TRAFFORD’S public health watchdog has been officially disbanded – but it will be a few months before the system replacing it is in place.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums are being replaced nationwide with a new system called LINks (Local Involvement Networks), a network of groups and individuals who will scrutinise local health and social care services, hosted by an independent organisation.

According to Trafford Council, the new LINk will have a wider scope than the current forum and will offer more local people the chance to get involved.

However, the council is still in the process of appointing an organisation to host and support the LINk, and is not anticipating that this will happen until July 2008.

Emma Alexander, corporate director of customer and corporate services, said: "We have already shortlisted four organisations who are now working on their final tender submissions.

"Clearly while it is acknowledged that there will be a need for a transitional period while the finally appointed host organisation finds its feet, this must not impact on the important work being carried out to ensure public and patient engagement in current health and social care related issues."

On May 8 a community and voluntary sector event will be held at St Matthew’s Hall, Chapel Lane, Stretford, to elect the members of a LINk transitional board consisting of representatives from the voluntary and community sector.

This board will work with the host organisation to get the LINk up and running. Those attending will be directly involved in electing the members of the LINk transitional board, and establishing its governance arrangements and transitional work programme.

Local health campaigner and PPI member Pat Morris has voiced concerns that people like herself and other PPI forum members will not be welcome.

But the council says members of the former PPI Forum, together with any other individual, group or organisation with an interest in health and social care issues, will be encouraged to get involved.

Until the transitional board is established, the council says matters of concern about local health and social care provision can be referred to the health overview and scrutiny committee.

But Judie Collins, another member of Trafford PPI, says there has been a lack of communication about this period.

She said: "We are in an impossible situation because we don’t know if we are supposed to carry on with what we are doing – no one has really told us anything."

Judie says they are planning to set up a group which they hope will be attached to the LINk once it is up and running. "But it is difficult to know what we are going to do until we know who is going to administer the LINk," she said. "What we have been trying to say to the council is that until something is set up we will just pass anything that comes to us on to them, but it seems that messages are not getting passed on, so it is not working very well at the moment."

Speaking at a meeting of the Trafford Health Care Trust Board on Tuesday April 1, she commented that not enough is being done to let members of the public know these meetings are happening and keep them informed and involved.

Anyone with a matter they wish to refer to the health overview and scrutiny committee can e-mail it to overview&scrutiny@trafford.gov.uk or ring 0161 912 1302.

A CAMPAIGNER has slammed health bosses, claiming they have made her out to be an ‘instigator’ of complaints about Trafford General Hospital.

Pat Morris hit the headlines last month when she revealed she had received an anonymous letter which described the ‘inadequate facilities’ at ward 18.

Speaking at a meeting of the Trafford Health Care Trust Board, Mrs Morris criticised a report compiled by the acting chief executive Steve Spoerry which stated that ‘adverse media coverage’ had been based on concerns she had raised.

Mrs Morris told the board: "I’m quite concerned because the report should have said that the concerns raised were done so on behalf of the nurses.

"What you are saying is that I have instigated this."

Mr Spoerry said he had spoken to staff on the ward, who said they were not aware of the letter. But he added: "I am very happy for it to be recorded that Mrs Morris raised the matter to represent the nurses of ward 18."

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