Community health Watchdog to investigate Waiting Times

THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE LINk is to look into an area of health and social care concern that will be an issue for most people - waiting times! And the health watchdog wants your stories and experiences to help carry out its task.

The latest newsletter from the ERYLINk (Local Involvement Network) says that Monitoring of Waiting Times for Health and Social Care will be one of the major issues that the group's leaders will concentrate on in the coming months.

Under the NHS constitution you have the right to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of eighteen weeks from being referred by a GP. If it is not possible to be seen within the maximum waiting time, then this must be investigated and you must be offered a range of suitable alternative options.

Patients with urgent conditions such as cancer and heart disease, should be seen and receive treatment more quickly. For example, you have the right to be seen by a specialist within a maximum of two weeks from GP referral where cancer is suspected. The Government has also made a pledge that there should be a maximum four-hour wait in A&E (Accident and Emergency Departments) from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge.

But what is the reality on the ground? What is your experience of waiting times? Is the 18 weeks rule of relevance to you? How long have you been kept waiting in A&E? And what is the experience of waiting times for social care?

If you have a view on this and a story to share for the ERYLINk study - then contact them at:

ERYLINk Office
Challenge House
35 Eastgate North
Driffield East Riding of Yorkshire
YO256DG
Telephone: 01377 232135 or 232136

Email: erylink@hwrcc.org.uk
Website: www.erylink.org.uk

NOTE FOR DIARIES: The ERYLINk is holding a meeting of its Lead Group in the Holderness area on Tuesday 15th November 2011.

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Fairer Care Funding report on Adult Social Care published

THE DILNOT COMMISSION REPORT on Fairer Care Funding has been published today. The independent commission, set up by the Government last July, was asked to recommend a fair and sustainable funding system for adult social care in England.

View the introduction to the report and the report itself below.

Fairer Care Funding Report

See background article on HU12.

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Adult Social Care - Councils urged to provide financial advice now

A REPORT ON FUNDING THE COSTS OF SOCIAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY will ignite a political row when it is published next week. But while the politics will dominate the news, the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) has suggested that Councils act now to ensure that people receive appropriate advice about how they can fund their future care.

The biggest area of spend for local authorities is caring for the elderly. The population in the UK and the East Riding are living longer and the number of older people is growing. The costs of social care for an aging population will increase.

A new Government commissioned report by Andrew Dilnot published on Monday will say that there should be government investment in social care of up to £3bn and that people should pay between £35,000 and £50,000 towards the costs of their care before the state steps in. Insurance companies should make products available to cover an individual’s costs up to the cap and also any potential extra accommodation costs that may be incurred.

The Local Government Information Unit has issued an early suggestion in advance of the report. They argue that councils could do more to signpost people to independent financial advice that could help them make decisions and avoid depleting their funds by taking out insurance or using their assets more effectively.

Jonathan Carr-West, LGiU, director,said:
“Dilnot’s recommendations are sure to be important but rather than waiting for government to respond to them councils can and should act now to mitigate their exposure to increased care costs by ensuring that citizens receive appropriately qualified advice about how they can fund their care”.

Whilst the political fallout from the Dilnot Commission is likely to dominate the headlines next week, local people need to read between the lines and think carefully about how the proposals might affect them and their loved ones - and crucially what they can do about this.

Perhaps this is something that the East Riding LINk could take up?

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Social Care Forum: "Care and Support in your own home - Where do you go to get them?"

ERYLINk, THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WATCHDOGS for the East Riding, are holding a special Social Care Forum with the opportunity to talk to people who deliver social care services.

The population in the UK and the East Riding is living longer and the number of older people is growing. Efforts from a wide range of organisations are working towards helping people remain in their own homes and live independent lives for as long as possible. This help may include altering your home so that you can manage easier or providing meals-on-wheels or more intensive support.

ERYLINk is the East Riding of Yorkshire Local Involvement Network and at its next meeting in Beverley in June 2011 a line up of speakers will be answering the question:

"If you need care and support at home, what services are on offer and where do you go to get them?"

One of the guest speakers will be Rosy Pope who is the Head of Adult Services at East Riding Council.

The Social Care Forum, which will incorporate ERYLINk's Annual General Meeting, takes place in the Westwood Room, Beverley Arms Hotel, Beverley on Tuesday 28th June from 10am - 5pm.

For further information contact Julia Bugg at Challenge House, 35 Eastgate North, Driffield, YO25 6DG. Telephone 01377 232 135 or e-mail erylink@hwrcc.org.uk

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ERYLINk seeks new leaders

THE ERYLINk is watching the health and social care providers in the East Yorkshire area on behalf of patients and the public. But new blood - sorry for the pun! - is needed for the community network's Lead Group.

The Local Involvement Network's Lead Group is the body elected by the ERYLINk members to manage and steer the organisation. A key part of the role of the Lead Group is to ensure that the organisation is representative of, and accountable to local communities.

The ERYLINk is seeking 2 individual members and 4 organisational members to join the LINk Lead Group and nominations from members have to be in by Wednesday 4th May.

If you want to join the ERYLINk, or find out more about the Lead Group elections then have a look at the ERYLINk website or contact Susan Oliver at the organisation's Driffield HQ on 01377 232135.

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A Public Meeting will be held at The Spa, Bridlington on 20 April 2011 from 6.30pm to 8.30 pm to facilitate the questioning of the Chief Executives of Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust and York Hospital Foundation Trust. Patrick Crowley (York) and Mike Proctor (SNEY) will be present to give an update on the merger between the two trusts and to answer questions from the floor.

Come along and hear about it from the men who know.

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HealthWatch - Get involved from the start!

IN JULY 2010, the Government announced plans to set up new independent champions for health and social care consumers called HealthWatchEngland.

Many people already give up their time - via LINks (Local Involvement Networks) and Patient Participation Groups and help shape local health and social care services. To build on this, HealthWatchEngland will be established as the "national independent champion" for health and social care consumers i.e. those who use and benefit from such services.

East Riding LINk is expected to turn into the local HealthWatch which Government documents have described as a kind of "citizen’s advice bureau" for health and social care in the area.

Legislation to establish HealthWatch is being introduced by Parliament. The new bodies are expected to be up and running by 2012.

People interested in helping to shape health and social care services locally - and getting involved with HealthWatch from the start - can find out more by contacting:

Susan Oliver

ERYLINk Office
Challenge House
35 Eastgate North
Driffield

Telephone: 01377 232135
E-mail: erylink@hwrcc.org.uk

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