What is Who Cares and why is it different?
-
Why is a LINk not just another gossip-shop to talk about health issues? Will it get anything changed?
The difference is that the LINks are INDEPENDENT. Other forums and networks are principally run by the commissioning organisation, e.g. Social Services Users' groups, Foundation Trust members, etc.
LINks are about the whole community, not just those receiving services, so are more inclusive. They are also a network of networks - members belong to other networks and can feed into them. They can use the intelligence generated through other mechanisms, and avoid duplication of effort.
LINks have the power to visit service providers and judge the quality of services from the point of view of laymen. They will make reports from an independent, but informed perspective about how well those services are doing, and those reports will be public documents which will inform inspection frameworks.
Finally, LINks are not confined to any one service provider or commissioner - they can operate across services and span the distance from primary care to acute provision, covering everything in between.
