FAQs
This is where you can find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions concerning The ERYLINk.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for here please contact us.
Why Should I Join The ERYLINk?
The ERYLINk (The East Riding of Yorkshire Local Involvement Network) is a way for people who use local health and social care services to talk directly to the NHS and the Council about what they want and to get their questions answered about current issues. If you want to find out about health and social care locally and have your say in decision-making and influence how money is spent on local services, then The ERYLINk is for you.
Why has The ERYLINk been set up?
There have been many changes in recent years in how health and social care services are delivered. People are being offered more choice in these services. Health and social care services are working more closely together, and service providers are being urged to listen more to people about their needs.
Over the years there have been different ways for people to have a say in health services. The most recent system was Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums. In 2006 a Government report said that people should have ‘more choice and a louder voice’ in both health and social care. It said there should be new organisations called Local Involvement Networks (LINks).
As a result LINks were created by a law passed by Parliament – the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. The Act also abolished the PPI Forums. LINks have now been set up across England in every local authority area that has social services responsibility.
How does The ERYLINk differ to the former Patient and Public Involvement Forums?
LINks are distinctly different to the former PPI Forums because for the first time their remit covers both health and social care services in an entire local authority area and their membership will comprise both individuals and organisations.
Will The ERYLINk take over the work of my group?
No. To be an effective and strong voice on local health and social care services The ERYLINk needs the expertise of local voluntary and community groups and individuals.
The ERYLINk will not take over or duplicate the work of groups who use or represent those who use health and social care services, but will help to bring together those groups with the rest of the community to give people a stronger local voice and to make a difference, using its legal powers. The ERYLINk will be a ‘network of networks’ giving existing groups more strength and a stronger voice. The ERYLINk seeks to form lasting and co-operative partnerships with other organisations and individuals working within, or with interest in the fields of health and social care.
What services does The ERYLINk cover?
The ERYLINk will look at all publicly funded health and social care services regardless of who provides these services. It will not matter if they are provided by The East Riding of Yorkshire Council, NHS, GPs, a private company or a charity; they all come under the scrutiny of the LINk.
The main exception to this is children’s social services as there are other existing ways to scrutinise and oversee children’s social care and seek the views of children and young people in the development of their services.
What powers does The ERYLINk have? Will it make a difference?
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 sets out LINks legal duties and powers. In addition, Government has issued Regulations and Directions describing the detail of LINk activities which have the force of law and must be complied with. These powers are described in more detail on our website. They also place duties on the local NHS and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to provide information, access to premises, and to talk to and listen to the LINk.
What will LINk do with any suggestions I make on health and social care issues in The East Riding of Yorkshire?
It is the role of LINk to seek out the views of the public, service users, patients and carers about particular issues in health and social care and then to represent those views to the commissioners and providers of those services usually the NHS and The East Riding of Yorkshire Council. LINk will have clear and open processes to show how views were collected, what views were expressed and what was said and done about them as a result.
Is LINk membership only for people living in The East Riding of Yorkshire?
Yes. To be a LINk Member you need to live within The East Riding of Yorkshire Council area. The one exception is if you live outside the East Riding, but use a GP, dentist, optician or social services within the East Riding, then you can also be a LINk member.
People who don’t live in East Yorkshire and don’t use primary care services can become LINk Associates. Associates will receive information and be invited to attend events but can not vote on LINk issues or stand/vote for elections to the LINk Steering Group.
How can voluntary and community groups join ERY LINk?
Voluntary and community groups based in, or who work in The East Riding of Yorkshire Council area can also be LINk Members. Your group will need to nominate a representative who can vote on LINk issues and will be the main point of contact for information.
Additional people (staff, volunteers, trustees) from a group can also become LINk Associates.
What’s the difference between being a LINk Member and a LINk Associate?
Link Members will receive information and be invited to attend events and can vote on LINk issues and stand/vote for elections to the LINk Steering Group.
LINk Associates will receive information and be invited to attend events but can not vote on LINk issues or stand/vote for elections to the LINk Steering Group.
I am interested in getting involved. How much time will it take?
It’s up to you how much time you devote to the LINk. Some people may just want to be kept informed of our work via a newsletter, or spend a few minutes responding to a survey. Others may want to get more involved and attend LINk Forums, stand for election to the Steering Group or attend regular committee meetings. ERY LINk will help you be involved in any way you wish.
How will The ERYLINk keep people informed of its work?
The ERYLINk will communicate with the community in a number of ways. There will be regular LINk Forums where people interested in the LINk can give their views and hear about our work. As well as this website there will be regular newsletters and email bulletins. There will be surveys and consultations when the LINk is researching particular issues. Each year an annual report and accounts will detail what has been achieved.
In addition to this the LINk staff and Steering Group members will spend a lot of time talking to local people to find out what issues they are concerned about. If you represent a voluntary or community group, society or club and you would like someone to talk to your members about The ERYLINk please contact us.
Will The ERYLINk work with other LINks?
Yes. We see the need to work closely with the Hull LINk, the North Lincolnshire LINk and the York LINk on cross boundary issues and to look at services provided by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust the Humber Mental Health NHS Trust and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.
LINks across the region will also need to co-operate with each other to look at services provided by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
Can I join more than one LINk?
Yes, each LINk is free to establish its own membership criteria.
The NHS Trusts are now all recruiting members to have a say in how they work, so why should I join the The ERYLINk? Can I join them all?
There is nothing to stop you joining both the LINk and the NHS membership schemes (such as NHS East Yorkshire). The NHS membership schemes are also designed to give people more of a say in the work of the Trusts.
The ERYLINk is different to these membership schemes in a number of ways:
- The LINk is an independent body, run by its members and looking at issues its members see as priorities.
- Following on from this, the LINk aims to influence the commissioning of future services and so influence spending decisions of the NHS Trusts and The East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
- The LINk has ‘enter and view powers to go into premises where services are delivered and report its findings.
- The LINk covers both health and social care services so it looks at services provided by both the NHS and The East Riding of Yorkshire Council
- The LINk has legal powers and The East Riding of Yorkshire Council and NHS Trusts bodies have a duty to work with, talk to, and respond to issues raised by the LINk.
- The LINk will work closely with The East Riding of Yorkshire Council Health and Well-being Scrutiny Commission to investigate services.
Can The ERYLINk help me make a complaint about NHS or social care services?
The ERYLINk has been set up to involve the local community in how health and social care services are planned and delivered, but is not able to handle individual complaints about the service you have received.
If you have a complaint about the treatment or care you have received there are a number of sources of help and advice.
For complaints about NHS services, the NHS website gives details about how to make a complaint about the NHS. You can also get information from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) of the relevant NHS Trust. You could also contact the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) for help and advice on 0845 120 3734.
For complaints about social care services the Commission for Social Care Inspection can give information on how to complain.
Finally, Citizens Advice can also advise on how to make a complaint.
