Here's your March 2011 Poole LINk update !
PooleLINk Maternity Report
Over the last few months we’ve been out and about, talking to people about their experience of Poole Maternity services. We gathered over 80 comments from new parents, staff and breastfeeding support groups and used that feedback to make recommendations to the NHS. Poole Hospitals Director of Nursing, Martin Smits, has told us ‘Thank you and members of the LINk for undertaking a report on the maternity services of the Trust. We welcome working in partnershipand are always keen to hear the views of those who have contact with our services or who speak on behalf of patients’. To read our report and see the full response from Poole Hospital go to: www.poolelink.org.uk
Mothers on Maternity
The NHS is inviting mothers to join the Dorset Maternity Services Liaison Committee. Meetings take place every other month in various locations across Dorset to make it convenient for mother’s to attend. “The group is very informal and we make it a safe environment for everyone to express their views,” said Rosie Green, Development Manager at NHS Bournemouth and Poole. If you would like to get involved please contact Rosie on 01202 541400 or on feedback@bp-pct.nhs.uk
NEW - LINk Reading Group
Thanks to everyone who responded to our call for volunteers last month. We now have a Poole LINk Reading Group, made of 9 local people, who’ve already helped with the design of a LINk hospital survey and an NHS Community Health Services quality account. If you’d like to take part & help the NHS & Council produce easy to read public documents, without all the jargon, get in touch with Louise to find out more.
‘Leaving Hospital’ Project
We want to find out what happens when older people leave Poole hospital so we’re designing a survey and working with the hospital and local groups to find out more. Have you, or someone you know, recently been an inpatient at Poole Hospital? Were your family & friends involved in your discharge plan? Please get in touch if you’d like to be involved, contact Louise on Tel: 0300 111 0102 or Email: louise.bate@makesachange.org.uk
LINk Community Grants
We gave out £5000 last year, split between 10 local community projects. The Hillborne & District Community Association was awarded £500 and following a huge redecoration project in the New Year, the centre is now looking better than ever. The Rose Sequence Dance Group has met at the centre every Monday afternoon, for almost 40 years. Members told us ‘the hall is bright and welcoming now’, ‘more people have started coming to the dance classes since the placewas redecorated’. To find out more about this and the other LINk Community Grant projects go to: www.makesachange.org.uk/cms/site/news/poole/poole-link-community-grants-awarded.aspx
SOURCE Website launched
source is a new online advice, information and support directory for all adults in Poole, Bournemouth & Dorset. It’s particularly helpful if you have care and support needs. To find out more go to: www.sourcedirectory.org.uk
ARMA Event
ARMA (Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease Sufferers) is holding a public event at Allendale House in Wimborne, 6th April from 6-7pm, see the attached flyer. To find out more about local services, book your free place now - email: barryfaith@betterprojects.co.uk Tel: 01202 881689 or 07773 793 299
A Rough Guide to Accessible Britain
Edition 3 is packed with 180 inspiring days out, all reviewed by an enthusiastic team of disabled visitors. If you hold a blue badge or a disabled persons railcard then the Accessible Guide is FREE, it costs £6.99 (inc p&p) for everyone else. Order online now www.accessibleguide.co.uk/home.php or call 0800 953 7070
No Health without Mental Health
A new cross-government mental health strategy for people of all ages is now available on the Department of Health website. Here’s the easy read version of the strategy: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_125123.pdf
Thanks for your help, LINks can't work without you!
We're always looking for volunteers to get involved in LINk projects and your comments direct the LINks work - so tell us what you think about local health and social care services. Contact Louise Bate, Poole LINk Development Officer: