Dear Parent Carer Forums:

Most you will be aware that major structural changes are happening to the NHS as a result of the Health and Social Care bill, which is going through Parliament.

The Department of Health recently asked local Primary Care Trusts to consult with the public and decide on three NHS services to be opened up for delivery by private providers. Paediatric wheelchairs and continence services are two of the eight services identified as being suitable for this approach.

The attached document provides a little more information about this, which might help you in responding to any local consultation.

Finally, I sent a survey out to parent carer forums in the summer asking about your involvement with health. A few forums have still not returned these and I need to complete my final report to the Department of Health in October. If you have not already, please do complete the attached survey and send back to me a.s.a.p,  even if your forum has not worked with health.

If you have any questions or want any more information about the changes to the NHS please feel free to contact me.

Thanks and Best Wishes,

Sheila Davies
Parent Participation Manager
Tel 020 7608 8773

HILLINGDON LINK

As you know, Hillingdon LINk encourages and supports local people’s involvement in how local health and social care services are planned and run. We believe it’s important that decisions are informed by knowledge about patients’ needs and experiences.

I attach a questionnaire produced by NHS Hillingdon as part of a consultation aimed at improving ophthalmology services in the borough. It’s an opportunity for you to help them understand what you want from a service, and also how and where you would like to receive your treatment.

You can complete a printed version of the survey click here and send it to:

Ophthalmology Commissioning, NHS Hillingdon, Kirk House, 97-109 High Street, Yiewsley, Middx, UB7 7HJ

Or you can complete it online at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W28Z3PK

Yours faithfully

Terry Stafford
LINk Community Engagement Officer

Dear Friends and Colleagues

I am writing to ask for your help in completing a survey about the issues that families or carers of children, teenagers and adults with Autism Spectrum Condition face in mainstream schools and elsewhere. I would be most grateful if you could spend a few minutes of your time to complete the questionnaire which you can access through the link below. We will be using the information to raise awareness of the issues surrounding ASC and lobbying Government and others to take appropriate action to improve education facilities for those affected.

Thank you in advance for your co-operation. This is an important survey thatcould lead to really positive change for those with ASC and their families and carers.

Best wishes

Anna Kennedy

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q7BS2WL

Lisa Robins
PA to Director Anna Kennedy
Vine House,
Harlington Road,
Hillingdon,
Middxlesex,
UB8 3HD
Tel: 01895 619736

National Parent Forum

Please see message below from Regional representative of the national parent forum.

Dear All

I know there is a lot going on, but I wanted to share some materials prepared by another NNPCF Task Group member (Sarah) for her region about the current consultation on the future of DLA. NNPCF are preparing a response and Local Parent Forums and parent carers are encouraged to do the same.

The attachments are a slide pack summary and group discussion points drawn from the consultation document for use in discussions. The deadline for response to the consultation is 14 February, although I have been told by my MP (the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith MP) that any response received a few days after the end of the consultation period will still be considered.

I and other parent carers were informed by an MP at a recent DLA consultation event with EDCM that MPs should receive at least 20 letters each about this (and other issues of importance) to have maximum impact.

I hope that might be of help and look forward to seeing you soon at our regional events.

Regards and best wishes

Mary

NNPCF - DLA CONSULTATION

please see survey on behaviour and asthma.

I wanted to draw your attention to this: HM Treasury — Public invited to vote on ideas to make savings 18th August, 2010

The public is being asked to vote to find the best ideas from over 44,000 submitted to the Treasury as part of the public engagement through the Spending Challenge website. The most promising ideas will be taken forward as part of the Spending Review process, which will set budgets for public services for the next four years.

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_38_10.htm

You can type in disabled children to help search, or if you link on the Local Government section there are three suggestions on the first two pages that link to disabled children and young people and parent participation (and probably many more in other sections).

The more people that sign up to these the better it will be!

http://www.behaviourandasthma.org.uk/intro.aspx?ReturnUrl=/default.aspx