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NHS Foundation Trust Update

The Trust is about to enter what is known as the Monitor Phase of the application process, and we hope to be authorised as a foundation trust on either May 1 st or June 1 st this year.

Alongside all the management activity this involves, we are also moving on with elections to the Members’ Council, which will need to be in place before our authorisation date. Those of you who are members should have had a letter inviting you to nominate yourselves for election to the Council, and we hope that several of you will do so. There are two places for carers; if more than two people put themselves forward who are eligible, there will be an election, and members of the carers’ constituency will be sent voting forms. Candidates are encouraged to provide some information about them, which will accompany the voting forms.

We still continue to recruit members, and hope that you are encouraging other carers, and friends, to join - we are keen to have as many local people as possible as members.

The Foundation Trust team are happy to answer any questions you have, so please call them on 01278 432073.

or click on these hyperlinks for further information.
Membership

Rural Womens Network - Somerset

I am delighted to now be able to confirm the date of the next RWN Network meeting. If you have not attended any of our meetings previously, please come along - everyone is welcome! Please pass this on to any friends or colleagues who may be interested.

I hope that this new date will provide everyone with plenty of notice and hope you can all make it.

When: Wednesday 14^th May 2008

Where: Creech St Michael Village Hall (Postcode TA3 5QQ)

Creech St Michael is just off the A358 on the outskirts of Taunton. From Taunton head towards the A358 - M5/Yeovil direction, travel along the A358, entering the village of Henlade, turn left following the signpost to Creech St Michael

See www.creechstmichael.net/php/aboutus/villagehall.php

Time: 9.30 am to 12 noon

Drinks and biscuits will be provided.

The focus for this meeting will be to provide lots of opportunities for Networking. You will have the opportunity to give a short 5 minute reprsentation if you would like and you can bring a stand or leaflets/literature for distribution. If you do want to set up a stand or get anything prepared before the meeting I will at the hall from 9.00am.

To book your place - please e-mail me.

info@rwn-somerset.org.uk

Debbie Frankland

Project Worker

Rural Womens Network - Somerset

www.rwn-somerset.org.uk

07870 577925

Rethink launches sibling-support site

Mary O'Hara The Guardian,

Wednesday November 21 2007 read article

LINKS

From April 2008, the Government plans to replace Patient Forums with Local Involvement Networks (LINks).

LINks are being introduced to help strengthen the system that enables communities to influence the care they receive.

Backed up by certain powers, LINks will:

Provide everyone in the community – from individuals to voluntary groups - with the chance to say what they think about local health and social care services – what is working and what is not.

Give people the chance to influence how services are planned and run. Feedback to services what people have said about services so that things can be improved.

Local communities are already beginning to get ready for LINks. This document summarises what LINks will do, their proposed powers and how they will be set up.

Download LINks explained --pdf

Getting ready for LINks
Local Involvement Networks Bulletin

This bulletin has been developed by the Department of Health to help keep you up-to-date with the
latest developments on plans to
introduce LINks.

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