A LINk has been set up in every area of England to help local people influence or change the way their local NHS and social care services are planned and delivered.

By being part of your local LINk you can make your voice heard and improve services.

• A LINk is made up of individuals and community groups who work together to improve local health and social care services
• The job of a LINk is to find out what people like and dislike about local services, and to work with the people who plan and run them to help make them better
• This may involve talking directly to health and social care professionals about a service that is not being offered, or suggesting ways that an existing service could be made better
• LINks also have powers to help them do their job and to make sure that changes happen

Over fifty representatives appointed by the LINk Board have actively represented the views of patients and the public on local NHS committees.
In addition, the LINk Chair and Vice-Chairs have met quarterly with the Chief Executives of the Hertfordshire NHS Trusts and with the Chief Executive and Chairs of the Hertfordshire Primary Care Trusts. Current issues and concerns were raised and discussed at these meetings.
During the year LINk members have been involved in local consultations on the options for general hospitals in Hertfordshire.

Quarterly meetings have been held with the Director of Adult Care Services to consider a variety of issues including:
• the below standard performance of two home care contractors
• the provision of adult care services for those with Autism and Aspergers
In the latter case, the LINk succeeded in bringing together local representatives of the National Autistic Society and the Director of Adult Care Services. The Director has undertaken to respond to the National Autistic Society’s proposals on adult care services for people with Autism and Aspergers.

Informal quarterly meetings have been held between the LINk Chair and the Chairs of the Hertfordshire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee and Overview Scrutiny Committee. A protocol has been agreed for formal submissions and responses between the LINk and the Scrutiny Committees. Agreement has also been reached that the LINk and the Scrutiny Committees will co-operate on major topics and will not duplicate each other’s activities.

Throughout the year members of the public and voluntary organisations have approached the LINk with concerns about a range of issues including:
• access to dentists in East Herts
• the location of family planning clinics in Watford
• the loss of a mobile breast screening clinic in Potters Bar
• the extension of a popular clinic for children with Downs Syndrome in East Herts