City of London LINk is...
...an opportunity for you to influence your local health and care services in the City of London. Anyone can get involved- the LINk is here to help us get the services we need.
The LINk is made up of individuals and community groups who work together. Its job is to find out what people like and dislike about local services and work with the people who plan and run them to help make them better.
This might involve talking directly to health care professionals about a service that is not being offered or suggesting ways that an existing service could be made better. LINks also have legal powers to help with the tasks and to make sure changes happen.
Anyone can get involved, and the LINk has been set up to make sure that people in our area get the health and social services they need.
The LINk has statutory powers to make local people's voices heard. These include the ability to:
- enter and view specific types of premises where services and care are provided
- request information and receive a response within a specific timescale
- make recommendations and receive a response within a specific timescale
- refer matters to the local Overview and Scrutiny Committee and receive a response
Local HealthWatch delayed until April 2013
The Department of Health has announced that the introduction of HealthWatch, which will replace LINks is to be delayed. HeathWatch will be the local consumer champion for patients, service users and the public. The changeover was originally planned for Ocotber 2012 but will now happen in April 2013. Read more here.
Healthcare Reforms
The City LINk has produced a guide to recent changes in how health services will be provided in the City of London.
Click here to download the City LINk guide
Click here to download a Department of Health briefing on Establishing HealthWatch
Click here for an easy read version of the White Paper
Click here for the top ten FAQs on the Health and Social Care Bill