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In this issue: How do we work with Leicester people? NHS Leicester City AGM a success Help shape your local health service Out and about

www.leicestercity.nhs.uk

GetInvolved
Spring 2009

02-03

Contents
03 Its time to Get Involved
Welcome to our magazine

Its time to Get Involved

Welcome to the second edition of NHS Leicester Citys patient and public magazine.
14 People Power
In the last edition we wanted to give you the chance to tell us what youd like the magazine to be called. Were delighted to tell you that you chose Get Involved as its ofcial name. Thank you to everyone who took part. We hope our magazine will tell you everything you need to know to get involved and make the most of our services. Your views and experiences are important to us. They help us to provide a health service which is t for your needs. So if youre not a member of NHS Leicester City already, its easy to join. Any member of the public living, working or registered with a GP in Leicester can become a member.
Our People Power team has been out and about, finding out what you, the people of Leicester want from our services

04 How do we work with Leicester people?

News about our community projects in Saffron and Highfields

15 Jabs to protect girls from cervical cancer

News about the HPV vaccination

06 AGM a success

A look back at our annual general meeting

16 Walk in to a new, world-class health centre

Find out about the new Merlyn Vaz health and social care centre

08 Help shape your local health service 10 Out and about

Get involved in planning two major new health services

18 Starting to hit the top target 19 Racing to the rescue 20 The Leicester LINk

An update from our customer services team

Alison Kirk Head of Patient and Public Involvement

Our Director Jo Yeaman goes out and about in Leicester and shares her experiences with us

12 Young people take over Leicester 13 Jamie goes smoke-free

A bit of nostalgia, as we look at how our ambulances have changed over the years

Working with young people at the Takeover Leicester conference

More ways for you to have your say about your local health service

Local Leicester man Jamie, tells us about his decision to stop smoking

Become a member and youll get:

If you require help with understanding the contents of this document please telephone 0116 2954743
The chance to help us improve healthcare in your community by telling us about your experiences with GPs, pharmacists, dentists, midwives, hospitals, rehabilitation, therapy and mental healthcare workers If youd like to join, or know someone who would, you can phone, email or write to us for a membership pack: Phone: 0116 295 4183 (MonFri, 9am5pm) Email: getinvolved@leicestercity.nhs.uk Post: Freepost RRUE-JRBR-RGGT, Leicester City PCT, St Johns House, 30 East Street, Leicester, LE1 6NB 24 hour voicemail: 0116 295 2355 Text NHS followed by your details to: 80800 Fax: 0116 295 1513 Wed like say a big thank you to everyone who attended our events, lled in questionnaires and kept in touch with us last year. By having your say, you really can make a difference to your local health service. We look forward to hearing from you and wish you a happy, healthy new year in Leicester.

NHS Discounts and entrance into the members quarterly prize draw
Designed by Un.titled / www.un.titled.co.uk

Our quarterly magazine with all the latest health news Invitations to special events, including an annual members celebration Regular updates on any special areas of interest.

GetInvolved
Spring 2009

04-05

How do we work with Leicester people?

Our Community Dialogue projects are a great example of how we work with Leicesters different communities, and our projects in the Highfields and Saffron areas are in full swing.
Were working with community health development co-ordinators, Karen Pickering and Naim Razak, to get to the heart of communities like yours and work with you to tackle local healthcare challenges. In Saffron, the project is called Keeping Saffron in Mind, and aims to improve mental health services in the area. They have a lively and enthusiastic group of volunteers. Many are local residents with rst-hand experience of mental health challenges, such as depression or anxiety. They meet regularly to talk about ideas and how they can link up services in more helpful ways. Karen explains: Theres a lot of interest from both residents and organisations. Theyre delighted to have a chance to inuence decisions and to be asked their opinions regarding NHS services. In Highelds, diabetes and coronary heart disease are a serious threat linked to local peoples diet and lifestyle. So, the project here is similar to celebrity chef Jamie Olivers Ministry of Food, and looks at the role of healthy cooking and eating in the community. There are people of many different faiths and cultures in Highelds, so its important to work with local people to tailor training and advice in a way which is sensitive to their cultural needs. Were also working with the University of Leeds to design these projects with the community and for the community. Both projects aim to nd our connectors. These are people who live in the local areas and have the skills to develop projects where they are most needed. To nd out more about the Saffron and Highelds Community Dialogue projects and to follow our journey, please visit our blog at: http://communitydialogue.typepad. com/communitydialogue/ If you would like to get involved in these projects, as a health practitioner, local resident or volunteer wed love to hear from you. Its a chance to make a difference to your community and its easy to get in touch: Phone: 0116 295 4183 (MonFri, 9am5pm) Email: getinvolved@leicestercity.nhs.uk

Theres a lot of interest from both residents and organisations. Theyre delighted to have a chance to influence decisions and to be asked their opinions regarding NHS services. Karen Pickering

Local residents meet in Highelds

Residents of Saffron, at Saffron Carnival

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Spring 2009

06-07

AGM a success
More than 150 people came to our new-look Annual General Meeting, held at The Peepul Centre, Leicester last September. Indian Dohl drummers led visitors into a hall decorated with balloons.
Marlene Nash, member of the public puts her question to the NHS Leicester City Panel Entertainment from the Peepul Centre Dancers

I thought the meeting was well organised - well done. Before retirement I was a PR Executive with a very large retail company I know the hard work that goes into a successful event! Marlene Nash, member of the public

Marlene Nash, a member of the public who attended, said: I was very happy with the reply from Dr Azhar Farooqi, who talked with me more fully after the meeting and was most helpful. The meeting was a great opportunity to share our latest news and hear what the people of Leicester think about their local health service. The feedback from those who came along was very positive. Chief Executive Tim Rideout, said he enjoyed the new-style meeting. He explained Leicesters major health issues: Because we have some of the worst health problems in the country, we need to become the best healthcare commissioning organisation in the country. In a lively question and answer session, people asked Tim and fellow Board members, about issues including: shorter repeat prescription times calling extra-cost 0845 numbers for NHS services NICE-recommended drugs customer relations matters plans for a healthier Leicester with more nancial support I thought the meeting was well organised - well done. Before retirement I was a PR Executive with a very large retail company - I know the hard work that goes into a successful event! The event nished with our rst ever Extra Mile Awards, recognising and rewarding outstanding staff for their achievements in improving patient care.

Steve Walsh, former Footballer; Right: Louise Ross, STOP! Smoking Service Manager

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Spring 2009

08-09

Help shape your local health service

Two major health projects are underway in Leicester, and you can help to make sure that we provide services that suit your needs. Read on to find out more about our plans and all the ways that you can get involved.

1. Moving your care closer to home

Were planning improvements to your health service so that you can receive much of your care closer to home instead of in hospital. Were moving some outpatient and day case activities from University Hospitals of Leicester, into local community clinics. Theyll include the following services: dermatology urology gynaecology ear, nose and throat ophthalmology orthopaedics What is happening now? We are currently looking at Dermatology and we have started to discuss with clinicians from primary care and hospitals to explore this new way of providing care. We anticipate that the Dermatology service will be ready for the tendering process to begin by Spring 2009 and contracts awarded later in the year. The schedule for the other specialities are indicated in the table below Outpatient speciality Dermatology Gynaecology and urology Trauma and orthopaedics Ear, nose and throat Ophthalmology Year for planned move 2009 2010 2011 2011 2011

2. Improving services for adult patients with diabetes

We also want to hear your views on our proposals to improve services for adult patients with diabetes in Leicester City. Your feedback is really important to help make a decision on what aspects of diabetes care can be provided in the community. Diabetes fast facts There are 17,500 people diagnosed with diabetes in Leicester City. The total number of people with diabetes is expected to rise to more than 22,500 by 2013. The most common form of diabetes (Type 2) is linked to obesity and age. A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of this type of diabetes. If people with diabetes are diagnosed early, their condition is easier to control and the risk of complications is lower. Good management of diabetes can improve quality of life and greatly reduce the risk of complications such as strokes and heart attacks. What are we hoping to do? We know that services are currently provided in different ways across Leicester City. Our aim is to make sure that all people in Leicester City have access to high quality services that allow everyone to live longer, healthier lives wherever they live. We hope to do this by: increasing access to education about diabetes improving access to individual and group support for people with diabetes, helping them to manage their own care delivering specialist diabetes care closer to home by establishing local community clinics so people dont have to go to hospital increasing the skills of community-based healthcare workers (eg district nurses and GPs) making sure that healthcare workers who are involved in diabetes care, work closely together and with patients How can I get involved? To nd out more about both these projects, visit: www.leicestercity.nhs.uk. Then go to Home > Get Involved > Consultations. This section includes Moving Care Closer to Home and diabetes questionnaires to ll in and more details about how you can respond to all of our projects. You can also call us on 0116 2954183 to nd out more. Closing date for responses: Friday 27 March 2009

What will this mean for patients? Patients will be offered high quality, safe outpatient and day case services. These will be t for their needs and at suitable locations closer to home. Feedback from visitors to outpatients has been very positive. Many are in favour of having the same quality of service closer to their home, especially as parking is such a problem at the hospital. One patient explained: I have been coming to the hospital for 14 years to see my consultant, but I would prefer to be seen in the community and free up resources for patients with more serious conditions in the hospital.

Let us know what you think of the plans and make a difference to thousands of lives! Youll nd details on how to get in contact on page 09.

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Spring 2009

10-11

Out and about

Jo Yeaman is the Director of Marketing, Communications and PPI at NHS Leicester City. Shes taken the time to visit some of the people in our community and tell us about her experiences.
Davinder Singh

I have always been a strong advocate of getting out and about regularly, as a core part of my role and of my own personal development. By this I mean getting to know the people we work with and for, and understanding what things are like from their perspective. Its also something Ive endeavoured to instill and encourage in all teams Ive led, and it has always served them and me well. At the end of the day it would be an Jo Yeaman meets local people at the largest Guradwara temple in the city impossible task to develop marketing and communications campaigns if you who come to the Gurudwara, and heard who feel disillusioned and with the have an ivory towers mentality. what an important part of their lives impression that they have simply fed it is, how it enables them to meet up the beast and we all know what that Its been a tough year for us all in with others and play their own role in feels like Im sure. terms of workload, myself included, the local community. People I talked to and so Ive found it harder than ever I found the time I have spent, so far with were very pleased with the NHS locally, to get out and about than ever before. and there were many things theyd Michelle Welland (Braunstone and New Nonetheless, now with more people like to know more about in terms of Parks) and Davinder Nagra (Spinney in the right places and with the right improving their own health. Hills) so valuable, that I thought Id skills within my directorate teams, Ive share some of my experiences with you. managed to dedicate the time needed Kitchen: the kitchen is at the heart Our new strategy for NHS Leicester to get out of the ofce. City, One Healthy Leicester talks about of the Gurudwara. Volunteers sing as they prepare food which is provided to enabling staff to become stitched I decided to start by shadowing some visitors as they visit the temple to pay in to the local community, and my of the community health development their respects, and to those attending experiences over the last month show co-ordinators who are based in the just why thats so important. Ultimately, luncheon clubs. At the heart of the most deprived areas within Leicester. Sikh faith are the values of earning an in the commissioning arm were only NHS Leicester City employs eight honest living and sharing, and this was 250-300 people. If were going to people to undertake this all-important quite evident during my visit. make the radical changes needed in role; and true to the needs of the local health and well-being locally, we have community in which they are based, Social groups: the people I met to work in partnership with our local their individual roles are very much were very complimentary about the communities as well as other partners. tailored to local needs. Improving health local NHS, and were interested in and working with the community to learning more about health issues. My rst stop was to the largest co-create solutions to addressing When I visited, they were getting ready Gurudwara in the City, Guru Tegh health issues, is a key part of what to go out on their Christmas party Bhadhar Gurudwara. This is a temple we should all be doing. Its also celebrations. Coming to the centre where members of the Sikh faith come very closely aligned to patient and enables older people to meet others, to worship, but its also far more than public involvement, and of course the and prevents them from becoming that. Its a community in itself, with its department leading this sits within my socially isolated. own pre-school nursery, luncheon and directorate. After all, why engage with social clubs for older people and other people for no purpose? There has to be groups, a fully equipped gym the list News: the gentlemen attending the Day a reason and measurable outcomes, goes on. And there are more than 7,000 Centre gather, one of whom translates otherwise you end up with people the world news into Punjabi. visitors every week. I talked to people

Davinder Singh Davinder Singh is part of the Gurudwaras advisory board and has helped to set up and steer various longterm community projects within the Gurudwara. Davinder is very supportive of the work being undertaken by Davinder Nagra, and helps with health campaigns and promotional activities as far as possible. He says that the Gurudwara is a great opportunity for the NHS to tap into the local community, and that so far we have only really scratched the surface. Based on his experience, Davinder stresses the importance of longer-term community health programmes and not one-off promotional activities if were really to change lifestyle behaviour. Ramgarhia Centre, Belgrave Here I met the Social Sisters a 70strong group of very active asian women who gather every Tuesday to learn new skills and hear from speakers about key topics. They are very interested in health issues, and during my brief visit Davinder was asked to organise sessions on blood pressure, breast screening awareness, and incontinence. The wider social group also includes around 20 men, most of whom were busy learning IT skills while I was at the Centre. The group is so successful that from the New Year it will meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Volunteers at the Newparks community centre

New Parks Good housing and having sufcient funds to make ends meet are closely linked with good health. So working in partnership with others who look at these areas is really important if were to improve the health of local people. To this end Michelle works in a community team, which includes people employed by the Council, the voluntary sector, and other health interest organisations, to offer a holistic service that provides assistance with health advice, benets and housing. Michelle works in partnership with the team to deliver various community projects and personally runs the WOW project, a weight loss support group. The centre also offers a community base for young people and kids, and is home to various youth groups in the neighbourhood.

We set up as well as attend events and meetings that reach key people across the City, both generally, and in terms of targeting key groups who might often be overlooked and we have developed a membership database, which includes the names and details of those who are keen to get involved in our activities so resource on tap if you need some feedback from a good cross-section of local people. Were also starting to put on a number of courses to help equip staff with the skills needed to undertake engagement activities themselves. Of course, we do much more too, so if youre thinking of getting involved yourself, or have an engagement activity to plan, please do contact Alison Kirk, Head of PPI. Alison can also help advise you who best to speak to in Community Development if youre interested in working directly with a key community. Do speak to your line manager about getting out there once in a while and meet the people were here to serve. Its a real eye-opener, and I can personally guarantee that its time well spent. Last but not least, a big thank you to Michelle and Davinder for spending their valuable time to show me the local sights, introduce me to key people, and help me to learn more about the people I work with, and for.

There is lots going on in the area of Patient and Public Involvement that you can get involved in yourself, and eventually, PPI should be a core part of all our roles and not just something that happens somewhere else in the organisation. In partnership with The Centre attracts many faith groups, the Council and police, we are now and must have one of the largest halls in committed to attending every quarterly the City which is used regularly for huge ward meeting and there are 22 wards wedding functions. Bear it in mind if across the City so thats quite a few! youre thinking of running an event.

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Spring 2009

12-13

Young people take over Leicester

Song and dance filled the air at an inspirational event held at the Peepul Centre in November. Young people were able to gain an insight into how organisations are run and how decisions are made. All young people involved were given an accreditation and some have gone on to be involved further with organisations and projects. Bez Killeen - Active Involvement Youth Worker at the Peepul Centre
This event was part of Takeover Leicester Day, where young people from across the city shadowed professionals from different organisations for the day, including Leicester City Council and NHS Leicester City. The idea was to promote the voice and inuence of young people. The event was thought-provoking and full of practical workshops that showed how important it is for young people to have a voice in our community and most importantly that this voice is heard and considered by our local government and all public and private sectors. The creativity of all the young people involved was fantastic. We were treated to four performances of original song and dance, made by a youth group, Bhumeet Kala-lee and the Takeover Lyric Crew. We were so impressed with their lyrics that we plan to involve the group when we communicate with young audiences ourselves. Are you a young person who wants to make a difference? The Takeover Leicester conference was hosted by members of the Young Peoples Council, and they are looking for more members to help plan Takeover Leicester 2009. If youre aged over 11 years and interested in getting involved, call Bez for a chat on mobile 07976 348 206.

Jamie goes smoke-free

Jamie Mollart was 15 when he tried his first cigarette and he hated it. But instead of accepting the message his body was giving out, he forced himself to smoke and rapidly developed a 20-a-day habit.

I think back now and say to myself , what an idiot. But kids never listen and it seemed the cool thing to be doing.

Today, as an account manager for a Leicester advertising agency, Jamie (32) has plenty of pressure to deal with at work and a cigarette seemed to ease the tension. But he decided to quit smoking for health reasons at the start of last year. I cut down to 10 and then 5 a day but I couldnt crack it. Thats when I called the helpline, he says. They put me in touch with Mary at STOP! They offer advice and support for people wanting to stop smoking. She talked things through with me, gave me some fact sheets and we set weekly targets. That was the best thing for me because, knowing how my mind works, I needed to have some structure to make the break. She also gave me a prescription for nicotine lozenges which really helped.

At 8am on 21 July I had my last cigarette. For ve days afterwards I thought of nothing else but smoking, but the feeling slowly went away. The hardest thing now is remembering I dont smoke any more, particularly when people offer you one in the pub. The money Ive saved by quitting paid for a weeks holiday for two of us in Rome. My sense of smell and taste are better and my tness has improved. I wouldnt have quit without Marys help. She was absolutely brilliant, an ex-smoker who really understood the challenge. Im 100 per cent sure I wont smoke again. Want to stop smoking? We are here to help. Call our Stop Smoking Service on 0116 295 4141

Jamie Mollart (on the right of the pic) and friend enjoying a fresh, healthy start

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Spring 2009

14-15

Leicesters People Power

Our people power team has been out and about finding out what you, the people of Leicester, want from our services.

Jabs to protect girls against cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. In 2008 NHS Leicester City launched a programme to help protect local schoolgirls against one of the major causes.

Parents of all Year 8 girls aged 12 to 13, were offered the opportunity to take up the new Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine. This age group is targeted because research has shown that between the ages of 10-14 the vaccine is more effective than after this age. This is because of an antibody response. Letters and a consent form were sent out through the girls schools explaining how the vaccine can protect against cancer of the cervix. The letter explained that they would each receive three HPV injections over six months from specially trained nurses.

Around 6,000 girls in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland were able to receive the jab in 2008/9 and so far almost 75% girls have taken up the opportunity. This programme also targeted women aged between 17 and 18 years old, who were invited to go to their GP for their vaccination, and so far over 30% have started to receive their HPV jab. The programme is a partnership between NHS Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland Primary Care Trust, local authorities and the Health Protection Agency.

Deb Watson, Director of Public Health and Health Improvement for NHS Leicester City and Leicester City Council said: Around 3,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year with more than a third of those dying from the disease. This vaccination programme protects against the two types of virus responsible for more than 70 per cent of cases of this cancer. We have made a very positive start to this programme and I would encourage all those who are eligible this year to have their vaccination to do so and help tackle this disease in our city. If you are eligible for HPV vaccination but have not been covered by the programme, please contact Customer Services on 0116 2957011.

Going to public events, setting up a have-your-say website, talking to shopping centre visitors and a text message system to encourage your feedback, are just some of the ways theyve been giving power to the people of Leicester. Its part of the NHS Next Stage Review which aims to improve the way we meet the needs of patients. More than 3,700 people have signed up to have their say. The review in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is known as Excellence for All. Its about giving the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland the opportunity to inuence how the NHS develops over the next 10 years.

Its also about concentrating on the things that really matter and meeting the rising expectations of the NHS. Also, because health problems vary in different parts of Britain, it includes recommendations for healthcare services which are better suited to local needs. Teena Tailor, Campaign and Events Manager for the review, said: This has been about putting patients rst and listening to what they have to say. We have really enjoyed meeting so many people who want to contribute their comments and suggestions to improve our areas health service. We can assure them that their views will count when future decisions are made.

Newsflash
De Montfort University researchers have gone through all the feedback on the Excellence for All consultation and found that just over nine out of every ten people support its vision for the future of the local NHS. They also suggested ways in which we could improve how we involve patients and the public in future. Their full report is available from the NHS Leicester City website www.leicestercitypct.nhs.uk

GetInvolved
Spring 2009

16-17

Walk in to a new, world-class health centre

For the first time in Leicester, patients who need non-urgent medical advice can go to a new walk-in centre without having to register at a surgery or visit the urgent care centre. This is part of a fantastic 13.5 million project to improve healthcare in the city.
Tim Rideout, NHS Leicester Citys Chief Executive, is delighted with the news: This is a proud day for NHS Leicester City and a great day for local patients. Its a sign of the importance that we attach to improving health and picking up signs of poor health.
Left to right: Tony Sampson of United Health UK, Dr B Modi, Tim Rideout, Mr Paul Branscombe of SAFFA, Dr Roshan

Services at the centre include community nursing district nursing, community midwifery, health visiting and school nursing physiotherapy speech and language therapy community dentistry adult mental health care city council customer access centre adult social services shared clinical space

Your new centre at a glance:

Name: The centre is to be ofcially called The Merlyn Vaz Health and Social Care Centre after more than 750 local people voted for it. Type of centre: GP-led health centre and walk-in-centre Where: Charnwood Number of registered patient places available: 3,500 Opening date: The centre is now open Who can register? Anyone who lives in the city of Leicester can register

So what does this mean for our customers? more doctors and nurses to advise and support your needs better access to local healthcare longer opening hours more choice in the doctors and nurses that you can see

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Spring 2009

18-19

Starting to hit the top target

Were making major improvements to the way we deal with your enquiries and complaints, thanks to the new Customer Services team.
Customer Services deals with advice, advocacy, patient liaison, patient and carer support and many other services. Here are just some of the ways we are planning to improve how we help you: A skilled team who will manage calls so you are not passed from department to department Staff who are able to translate a number of languages on request She said: It would bring us closer to the people were trying to help. Meanwhile well undertake more work in health centres, introduce theme days on subjects such as obesity, and our team may make regular calls on dentists and GPs. Our message is, were here to help you staff, the public and other health professionals. For all patient enquiries, information, complaints or support, please phone: Customer Services on 0116 295 7011 or visit our website www.leicestercitypct.nhs.uk Calls will be charged at a standard rate

Racing to the rescue

In those critical moments after a road accident or heart attack, there is one sound that everyone longs to hear the ambulance siren. But how has a service we take for granted developed over the years?
A modern ambulance vehicle in the EMAS eet and a vintage vehicle from the 1960s 1. 2.

3.

1. An Austin K2, vintage 1942, which featured in the 1958 lm Ice Cold in Alex, starring John Mills and Sylvia Syms. 2. A Bedford vehicle from the favourite family of Jack. 3. The Daimler ambulance with its low wheelbase design requested by doctors

In a pilot scheme at seven city health centres, customer service advisers will be on hand on specic days to deal with patient issues. Since November 2008, the scheme has been operating at St Peters, St Matthews, Prince Philips, Braunstone, Westcotes, Rushey Mead and Linwood Centre. The team has already made huge improvements in their response times to complaints, aiming to answer all complaints within 25 working days. Vanessa Readhead, Head of Customer Services, is pleased with progress and hopes the team will eventually move into more convenient premises for customers.

Providing on-the-spot, high-tech care followed by a speedy transfer to hospital is the job of the modern ambulance. The crew of this emergency vehicle and their skills often make the difference between life and death. The ambulance service is the youngest of the emergency services but it was rst used on the battleeld. Man has come up with ways of transporting injured people throughout the centuries. But the idea of an ambulance service came about during the Crusades in the 11th century. They treated soldiers on both sides, bringing wounded people to tents. In 1100 the rst horse-drawn ambulances appeared in England. Another 800 years went by before the next big development. The rst motorised ambulance was in 1899. Made in Chicago, it travelled at 16 miles per hour. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the British used the Rover 9. It had space for two stretchers. There was also the Bedford with a four-stretcher

capacity and even a Rolls-Royce version. America used Model T Fords that could travel as fast as 45 miles per hour and handled rough ground well. Progress was made in the 1950s and 1960s in the way ambulances treated the sick and injured. Doctors realised that treatment at the scene, especially for heart attacks, could make the difference between life and death. Jack Cheetham worked for the East Midlands Ambulance Service, which serves Leicester, during a period of signicant change. He says: In my early days we didnt have piped oxygen on the ambulance so we carried portable cylinders. At the start of the 80s, gas and air painkillers became available. So what for the future? Air quality in the ambulance is being considered, to help avoid diseases you can catch through the air. Vehicle visibility, sliding side-entry doors and the need for specialised, cardiac or neonatal vehicles are being looked into as well.

In an emergency always dial 999

999 is the telephone number to call when you need emergency medical help following a serious accident, illness or injury for example, in the event of traumatic blood loss, chest pain or loss of consciousness. 999 is the emergency number - you should not call 999 if the situation is not an emergency. For general health questions you should always contact your local GP practice, Walk-in Centre or pharmacist rst, or contact NHS Direct at any time on 0845 46 47. If in doubt call 999 and allow us to identify the right response to your needs.

Have your say about local health and social care services: Join the Leicester LINk!
Leicester Local Involvement Network (LINk) is a new network of people, organisations and groups who want to strengthen the quality of health and social care services. This is your chance to take part and be heard!
What will Leicester LINk do? Ask people what they think about their local health and social care services and how they could be improved. Give you the chance to be involved in how the local health and social care services are planned and run. Feed back your recommendations, getting a response within a set timescale. Refer issues to the local Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which looks at the work of the primary care trusts and NHS trusts and acts as a critical friend by suggesting ways that health related services might be improved So, if you want your voice to be heard, contact Leicester LINk. For Leicester LINk Tel: Free phone 0800 7319432 Write to: Leicester LINk Unit 55, Business Box Brailsford Industrial Est 2 Oswin Road, Braunstone Leicester LE3 1HR Email: LeicesterLINks@carersfederation.co.uk For Leicestershire County LINk Tel: 0116 2341577 Email: link@ccp.org.uk For Rutland County LINk Tel: 0779 030554 Email: carrie.chappell@sure-trust.org.uk

Become part of a network committed to having the right services delivered in the right way for your community!