DoH and Spencer du Bois have agreed that going forward, all references to HealthWatch must now be in the style "Healthwatch".

* Each LHW must be named in the style Healthwatch Leeds - not Wakefield Healthwatch or any other style, such as a name without any reference to Healthwatch.

* A decision has also been reached on a national standard logo for Healthwatch.  This should be released for use in June/July.  In the meantime no locally adopted logos should be getting used.

Jim Kerr

18th April 2012

On 30th April I've a meeting at the NHS 111 Yorkshire and the Humber programme office in Huddersfield.  This is to explore the potential for me to be the regional PPI rep on this important imitative which will be replacing the NHS Direct number for non-emergency calls.

17th April 2012


On Wednesday afternoon (18th) I'm meeting Michelle from Leeds City Council for a briefing on the outcomes of the care homes fees structure debate which took place on Friday.

11th April 2012

Well no sooner will I be home from the CQC meeting in Birmingham on Thursday night, but I'll be on the dawn express to London on Friday.  This is another CQC meeting and it's for Pathfinder LINks - I'm attending in my capacity as regional LINks rep on the DoH HWAG.  Jim Kerr.

Dates in my Diary - Thursday 12th April I'll be in Birmingham for a meeting co-hosted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the National Association for Patient Participation to look at how the CQC and PPG's (Patient Participation Groups from GP practices) might work together.  This is linked to CQC starting to monitor primary care standards

22.3.12

Yesterday saw the final meeting of the Department of Health HealthWatch Advisory Group in its original all embracing format.  Sadly, I wasn't able to be there as it clashed with a Care Quality Commission meeting I attended in Birmingham, related to the mini-project I'm representing Leeds LINk on.  I believe formal minutes will be issued in due course from the Department of Health HealthWatch team.  Going forward, the Department of Health will maintain regular face to face contact with the Regional LINk Representatives who sat on the HealthWatch Advisory Group.  This will take the format of a number of London based meetings with structured agendas and part-hosted by Department of Health staff.  These will be used as opportunities for the Department of Health to sound out LINk reps on emerging issues and proposals.  Other themed workshops are also planned.  As yet, full details haven't been made available.  However, they're likely to be ad-hoc meetings to discuss one off specific issues, aimed at a defined target audience.

Dates in my Diary:  Wed 22nd Feb at CQC H.Q in London for a HealthWatch Advisory Group meeting.  There are 2 separate meetings - AM is a presentation from Spencer Du Bois on branding and communication.  PM is the normal, if shortened HWAG type agenda.   Jim Kerr

Today I spent a couple of hours at SHINE in Headingley, for a consultation run by Deloitte to find out service user views on the performance of Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.  This is part of a national campaign to assess all Health Trusts, commissioned by Central Government.  I felt sorry for the Trust coming under this scrutiny when they've only been established for a year.  And the services they deliver don't always attract high profile attention in the way that in-hospital care does, so not so much anecdotal feedback filters out.  It'll be interesting to see what Deloitte got out of it.  Jim Kerr

The HWAG will continue to meet as a whole group, certainly again in February and March at the least.  But more work will be done now in Reference Groups.  These will consist of smaller groups of people from similar backgrounds, working on highly specialised pieces of work to deliver better outcomes than large groups can achieve. 

There's a general uncertainty across the region of how LINks are going to be funded in their final year and DoH will be issuing reminder letters to Local Authorities regarding their onus to commission active LINks for this period. 

A lot of time on the day was devoted to helping delegates understand the role of signposting as it currently happens in PALS, since this function will be passing over to LHW.  It's not to be underestimated the level of knowledge and people handling skills that LHW volunteers, or paid staff, will need to effectively discharge this role.   Jim Kerr

Further to my previous blog about HealthWatch England, it's now been confirmed it is NOT currently running in shadow form.  Looks like there were crossed wires at the agency which made the statement to the contrary.  As for Clinical Senates, DoH advise me the Government is looking to implement these at a level of around 15 across the country.  Details of the programme can be found at http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/clinical-senates-and-networks/  They are not statutory bodies or mentioned in the Health Bill, so won't be under any formal responsibility to work with HealthWatch - they are enablers for commissioners and a source of broader clinical input and advice.  The NHS Future Forum report recommending these senates be set up, does mention PPI involvement in them.   Jim Kerr