient Stories internal training, but may be simply written if
respondents prefer.
Do you know of anyone aged over 65 who Oakridge is looking for a mix of patient
might be willing to talk about their experience experiences, good, bad or indifferent, so all stories
of being a patient of Lancaster Royal Infirmary, are welcome. Each will be edited down to a
Westmorland General Hospital or Furness maximum of 10 minutes so respondents need not
General Hospital, during the last 12 months? necessarily have long, complex stories to tell, and
the more stories that are collected the better.
On behalf of University Hospitals of Morecambe
bay NHS Foundation Trust, Oakridge has been Experienced interviewers are happy to travel to
commissioned to collect 100 stories from people, people’s homes, or to a hospital or venue of their
aged over 65, who have been patients of choice at a time to suit them. The interviewer will
Lancaster Royal Infirmary, Westmorland General be accompanied by one technical person to record
Hospital or Furness General Hospital, during the their story. Each interview will be carried out with
last 12 months. sensitivity.
The purpose is to improve the standard of elderly For further information, call Julia or Jo on 01625
patient care. Stories would ideally be filmed or 572474 or email
voice-recorded, so that they can be used for Julia.hatherall@oakridgecentre.co.uk
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital Appointments
The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS having a suspicion or diagnosis of cancer, being in
Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has set up a helpline need of an urgent referral, or simply requiring a
for patients worried about follow-up appointments routine referral.
following problems with the outpatient booking
Since then, the Trust has identified 154 patients as
system.
having a suspicion or diagnosis of cancer and as
An external review commissioned by the Hospital being at risk of harm due to delays in diagnosis or
Trust identified a backlog of 30,000 patients treatment. A further 682 patients were identified as
waiting for urgent and routine appointments. being in need of urgent referral. Measures were
put to place to ensure that each of these patients
The problems with the outpatient booking system – was seen by the beginning of December.
originally thought to be due to the IT system –
have now been put down to ‘process failure’. Fears For routine patients, a process of clinical validation
were raised in the media concerning cancer is underway and these patients will be seen over
patients losing out on vital diagnosis and treatment the coming months. The Trust is looking at the
due to urgent follow up appointments being missed wider NHS and possibly the private sector for
or delayed support in dealing with routine cases.
Since the issue emerged, the Trust has acted Patients and relatives worried about appointments
swiftly to ensure all urgent and priority patients are can call the 24-hour helpline on 0845 608 0278.
seen (reported in LINk newsletter, November GPs are also being asked to report any patients
2011). they are concerned might not have received
appointments.
Hospital managers have put in place a process to
identify all patients who should have received a The Trust is to set up a booking hub – made up of
follow-up appointment but haven’t; those who have managerial, clinical and administrative staff - to
been given an appointment but have not yet been review outpatient demand and identify staffing
seen; and those whose records should be closed issues, in order to prevent the situation arising
as ‘completed’. again.
Patients were further categorised on the basis of

10. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
10 Out and About with the LINk
We will keep you updated with Urgent Care Centre at Burnley
East progress. General Hospital.
We continue our work with If you have feedback on these
children and young people. or any other services you have
Following on from the ‘Dementia Their experience of accessing used recently please contact
Large Scale Change’ health services is an important either Anthony or Karen on
conference in Manchester in part of shaping services. At a 01282 714384 / 01282 714385
November, Board members in meeting of Rossendale Youth or email
East Lancashire have agreed to Council in November, there was Anthony@thebha.org.uk or
look at the use of antipsychotic an open and honest discussion karend@thebha.org.uk
drugs for people with dementia. about what they expect of
This corresponds with a call to services and the staff who
action on the use of provide and support those
antipsychotic drugs for people services.
with dementia, launched by the Areas covered included
Dementia Action Alliance. The dentistry and how the group felt
aim of this is to ensure that: they needed reassurance from
All people with dementia who the dentist, i.e. what was
are receiving antipsychotic happening whilst being treated. 01/01/2012 - 31/01/2012
drugs should receive a clinical Communication was another of Love Your Liver
review from their doctor to the main themes, with the
ensure that their care is majority of the group feeling that 04/01/2012 - 04/01/2012
compliant with current best communication could be World Braille Day
practice and guidelines, and that improved. Included in this was
alternatives to medication have the need of health practitioners 14/01/2012 - 14/01/2012
been considered, by 31 March to communicate with younger STIQ Day
2012. people in a way that they could
understand what was being 19/01/2012 - 19/01/2012
In some cases the use of explained. Personalised Health Care:
antipsychotic drugs is the right
We would like to thank the youth Theory to Practice
treatment option, but it is
estimated that around two thirds leader and members of the
Youth Council for their warm 22/01/2012 - 28/01/2012
of the use of antipsychotics in
welcome and for allowing us to Cervical Cancer Prevention
people with dementia is
join their meeting. Week
inappropriate. The use of
antipsychotic drugs is linked to In the New Year, we will be
arranging to meet with students 23/01/2012 - 29/01/2012
serious side effects, creating
at colleges in East Lancashire Food Allergy and
mobility problems, sedation and
and also meeting with health Food Intolerance Week
sometimes death, particularly
when used for longer than 12 professionals who work with
children and young people. 23/01/2012 - 29/01/2012
weeks.
Be Loud! Be Clear!
Two areas that we will be
monitoring over the next few 29/01/2012 - 29/01/2012
months are the new non World Leprosy Day
emergency number – 111 that
gives advice on which service to 31/01/2012 - 31/01/2012
use if you have a minor injury or National Bug Busting Day
illness that needs medical
attention but is not an 31/01/2012 - 31/03/2012
emergency, (see page 6) and National Bowel Cancer
the GP out of hours pilot which Symptom
is trialing moving the night time Awareness Campaign
GP from St Peters Centre to the

11. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
Out and About with the LINk 11
Central The LINk attended the Lancashire Third Sector Mental
Health Consortium meeting in Preston, when there was
a series of presentations on dementia. The Charnley
Fold Enhanced Day Support Service featured twice for
The LINk attended the Chorley & South Ribble Mental its work in general towards therapeutic and social
Health Users and Carers Network meeting, when a actives. Charnley Fold is also the base for the Dementia
discussion took place around the concerns many carers Adviser Service supporting people with onset or a
of mental health users have in relation to the possible diagnosis of dementia.
withholding of information by clinicians. Staff providing
care do not always give carers information, citing Staff also attended the Lancashire Youth Council Open
patient confidentiality as their reason for withholding Evening and had an opportunity to find out more about
information on certain issues. However, relatives feel its campaigns and meet the young volunteers.
this not always in the best interests of the patient. If you
A meeting on the future of Community/Volunteer Cars in
would like to comment on this issue, please contact the
Preston took place. Although primarily a meeting for
LINk - this could be done anonymously if preferred.
Lancashire County Council’s Transport Team and the
Email Pat at pat@theBHA.org.uk
managers of the services under discussion, the LINk
LINk members from Central Lancashire received enter asked if membership of this group could be opened up
and view training to enable them to visit health and to other organisations. As a result, a representative
social care premises. We will be reporting on their from the Royal National Institute for the Blind has been
activities in future editions of this newsletter. invited to join the group, as an organisation which has a
particular interest in how transport changes affect the
The LINk hosted an information stall in the entrance of visually impaired.
the Civic Centre in Leyland. LINk staff attended the
Methodist Church Cafe on Turpin Green in Leyland with The LINk will be attending the Chorley Community
a stand and information. A coffee morning is held there Transport Meeting on Thursday January 12. On
every Wednesday and the LINk had the opportunity to Thursday January 26, LINk staff will be present at two
speak with people who had come along for coffee and events: the Preston Strategic Partnership Conference in
a chat or lunch. Some of the issues raised included the morning and the Chorley Voluntary Community
transition of care home services following the collapse Faith Sector meeting at St Josephs, Harper’s Lane in
of Southern Cross and mental health community service the afternoon.
provision.
In the North, a report, written by LINk team leader
Elham Kashefi, on the problems experienced by North
Polish migrants from Lancaster and Morecambe
when accessing health services, has been presented completion of the prison project, on-going work with
to the University of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation children and young people, and keeping a watching
Hospitals Trust, NHS North Lancashire and the brief on mental health in-patient services.
Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and Garstang
Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Future work includes keeping a watch on
developments relating to the Dementia Strategy,
The report highlights serious concerns over developing stronger links with the North West
translation services and makes a number of Ambulance Service (NWAS), undertaking enter and
recommendations for ensuring non English speaking view visits to care homes and keeping a watch on
Polish residents are supported when visiting hospital developments relating to the future of hospitals on
or healthcare settings. For full details of the report the Fylde Coast.
and recommendations see the next LINk newsletter
(February 2012). DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Lancaster, Morecambe, Carnforth and Garstang
At a Christmas get-together meeting of the North Clinical Commissioning Group Public Engagement
locality group, members celebrated progress made Day
over the past 12 months and discussed the areas of Thursday 23 Febraury 2012 10 - 1
work for the coming months. Positive aspects of our PCT Headquarters, Moor Lane Mills, Lancaster
work included training a number of LINk volunteers to The CCG will update us on progress with
undertake enter and view visits and ‘mystery commissioning so far and would like to hear from
shopping’, working alongside hospital staff to conduct residents in all the areas that are covered by the
an A&E audit at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Group. To book a place please contact the North
organising health and social care events, the locality team (details on the back of the newsletter).

12. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
12 LINk News
Shock report reveals • Neglect due to tasks in the calls for more information and
care package not being advice to be made available to
human rights abuse carried out, often caused by those who use home care
lack of time. services.
A hard hitting report into the • Financial abuse, for example The report can be found at:
care older people receive from money being systematically www.equalityhumanrights.com/
home care services uncovers stolen over a period of time. homecareinquiry
the shocking catalogue of • Chronic disregard for older
abuse individuals may have people’s privacy and dignity
received at the hands of those when carrying out intimate
paid to look after them. tasks.
The report, Close to Home, was • Talking over older people
written following an Inquiry into (sometimes on mobile
Older People and Human Rights phones) or patronising them.
carried out by the Equalities and • Little attention given to older
Human Rights Commission people’s choices about how
(EHRC). It points out that and when their home care is
individuals are having their basic delivered.
human rights breached by failings • Risks to personal security, for
in the care system. example when care workers
The Lancashire LINk was among are frequently changed,
the many individuals and sometimes without warning.
organisations that contributed to • Some physical abuse, such
the inquiry. We submitted a copy as rough handling or using
of our report, Who is Looking unnecessary physical force.
After Uncle Albert?, following
The EHRC states that many of
research with over 40 care
these incidents amount to human
service users and their family
rights breaches. The impact on
members.
older people can be profoundly
The findings from the EHRC depressing and stressful,
*Following the publication of the
share many similarities with those resulting in tears, frustration,
report, the Care Quality
uncovered in the LINk report, in expressions of a desire to die and
Commission (CQC) has
identifying wide-ranging concerns feelings of being stripped of self-
announced that it will now be
raised by service users and family worth and dignity.
inspecting home care providers
members. alongside care homes, hospital
The report argues that the
The EHRC report states that underlying causes of these wards and other health settings.
around half of the older people, practices are largely due to CQC chief executive Cynthia
friends and family members who problems within the care system Bower said: "The operation of
gave evidence to the inquiry rather than the fault of individual home care is not as transparent
expressed real satisfaction with care workers and reflect a failure as care in hospitals and other
their home care. At the same to apply a human rights approach sectors because the interactions
time, the evidence revealed many to home care services. happen behind closed doors.
instances of care that raised real "That is why we want to focus on
It makes a number of this sector of social care in this
concerns such as:
recommendations, including way."
• Older people not being given making sure that home care The CQC already runs routine
adequate support to eat and agencies are covered by the spot checks, but this will be an
drink (in particular those with Home Rights Act, in the same extra inspection.
dementia) and an unfounded way that care homes are, and
belief that health and safety making sure those who
restrictions prevent care commission and monitor home
workers from preparing hot care services apply the Human
meals. Rights Act in their work. It also

13. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
LINk News 13
Health and Social Care Update Number Four
The Dilnot Proposals on Funding of Care Services
In this update, we focus on the Dilnot Inquiry on the funding of social care services. Economist Andrew Dilnot was asked by the
Coalition Government to chair the Commission on the Funding of Care and Support, which was set up to investigate ways of
funding social care in the future.
Dilnot was asked to lead the Commission and his report, Fairer Care Funding, was published in July this year. The information
here comes from a briefing paper produced by the National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC).
The Commission believes that the current care system is not fit for purpose and needs urgent reform. It has identified a number of
problems:
∗ The current system is confusing, unfair and unsustainable.
∗ Eligibility for support varies depending on where you live.
∗ There is a lack of financial products to help people meet their care costs.
Following the review of current services, Dilnot made a number of recommendations:
1. Costs
∗ An individual’s contribution to their care costs would be capped at between £25,000 and £50,000. The Commission suggests
£35,000 as the ‘fair figure’. The state would then pay additional care costs once the individual had met that cap. However,
individuals will still have to pay more than £35,000 if they want to go into a home which costs more than the local authority is
prepared to pay.
∗ Means-tested support for residential care would be available to those with assets/income worth between £14,250 and
£100,000 (including the value of any property). The current figure is £23,250. For those with assets worth £75,000 the cost of
care would be around £15,000. Those with less than £14,250 would not pay any care costs.
∗ Those in residential care would still be liable to pay for their food and accommodation costs – capped at a maximum of
£10,000 per year. This would mean individuals paying up to £190 a week.
∗ Individuals could fund their care either through private insurance, savings or money from their estate by selling their property
or through equity release. Whilst some local authorities promote deferred payment schemes which recoup the money paid for
care after the property is sold, the Commission recommends the system be standardised across England. They also suggest
that for the first time local authorities should be allowed to add interest onto the amount owed.
∗ The Commission’s proposals are estimated to cost £1.7bn a year rising to £3.6bn by 2026. The recommendations suggest
that this money could be raised either through additional income tax, re-allocation of existing government expenditure or
using a specific tax such as national insurance on those aged 65 and over.
2. Assessment
∗ There should be a new national assessment system which would guarantee support to those with ’substantial’ needs or
worse – but not anyone with moderate needs (including those requiring help getting in and out of bed). This assessment
would be portable and apply if you moved from one area to another.
The report adds that existing universal disability benefits should continue as now, but Attendance Allowance should be re-branded
to clarify its purpose. There is no recommendation to pay the carer’s allowance to those over state pension age.
National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC) analysis
The NPC has highlighted a number of areas where the Dilnot Commission's recommendations have fallen short of the
expectations of older people, their families and carers. These include the following:
∗ Raising the threshold on assets to £100,000 before being liable to pay care costs will not prevent older people from still
having to sell their homes in order to pay for care. The Commission accepts that the average housing wealth for a single
pensioner is £160,000.
∗ Introducing a cap on care costs of £35,000 amounts to just over one year's worth of care in a nursing home. The Commission
estimates that a year’s residential care costs £28,600. However, only a quarter of all over 65s are likely to ever need care that
costs more than the capped amount. Given this, it is questionable whether the state would ever step in to pay any additional
costs in all but a minority of cases.
∗ Suggesting that additional funding for care could be found by making older people pay national insurance places an
unacceptable burden on a single generation - rather than sharing the cost of care across society as a whole. It would be the
only area of welfare provision where one section of society was paying for itself eg. older people paying for the care of older
people, rather than the costs being shared across the population as a whole.
∗ Introducing a higher threshold of need before someone can access care will leave hundreds of thousands of vulnerable older
people without any support in the community. Access to care services needs to be widened, rather than restricted in this way.
The removal of low level support will inevitably lead to a worsening in conditions which will accelerate more severe care
needs and higher costs.
Dot Gibson, NPC general secretary said: "The Dilnot Report has really created more heat than light when it comes to the social
care debate. Nothing in the recommendations will end means-testing, improve standards or prevent people from still having to sell
their homes to pay for care. The current care system is in crisis, yet these recommendations won't go anywhere near putting that
right.”
The Dilnot proposals are being used to inform a White Paper on social care, expected next Spring. Any proposals would not be
introduced until 2014 at the earliest.
*As the LINk newsletter went to press, it was reported in the national media that the reforms outlined by Dilnot may take 10 to 20
years to come into effect, due to the high costs needed to implement the proposals. An article in the Guardian news web page
says the Government would need to find £1.7 billion to fund the scheme.

14. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
14 LINk News
Counting the Cost of Care including imposing a cap on the amount of money
people have to pay for their care to between
£25,000 and £50,000; raising the threshold for
Funding cuts and changes to care services are liability towards care costs to £100,000 (currently
having a devastating impact on carers. This those with assets worth more than £23,000 are
was the powerful and emotive message to required to pay towards funding their care); and
emerge from the ‘Counting the Cost of Care’ introducing a system of deferred payments, so that
event organised by the Lancashire LINk in the state takes responsibility for funding care, with
partnership with Help Direct Wyre and Fylde money settled through the individual’s estate.
and Carers Point!
Dilnot also recommends that there would be a
Carers recounted their stories of the daily greater role for financial services to play in
struggles they face to look after family members providing insurance cover to help people fund the
following cuts to services, difficulties in obtaining cost of their care services. However, he
equipment and practical support, and general emphasised that every effort would be made to
feelings of powerlessness in the face of ensure the vulnerable were protected.
overwhelming bureaucracy.
Mr Maynard pointed out that during the last
More than 60 carers, service users and Spending Review, the Coalition Government had
professionals attended the event – on Carers’ allocated £2 billion of non ring-fenced cash to local
Rights Day - at Thornton Little Theatre, Thornton authorities to spend on developing care services
Cleveleys, to hear Blackpool North and Cleveleys that were locally accountable and responsive to
MP, Paul Maynard, and Lancashire County local needs, in line with the new ‘localism’ agenda.
Council’s Director of Commissioning, Steve Gross,
outline national and local changes to social care. He highlighted the challenges posed by the current
care debate, including developing a service that is
Discussing national policy, Paul Maynard admitted localised, yet at the same time meets national
that funding care services presented a ‘massive benchmarks; offering personalised care packages
challenge’ in the light of a growing ageing to meet individual needs, yet recognising that not
population, economic issues and the sheer everyone wants choice or is able to exercise
complexities involving in delivering a coherent care choice without support; and ‘joined up’ health and
service. He said he had been involved in the same care organisations working together to deliver a
on-going debate about care services for the last 10 seamless service.
years but now it was time for this issue to be
tackled head on. He said the current climate meant that it was even
more important for statutory and voluntary sector
He outlined the proposals for the Government organisations to work together to provide efficient
White Paper on Social Care, due in Spring 2012. care and support services, and emphasised the
Part of this will focus on the recommendations need for early intervention, including falls
made in the Dilnot Review, set up by economist prevention services to prevent costly hospital
Andrew Dilnot to investigate the future funding of stays.
care services (for a specialist report on the Dilnot
Review, see Health and Social Care Update Emphasising that dignity should be at the heart of
Number Four on page 13). care delivery, Mr Maynard said the role of the Care
The review makes a number of recommendations, Quality Commission (CQC) would be
strengthened, with more unannounced inspections

15. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
LINk News 15
of care services. He also pointed out that the LINk Government targets to offer everyone access to
and, from October 2012, Local HealthWatch (the personalised care by 2013. Currently 7000 service
organisation that will replace the LINk) would have users have been issued with a personal budget
a vital role in monitoring care services. and 2200 people are using this as a cash payment
or to employ their own personal assistants. There
Steve Gross, Director of Commissioning at
are now 2500 people working as personal care
Lancashire County Council, described the
assistants within the county.
challenges faced by the council in having to make
cuts of £65 million to adult social care services, as However, he said personal budgets were not for
part of £179 million overall funding cuts over three everybody and he outlined the role of the local
years. authority, voluntary sector organisations and family
members in providing support and brokerage.
Savings had been achieved by changing the Fair
Access to Care (FACs) eligibility criteria, One effect of the move towards personalisation
increasing care charges and reducing funding had been a 10% drop in people buying home care
available to care providers. or day care services. As a result, only those home
care services that offered good, person-centred
Under the FACs criteria, those with care needs
care services would survive, and this would drive
assessed as ‘moderate’ are no longer eligible for
up quality. He described this as a reflection of the
care services. However, Mr Gross said that since
role of the service user as a consumer, able to
the changes, two thirds of those whose care had
exercise choice in relation to care services.
been reviewed had now been re-categorised as
having ‘substantial’ or ‘severe’ care needs and Mr Gross pointed out that Lancashire County
were now eligible for care services. This left Council was working closely with the NHS to
approximately one third, or 800 people, who were develop falls prevention initiatives and community-
no longer seen as eligible for care. based re-ablement services, to prevent hospital
admissions and ensure people are supported in
He said that, in relation to the services it provides,
their community following discharge from hospital.
Lancashire still fared well, in comparison with other
This included the provision of community-based
local authorities, though he admitted that the 50%
support for people with mental health problems,
of service users who were funding their own care
following the reduction of in-patient services.
were faced with having to pay more for their
services. He said increased care charges had had And he said there was greater emphasis on
an impact on uptake of residential and day care working with the voluntary and community sector
services, with some people withdrawing from care, to commission services, including support for
although fewer than expected had stopped their carers. Funding for the network of carers’ forums
care. across Lancashire had been protected and this
remained a high priority.
Mr Gross stated that a Judicial Review challenging
the council’s funding decisions had upheld the Mr Gross admitted that change was ‘complicated
County Council’s actions, and an appeal had and unsettling’ but felt it provided a real
judged in favour of the council. The High Court opportunity to join up services, use resources
ruled that LCC had acted fairly, although a further differently, avoid fragmentation and remove the
appeal would be heard early next year. need for service users to have to undergo
frustrating and time-consuming multiple
He outlined the developments that had taken place
assessments of their needs.
to create a personalised care service, in line with

16. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
16 LINk News
Counting the Cost of Care
Another women said she had looked after her
Carers’ Stories husband, who is severely disabled following a
stroke, for 15 years. She described how in June
this year her husband’s care package was
Carers gave moving and powerful accounts reduced to 22 hours per week, and this had
of their care experiences to a stunned increased pressure on her to the point that she
audience. felt physically and emotionally overwhelmed.
One single mother of an 18-year-old disabled A man who cares for his aunt described the
boy described how she had been trying for difficulties in getting through to Lancashire
nearly a year to be re-housed because her son County Council for information about care
is struggling to get up and down stairs. She had funding. He was fed up of trying to make calls
approached various housing organisations but to and having to be put through to different
no avail. departments and re-tell his story over and over
again.
In another case, a woman tearfully described
how, when her severely disabled son was Pamela Hill, from Age Concern Blackpool, felt
admitted to hospital, he was given a bed that that comments from carers indicated there was a
didn’t have side supports. Fearful for his safety general lack of awareness about the range of
and concerned that his care needs were not support services available. She felt that GPs
being met, she made a point of staying at the were not doing enough to signpost carers to
hospital each day from early morning until relevant services, and that carers’ assessments
bedtime, to provide the care he needed, by GPs needed to be mandatory and subject to
becoming stressed and exhausted in the monitoring.
process.
Paul Maynard and Steve Gross promised to
The woman explained how she had been caring investigate individual cases. Mr Maynard
for her son single-handedly for 20 years since admitted that in 10 years of campaigning for
her husband died, with little support from social better support in care services, the Government
services. Despite having a carer’s assessment was still some way from getting things right. He
she felt little had been done to improve her referred to the excellent support offered by
situation. organisations such as Carers Point!, but said that
it was important that people were made aware of
Another woman, who looks after her son who the service. It was also important that services
has severe mental health problems, said that, were commissioned to ensure those with unmet
after listening to the speeches made by Paul needs were supported.
Maynard and Steve Gross, she felt they must be
‘living on a different planet.’ She felt that what Steve Gross said he was aware that services
they said had little bearing on the realities faced were not perfect. However, the reality was that
by carers on a daily basis. Lancashire County Council had to live within its
means, and this presented a ‘massive challenge’.
She pointed out that service users are desperate
He warned that, with the Government’s proposals
for services and frontline staff are not paying to extend austerity measures and the challenges
enough attention to carers’ needs, with most faced by growing numbers suffering from
carers’ assessments seen as inadequate. She dementia, the pressure to maintain services
felt the support offered through carers’ forums would inevitably become harder over the coming
was not enough. People are often too busy years.
caring to attend forums and what they need is
more in the way of practical support and Do you have a story to tell about your
recognition of their difficulties. experiences as a carer? Contact the
Lancashire LINk, on 01772 431195, or e-mail
lancashirelink@theBHA.org.uk

17. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
LINk News 17
Cancer patients hit
by return to work
proposals
Thousands of seriously ill Instead, cancer patients on
The ESA replaces a range of
cancer patients could be chemotherapy in hospitals will
incapacity benefits. All fresh
forced to take medical tests now have to prove that they are
claimants now undergo a work
and face "back to work" too sick to work, and take part in
capability assessment, and 1.5
interviews under new the work capability assessment
million existing recipients will be
Government proposals, to determine whether someone
reassessed using the new
charities have warned. is eligible for benefits. If cancer
system from this month. The
patients are found able to return
A report to ministers by Prof welfare reform bill introduces a
to employment they may also be
Malcolm Harrington, the one-year time limit on those
required to participate in work-
government adviser on testing people claiming ESA in the
related practice job interviews,
welfare recipients, contains "work-related activity group",
as a condition of receiving their
proposals to force cancer who are expected to move into
benefit.
patients who are undergoing work.
intravenous chemotherapy to Such assessments have been
A DWP spokesman said: This
prove they are too ill to work. attacked by charities amid
must be about an individual's
mounting evidence that people
At present, patients who are needs. Our proposals would
with serious illnesses are being
unable to work because of ensure a person would only be
judged fit for work when they are
cancer and the side-effects of asked to attend a face-to-face
not.
treatments are allowed to claim assessment where absolutely
Cancer experts and 30 cancer
the highest rate of employment necessary.’
charities argue that patients
support allowance (ESA), worth
undergoing "stressful" cancer Are you or a member of your
up to £100 a week. More than
treatment – and who have to family currently receiving
9,000 cancer patients were
leave work – should be treatment for cancer? What do
placed automatically on the
automatically eligible for ESA. you feel about the proposals?
welfare payment from October
Ciarán Devane, chief executive Contact Lancashire LINk at
2008 to June 2010.
of Macmillan Cancer Support, lancashirelink@theBHA.org.uk
However, the expert report says said: ‘Cancer patients in the
middle of treatment are, in many *Article taken from Guardian
this "automatic entitlement" has
cases, fighting for their lives. website: http://
encouraged dependency on
www.guardian.co.uk/
benefits, "encouraging wrong
‘Yet the government is society/2011/dec/06/cancer-
behaviours from employers and
proposing to change the rules patients-welfare-work-tests
stigmatising cancer as
so all cancer patients will have
something that can lead to
to undergo a stressful
unemployment or
assessment to prove they are
worklessness".
unable to work.’

18. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
18 Feature
Lancashire Hospital trusts of measures, including how patients are diagnosed
and treated over the weekend; how quickly
feature in highest death rates hospitals deal with hip fractures; and how hospitals
perform in procedures that are not carried out
routinely.
Two hospital trusts that serve Lancashire patients
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation
have featured in a league table of hospital trusts
Trust showed ‘above expected’ waiting times for
with the highest death rates.
surgery following a hip fracture.
Research from Dr Foster showed that Blackpool
Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and University The report points out that patients are more likely
to die if they are admitted to hospital over the
Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation
weekend because they are less likely to receive
Trust were among the 19 hospital trusts in the
prompt diagnosis or treatment.
country with the higher than average mortality
(death) rates. In the case of hip fracture, the odds of survival for
The researchers used two measures – the vulnerable older adults are much higher if they are
treated quickly, ideally within two days. If they are
Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR), a
admitted on a Friday or Saturday, the chances of
measure of deaths while in hospital, based on
prompt treatment are lower.
common conditions that can lead to death, and the
Summary Hospital Level Mortality Indicator However, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS
(SHMI), based all deaths that take place in or out Foundation Trust was identified as one of the
of hospital up to 30 days following discharge. hospital trusts that follow all sections of the rapid
recovery pathway when treating patients with hip
Using a score of 100 as an average, Blackpool
and knee replacements.
scored as 117 on the SHMI and 112 on the HSMR,
and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay The researchers also examined hospital trusts’
scored 114 on the SHMI and 124 on the HSMR. performance on non-routine, specialised
Dr Foster researchers also examined hospital procedures. They looked at abdominal aortic
aneurysm surgery, as an example, and found that
records to look at performance against a number
hospital trusts that performed fewer operations for
this condition had higher death rates.
Blackpool NHS Teaching Hospitals Trust was
among the trusts that performed fewer than 35 of
these operations in 2010-11. The authors
commented that hospital trusts that do not carry
out this operation regularly should look at sourcing
this work to other trusts that offer this expertise. *In
Lancashire this is being addressed through
proposals to set up specialist vascular centres
(see LINk November newsletter).
Elsewhere the report stated that:
• Private hospitals that provide services to NHS
patients have good outcomes and positive
patient ratings
• Staff behaviour is crucial to patient experience.
Disrespect and not being kept informed were
cited as two reasons why patients would not
recommend a hospital.
Responding to the mortality findings, Tony Halsall,
Chief Executive Of University Hospitals of

19. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
Feature 19
Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said ‘We
have been looking very carefully at the detailed
information and we have asked our doctors to
continually review all deaths within the hospitals to
ensure appropriate care was given in each case.
We also undertake clinical audits to identify
improvements in clinical care and provide staff with
protected time for this. Is your care up to standard?
’There have been problems in the way some
information has been recorded and this has We need your help to build a picture of what
resulted in a significant increase in the Dr Foster quality care looks like for men with prostate
figure. This has been put right and we expect to cancer.
see this reflected in improved figures next year. We know that men face a postcode lottery when
‘Over the last five years we have seen a decrease accessing prostate cancer services across the
in deaths at our hospitals, and we believe that the country. This is not acceptable.
main reason for any increase in our Dr Foster
HSMR figure is to do with coding and the recording We would like to work with you to make
of mortality data.’ improvements where they are needed most. To do
this, we are identifying standards of quality care
Dr Paul Kelsey, Medical Director for Blackpool that all men with prostate cancer deserve - at
Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said every stage of their journey.
the data should be treated with caution as it does
not give a true reflection of the quality of care You can help by telling us what quality prostate
patients can expect. cancer care means to you by taking part in our
survey. Anyone with experience of prostate cancer
He said: ‘One of our concerns is that the new is welcome to take part, whether you have been
mortality indicator does not take into account diagnosed with the disease or are a friend or
issues such as deprivation and public health family member of someone who has.
issues. Blackpool has amongst the highest levels
of deprivation in the country with lower than To take part in the survey and read more about our
average life expectancy. The town also has higher quality care project, please visit:
than average deaths related to alcohol, smoking, www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/qualitycare.
IV drug use and heart disease and as the SHMI If you would like a paper copy of the survey please
data is not adjusted to reflect this our figures will ring 0208 222 7182.
be higher.
‘Improving quality of care and enhancing patient
safety are our key priorities and our aim is to have
no avoidable deaths and no avoidable harm. We
have robust systems in place to monitor mortality
and quality of care and our mortality rates have
steadily reduced over the past few years.
‘We were also recently one of 10 Trusts to take
part in a national study which looked at the case
notes of 100 deceased patients to see whether
their deaths could potentially have been avoidable
and our Trust had the second lowest number of
avoidable deaths.’
The Dr Foster Hospital Guide can be found on:
http://drfosterintelligence.co.uk/wp-content/
uploads/2011/11/Hospital_Guide_2011.pdf

20. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
20 Feature
999 Call Categorisation
The North West Ambulance Service NHS these calls should receive a response within
Trust has issued important information eight minutes or less. This is a national
about how 999 calls are categorised. standard.
When a 999 call is received, it is categorised by Green 1 and 2: These are calls that are
the Trust’s Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch prioritised as serious but not immediately life
System (AMPDS) to determine the response threatening. As such the Trust aims to reach
required. Determination of the response required these patients as quickly as practicable. There is
is dependent upon the severity of the patient’s no national time standard set for this category.
symptoms at that time, based upon the answers Green 3 and 4: These are calls that are neither
provided to a series of specific questions. This serious or life threatening. The Trust will
system works to ensure that the most serious, undertake further telephone triage by
life threatening cases are prioritised and it also paramedics in the control centre to assess the
assists in the identification of any suitable patient’s needs and refer on to more appropriate
alternative courses of action. services, or the Trust may pass callers to NHS
From the 1st April 2011 changes were made to Direct for further assessment. However, there
the way ambulance services are measured. The will still be instances when an ambulance will be
previous three main categorisations (known as dispatched.
Category ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ calls) were redefined as The new set of clinical indicators introduced from
‘Reds’ (level 1 and 2) and ‘Greens’ (level 1,2, 3 1st April 2011 measures performance against
and 4). Importantly, a new set of quality outcome for stroke, cardiac arrest and other
indicators to measure patient outcomes was types of intervention after other forms of heart
introduced. attack. A Trust spokesperson said this type of
Call Descriptions: measurement ensures a focus on quality of
outcome as well as response time.
Red 1 and 2: These are calls that are prioritised
as immediately life threatening such as cardiac
arrests, serious bleeding, severe breathing
difficulties and choking. Seventy five per cent of www.nwas.nhs.uk

21. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
News 21
Are you Age 50 or over and The Government contract, from identification)
living or working in the Department for Work and
Rossendale? For more information or to make
Pensions (DWP), is estimated at
a referral please contact:
Do you:-
£4.8 million and Remploy has
Pamela Beswick, Chief
Care about issues and been appointed to deliver all of
Executive, on 07825207021, or
services in Rossendale the seven available contracts to
Sharon Calverley
and beyond and how deliver Access to Work's mental
Project Director, on
they affect our health provision, spanning
07825207023
experiences and quality England, Wales and Scotland.
Or visit the Website for the
of life? This new service aims to assist Referral Procedure:
• Enjoy meeting like minded more than 1,600 people with www.signposts.org.uk - Refer to
people and new friends? mental health conditions to stay Us.
• Have skills and views to in employment.
share, and are perhaps Fleetwood Family Carer
Visit the website for more
interested in developing new Group
information.
ones? Come along to our informal get
Value your right to have a voice
Targeted Youth Support – together, meet other carers,
and influence the area you live in ,
and the services delivered there? Lancaster enjoy some refreshments, share
experiences, ask questions and
If you answered yes to any of the Signposts has been find out what is going on in
above please join us for afternoon commissioned to deliver Learning Disability Services.
tea :- targeted youth support in the
St Marys Chambers, Rawtenstall, Lancaster District. You can:
Thursday 19th January 2012 2-5pm.
Those who wish to refer into this Get involved and have a voice
What would a forum look and feel service please note: about learning disabilities and
like that really empowered those local services
aged 50 and older to lead, change • The project will support Receive information by email or
and influences the community you young people in need of post
live in and services within it? intensive one to one
Whether your interest now relates Come to our group and listen to
casework which could speakers
to education, health, social care,
employment, leisure or any other
include information about/ Join one of our action groups to
matter which affects the day to day access to counselling, look at health, employment,
experiences in Rossendale of those homeless advice, LGBT and social opportunities,
50 and older your knowledge, skills, health and wellbeing employment and more for
experiences and views really programmes if required. people with a learning disability
matter.
FREE Event, booking required Tel • It will offer interventions to The group will meet on:
01706 871730 or email ages 13 – 18 engaging in 26th January 2012 1.30-3pm
kirstiebarlow@realtd.co.uk to book potentially harmful 23rd February 2012 1.30-3pm
your place now. behaviour, providing a 29th March 2012 1.30-3pm
personal development in the Community Room at Wyre
Remploy launches programme and/or offering Disability Service, (Larkholme
Government funded service diversionary activities to Lodge), Larkholme Avenue,
for mental health and work those at risk of committing Fleetwood FY7 7PN
Remploy's Employment crime.
Contact Amanda Topps for
Services has launched the UK's •In addition intervention details on (01524) 586182 or by
first ever Government funded could also include advocacy, e-mail at
mental health in work support a 10 week social/life skills Amanda.Topps@lancashire.gov
service. course (following .uk
assessment and needs

22. Editorial LINk News Out-and- Features News
4 5 about 10 18 21
22 News
Does your organisation have of equipment if there is nothing Neil Caton - Service User,
contact with vulnerable suitable currently available Hearing Voices and Paranoia
people who may be severely commercially. If you have any Group Facilitator, Blackburn
affected by adverse weather questions or would like to speak Mind and Trustee of ISPSUK
conditions? with someone about Remap Jen Kilyon - Family Carer,
This could be lack of emergency equipment or have any Trainer and Campaigner,
provision, frozen pipes, unable to comments you may contact Trustee of ISPSUK and Soteria
get out of the house due to snow or either the Lancashire NW panel, Network
any other similar problem. or Remap Head Office.
Programme contents
Did you know that Help Direct have Your local Remap Panel: Introduction – Alison Summers
developed a list of people they Lancashire NW Panel Presentation: Reflections from
contact during adverse weather to Chairman – Harry Davis Experience – Neil Caton
check:- Are they ok Do they have Tel: 01253 731958 Presentation: The Ideal Service-
enough provision Do they need any
Secretary – Hilary Cresswell and Cheaper? – Jen Kilyon
help at all.
Tel. 01253 727139 Group Discussion – What
If they require assistance we ask Matters Most to Service Users
one of our many willing volunteers Remap Head Office:
who Experience Psychosis?
to help people in need during the D9 Chaucer Business Park
winter period. Kemsing Professionals £5
A telephone call to a vulnerable TN15 6YU Service users / Carers (Waged)
person during bad weather can Tel: 0845 1300456 £2.50
make the world of difference, Email: info@remap.org.uk Service users / Carers
therefore please identify anyone www.remap.org.uk (Unwaged) FREE
you consider may need this service
and ask for consent to pass their Fee includes refreshments. For
The future of psychosis
details to us. (name, address & tel directions go to http://
services: What matters most
number). www.lancsquakers.org.uk/
to service users?
preston To book please e mail
You can then email or telephone
ISPS UK North West Discussion Neil Caton,
Help Direct - we will do the rest!
Group on Wednesday 6th catonneil1009@googlemail.com
Help Direct 0303 333 1111 or email February 2012, 5:30pm to Tel: 07515951554
enquiries@calico.helpdirectlancs.or 7:30pm at the Quaker Meeting For more information visit the
g.uk House, 189 St George's Road, ISPS UK website www.ispsuk.org
Preston, PR1 6NQ
Remap
As services change in response
Remap is a registered charity to the challenging financial
(no. 1137666) and our climate, it is more important than
volunteers design and ever that they take account of
manufacture, or adapt, special what matters to the people using
equipment for people with them. We need to be aware of
disabilities. This equipment may which aspects of services need
be to assist in day to day to be protected and fought for,
activities, leisure activities or to which could be more easily
assist in being able to continue given up, and find innovative
working. This service is ways forward.
delivered entirely by volunteers
and is provided free of charge to Speakers
our clients. However, donations Alison Summers - Deputy Chair
are always welcome to help with of ISPSUK, Consultant
the purchase of materials. Psychiatrist Lancashire EIS and
Remap can only make a piece Psychotherapist