Archive
Petition: Exclude Vulnerable Severe & Enduring Mental Health Sufferers from DLA Assessments in 2013
The National Survivor User Network (NSUN) seeks volunteers for HealthWatch bodies
NSUN is looking for service users to champion mental health on the new HealthWatch bodies being set up across England. Under the government’s controversial NHS reforms from next April there will be a HealthWatch in your area replacing the patient Local Involvement Network (LINk) in scrutinising health and social care. HealthWatch bodies which will be independent organisations, able to employ their own staff and involve volunteers, in order ‘to become the influential and effective voice of the public.’ The aim of local Healthwatch, the Department of Health says, will be to ‘give citizens and communities a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social care services are provided within their locality.’ These bodies are open to anyone to join and NSUN wants mental health service users to get involved and ensure that we are not second class citizens. HealthWatch will be important as they will have places on the new Clinical Commissioning Groups and Health and Wellbeing Boards which will be responsible for setting local health strategy and taking commissioning decisions. NSUN is preparing advice for people who want to get involved and aims to link mental health service user HealthWatch members together to share experiences and information.
http://www.nsun.org.uk/news/sign-up-for-mental-health-watch/
kickingthecat 