Local Involvement Networks

Local Involvement Networks or LINks enable you, the community, service users and groups, to influence your local health and social care services. LINks have been set up to make sure that local people get the health and adult social care services they need and expect.

The local LINks in the South of Tyne and Wear area want to hear about your experiences of health and adult Social care services, and your ideas for improvements or changes. LINks have the power to implement small changes and influence big changes. LINks also have the power to request and receive information from commissioners and service providers and hold services to account.

 LINks are made up of individuals, community groups and organisations who work together to improve local services. The job of a LINk is to find out what local people like and dislike about local services, and work with the people who plan and run them to help make the services better. This may, for example, involve talking directly to healthcare professionals about a service that is not being offered, or suggesting ways that an existing service could be made better.

There are many ways you can get involved. How much time you commit is up to you. This can range from just a few minutes to comment on an issue or you can get more involved.

Members or participants can include voluntary organisations and groups, service users, carers and members of the public and anyone who wants to make sure that the voices of their local communities are listened to. You do not need to live or work in an area to join the LINk.

For more information contact Emma Cameron on 0800 783 2556 or at emma.cameron@sotw.nhs.uk.