| Great feedback at LINk 2010 event |
| February 1, 2010 | |
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'My hands are still glowing and I thought I'd washed them really well' was the frequent exclamation at our 2010 Celebration Event at St Mary's Conference Centre on 25 January. The 'hand-washing machine' that shows dirt on hands as an eerie blue glow was just one activity organised as part of the event which attracted more than 70 people. As well as completing the having fun washing hands, people were urged complete our new infection control questionnaire, scribble their health and social care issues on a graffiti board, have their say on car parking charges at hospitals and other consultations, 'rate or slate' the LINk's work to date, surf the LINk's website and then relax with an Indian head massage and listen to the lovely singing of the Woodseats Junior School Choir.
There was a short formal part to the event that was opened by the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Cllr Graham Oxley, saying "I'm delighted to know that Sheffield LINk exists. It's an organisation with real teeth that can monitor the working of our health and social care providers and ensure feedback from local people is heard." After being made an honorary member of the LINk, he even had a go on the hand-washing machine. Mike Smith, Chair of Sheffield LINk, spoke briefly about the achievements of the LINK to date; "I'm delighted to report that our research into the [Sheffield City Council] system for getting aids and adaptations is almost complete and will be published in February, we're working with the Council's Scrutiny Board looking at GP appointment systems and their out-of-hours services and our new infection control research is taking off. We're really looking forward to getting stuck into a whole new set of issues in 2010." He was followed by Helen Stevens, Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement at NHS Sheffield, who spoke about the relationship between LINk and NHS Sheffield. "I take my hat off to the LINk. Getting to where you are in less than two years is a fantastic achievement and I'm delighted that its members are now starting to conduct their own research to dig deeper into what local people think about NHS services. LINK is a key organisation in helping us find out what local people think and want us to prioritise - something that's only going to become more important in the future." Helen Rowe, Vice chair of LINk, completed the presentations by talking about the ways in which people can be invovled. It ranged from championing an issue for the LINk to take forward or becoming an authorised representative through to being our eyes and ears at various me boards and meetings in the city. |
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