Sheffield Local Involvement Network

Our event discussing the NHS White Paper on 24 August was a great succes

Helen, Malcolm and Mike take a look at the White Paper

Helen Stevens, Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement at NHS Sheffield, (see left) started the proceedings by outlining the White Paper - Equity and Excellence:Liberating the NHS. It was very informative and those present were clear about how big these changes are and also how much detail is still to be decided.

Those present then split into groups to discuss an aspect of the White Paper and although people could have talked for far longer, some excellent points were made and people did have a chance to have their say. There was a lot of concern about what the changes would really mean for people and services. The meeting was also unanimous in its concern that GPs might use private companies to commission, or buy-in, healthcare services and that this would mean taxpayers money going to these private companies.

The latest Bulletin from Sheffield LINk was published today (August 26 2010).

Within its 4 pages you can:

• find out how Sheffield Teaching Hospitals responded to our meeting on delays in discharging people from hospital
• meet our new Administrator Jessica r
• read about becoming an Older People's or Dignity Champion
• discover what we are doing with Sheffield Mobile Library
• keep up-to-date with all the current consultations
• find out about the launch of Sheffield Cancer Voices
• review the dates for your diary.

'Skilling up for Personalisation' is a conference being organised by Voluntary Action Sheffield as an intensive and practice way to help people prepare for personalisation. This is specifically designed for service providers from the voluntary and community sector and follows feedback from previous events about the key issues for VCS organisations. It includes a choice of practical workshops and will look at personalisation from both an organisation's and a user's perspective.

The conference will take place on Friday 17 September from 9:00-4:00. A booking fee of £50 per person applies although bursary places are available. If you are interested in this, please download the event details below and complete the application form on the last page.

Skilling up for Personalisation conference information.

The latest edition of Sheffield LINk's Bulletin has been published. This bumper edition fills 4 pages and features articles on the following:

• our audiology services meeting and the new consultation around this
• news about the white paper and its impact on NHS Sheffield and Sheffield LINk
• upate on our meeting about delays in hospital discharges                                              
• news about tightening up eligibility of patient transport services
• an update on the walk-in centre in Broad Lane and the services at the Hallamshire Hospital
• information about a major trauma forum and a new site for hospital visitors.

 Click on the picture to be taken to the new Bulletin

The Support Team at Sheffield LINk has launched a survey to find out what our members and key stakeholders think about the how we are doing. In general the role of the Support Team is to help LINk members with activities around communication, outreach and networking, event management, training, research and running meetings. The survey will help us to understand what we're doing well and how we can improve our support to the LINk.

The survey was sent out to all members along with the copy of the new annual report. As of today, we've had about 40 responses and would like lots more. It only takes a few minutes to complete, please click here to complete the Sheffield LINk Support Team Survey. follow  A paper version with a freepost envelope was included with the annual report. However, if you would like  another copy, please contact us. The closing date for the survey is Friday 30th July.

"I waited hours for my medicines to come so that I could be discharged. Someone
else could have been in my bed ages earlier."

Many people have told us about long delays in them being discharged from hospital when all they were waiting for was medication. In fact, this was one of the top priorities for LINk members when we asked people for their priorities back in February. Sheffield LINk is investigating this issue and is holding our first Discussion Forum on this subject on Wednesday 21st July from 11:30-1:30 at a city centre venue.

Sheffield LINk has organised a meeting with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to look at this problem and to discuss their plans to reduce delays. You wil have a chance to hear from the Chief Pharmacist, the Deputy Medical Director and the Discharge Coordinator.

To get involved in this discussion, please contact us to book your place and receive details of the venue.

Wednesday 21 July, 11:30 -13:30. city centre venue.  

As part of our ongoing programme of work and investigation, we are lauching 2 new Action Groups as some of our other ones wind up. Please let us know if you are interested in having your say on either of the following issues.

Quality of care in care homes.

A number of LINk members have expressed concern about the way in which people are being cared for in local care homes. Much of this has been sparked by national stories in the press and the aim of the group will be to understand the situation in Sheffield. If necessary it can also make recommendations to Sheffield City Council (SCC), who finance the social care side, and NHS Sheffield, who finance that health side of care. This action group will only be looking at the care of adults and will build on the inspection work already carried out by the Care Quality Commission and SCC inspectors.

Unscheduled care

When you have an unexpected medical need; what's the first thing you do? Too many people go straight to Accident & Emergency (A&E) when it would be better to see their GP, or if that is closed, use the walk in centre, the out-of-hours GP service etc. This not only causes extra delays in A&E putting genuine emergencies in danger but also is frustrating for both patients and staff, as they cannot always help. This action group wants to look at the local unscheduled care system to see what is available and to help steer people toward the best option when they need help.

If you are interested in geting involved with either group, please contact us and we'll let you know when the first meetings are planned. These will probably be brainstorms to understand people's perceptions of the issue and to plan how best to investigate it.

Earlier this year, our intrepid bug busters, Maureen Stoneman and Helen Rowe, undertook 'enter and view' visits to the Royal Hallamshire and Northern General hospitals on behalf of the Infection Control Action Group. They made a number of recommendations and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STH) has now responded with an action plan.

One recommendation that we put forward was that there should be greater clarity about who can use the sinks on the ward. STH has stated that sinks in patient bays are for use by staff, patients and visitors. They have agreed that in future, admission staff will inform patients that they and their visitors can use these sinks to wash their hands. STH has also given the names of those leading on this action and how it will be monitored. Although a relatively small measure, this is just one example of how LINk is working with local trusts to public tackle concerns like hospital-borne infections.

On 25 May we held an event for all LINk stakeholders interested in Children and Young People's (CYP) issues. It was designed to enhance communication and partnership working of those with an interest in the health and well being of young people. We were really pleased with the turnout. More than 30 people attended including representatives from Barnardos, Roundabout, Shine and Right Here, a YMCA project.

The event started with a number of presentations on current CYP work. Kerry Jones and Kath Johnson from Sheffield City Council's 0-19 Partnership shared, and had a quiz on, the key health findings from last year's 'Every Child Matters' consultation (see picture). Then Jane Fenelon from NHS Sheffield, together with young volunteers Billy and Peter, discussed the 'You're Welcome Standards' where young people are trained up to visit health services and make suggestions on how they can be more young-people friendly. We also heard from Paul Ironmonger of Barnsley LINk about their work in this area.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals (STH) are planning to move some of their services between the Royal Hallamshire (RHH) and Northern General (NGH) hospitals. These include: 

• All heart attack patients will go to NGH rather than some currently going to RHH
• All stroke patients will go to RHH to a Hyper Acute Stroke Unit being established
• Emergency, complex in-patient general surgical and gastro-intestinal surgery will also be centred at NGH
• Breast and endocrine services will be consolidated at RHH.

Responding to our concerns about what was happening, they set up a presentation for LINk members on18 May at the Northern General Hospital. Mike Richmond, Medical Director, and Chris Linacre, Director of Service Development from STH presented what was happening and why. They talked about the services that are moving and the reasons behind them which are to: 

• meet the pressures of rising patients numbers
• deliver new treatments
• modernise existing facilities.  

They also stressed the benefits to patients of having:

• standardised treatment pathways
• better availability of senior clinicians
• simplified access routes for ambulances.

There was a lively discussion on a number of topics including stroke services and patient journeys. Those attending felt that it was a helpful and informative meeting. STH has also agreed to consult with Sheffield LINk about publicising these moves before they take place in November.

Download for more information about the reconfiguration of services at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

In the biggest change to the welfare state since the creation of the NHS, everyone who needs care when they are old or disabled will get it for free, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced on March 30 as he launched the National Care Service (NCS).

"The NCS will mean that people will be treated with dignity and respect, people will have control and choice over their care and they will be helped to stay in their homes for as long as possible. People who have to live in residential care will, from 2014, get their care for free after two years and there will be more help to pay the residential costs."

The White Paper, Building a National Care Service, outlines how it will be based on a principle of shared social insurance and will be funded by contributions from everyone in a fair way.

Click here to read more about the National Care Service.