Frequently asked Questions (FAQ)
Select from the list of questions below, or scroll down to browse
[Note: If you have any questions not listed here, please send them to us by clicking here.
- What is Patient & Public Involvement in Health?
- What is a service-user?
- What is a carer?
- Does getting involved really make a difference?
- Do I get paid for getting involved?
- What are LINks?
- What is primary care?
- What are PCTs (Primary Care Trusts)?
- What is PALS (Patient Advice & Liaison Service)?
- What are NSFs (National Service Frameworks)?
- What are LAAs (Local Area Agreements)?
- What are EIAs (Equality Impact Assessments)?
- What is the Expert Patients Programme?
- What is the Expert Carers Programme?
What is PPI?
PPI stands for Patient & Public Involvement in Health. The Department of Health states that for UK healthcare to fulfil its potential, members of the public should take a substantial role in shaping the care system’s development, and patients should be kept well informed of clinical processes and decisions.
PPI is about empowering patients and the public to have a say and about people in the NHS working differently and listening to and acting upon the views of patients and the public. Patient and public involvement aims to improve patients’ experiences of the NHS
Back to top of page
What is a service-user?
A service-user is a person receiving any health or social care services, from going to the family doctor, the pharmacist, to accessing social services such as home care or direct payments.
Back to top of page
What is a carer?
Someone who looks after and provides regular ongoing support to another, often through family responsibilities. Many carers provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner.
Back to top of page
Does getting involved really make a difference?
Yes! Getting involved can make a direct difference to the way services are planned and implemented.
A recent example is the new, award-winning fully accessible toilet in Nottingham city centre. Parent carers were involved throughout and had road-tested the early designs, resulting in a much better facility being built.
Pressure from carers has led to learning disability services adopting a Personal Care "MOT" checklist to ensure that their staff pay proper attention to service users' personal care and hygiene needs.
A completely new local signposting service was commissioned after complaints from drug and alcohol users that services were denying them their right to choose by not telling them about other services they might access.
People who are actually using services have first hand experience which is invaluable when it comes to planning new services or improving existing ones.
Back to top of page
Do I get paid for getting involved?
Your involvement should always be recognised and your expenses reimbursed. Most organisations have their own policies on this and part of our job is to make sure that they pay you what you are due for your involvement.
Back to top of page
What are LINks?
LINks (Local Involvement Networks) have replaced Patient Forums. They are networks of local people, organisations and groups who want to improve their health and social care services.
People who want to have their say on GP services, hospital food, cancer care, learning disability services, care homes or many other issues can join their local LINk to give their views and investigate services. Information will be fed back to managers and people who buy services to help make improvements to care.
People can be permanent LINk members or just dip in and out on particular issues and anyone is eligible to join.
LINks will have a range of powers:
- If they ask for information from an organisation, they will get a reply within a set amount of time.
- They will be able to visit services and talk to users and patients.
- They can refer matters of concern to the County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, where councillors can investigate issues.
LINks for each local authority area will be run by a host organisation.It will be the host’s job to encourage local groups, organisations and individuals to get involved – especially those who are not always heard. They will also work with local people to decide how the LINks will be run and governed.
Both the City & County Council are currently in the process of appointing a host. As soon as this process is complete, this website will provide information about the groups involved, and how to join your local LINk.
Back to top of page
What is primary care?
Primary care describes the health services that play a central role in the local community, such as family doctors (GPs), pharmacists, dentists and midwives.
Please click here to access the Primary Care section of the Department of Health website and find out more.
Back to top of page
What are PCTs?
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) control local healthcare while strategic health authorities monitor performance and standards. A total of 152 PCTs cover all parts of England and receive budgets directly from the Department of Health.
Please click here to access the PCT section of the Department of Health website and find out more.
Back to top of page
What is PALS?
Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) are a central part of the new system of PPI in England. They are available in all trusts. PALS provide information, advice and support to help patients, families and their carers.
PALS act on behalf of their service users when handling patient and family concerns. They liaise with staff, managers and, where appropriate, other relevant organisations, to negotiate speedy solutions and to help bring about changes to the way that services are delivered. PALS will also refer patients and families to local or national-based support agencies, as appropriate.
Please click here to access the PALS website and find out more.
Back to top of page
What are NSFs?
National Service Frameworks (NSFs) are long term strategies for improving specific areas of care. They set national healthcare standards. They are designed to improve the quality of health services and make sure that everyone gets the same level of care. NSFs set measurable goals and ensure that progress is made within agreed time scales.
At present, there are NSFs about cancer, paediatric intensive care, diabetes, coronary heart disease, mental health, renal services, long-term conditions, children and older people. However, new NSFs are being developed.
NSFs have a number of aims and objectives which are usually expressed as standards by which improvements will be judged. These standards therefore describe the level of service you are entitled to expect from each improvement area.
Please click here to access the NSF section of the Department of Health website and find out more.
Back to top of page
What are LAAs?
Local Area Agreements (LAAs) represent a new relationship between local and central government and key partners. They are a three year agreement giving more freedom and flexibility to achieve local solutions that meet local needs. Each LAA is unique to each area. There is an LAA for Nottigham City and an LAA for Nottinghamshire County.
The LAAs came into force in April 2006 and show how all the partners will deliver a better quality of life for people through improving performance on both local and national priorities. Partners have been asked to agree what needs to be done in four areas of community life:
- Healthier communities and older people
- Economic development and enterprise
- Safer and stronger communities
- Children and young people
Each LAA will give local authorities and their partners the flexibility to find local solutions to local problems, and to prioritise spending to achieve their agreed priorities.
Back to top of page
What are EIAs?
An Equality Impact Assessment is a way to improve the work of services by making sure they do not discriminate in the way they provides services and employment and that, where possible, they do all they can to promote equality and good relations between different groups.
The EIA is carried out by commissioning or drawing on existing research and/or monitoring information, and community consultation. The first part of the assessment, pre-screening, is used for a preliminary screening of the policy, service or project. If a potential impact on a particular group is identified in pre-screening, the service, policy, or project in question will undergo a more wide-ranging assessment.
Local Authorities have a legal responsibility under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 to assess their policies and functions, and to set out how they will monitor any possible negative impact on race equality. They also have to consult on proposed policies and train their staff about this law, and have a positive duty to promote good relations between communities.
Back to top of page
What is the Expert Patients Programme?
The Expert Patients Programme (EPP) is an NHS-based training programme developed to help carers manage their own health needs better, as well as look after the person they care for.
Please click here to access the website and find out more.
Back to top of page
What is the Expert Carers Programme?
An Expert Carers Programme (EPP) is an NHS-based training programme currently being developed to provide opportunities to carers to develop new skills to manage the condition of the person they care for in addition to managing their own health needs better on a day-to-day basis.
