Odiham Cottage Hospital updateNovember 2011 Calleva Clinical Commissioning Group is continuing to work with partners to develop plans for the future use of Odiham Cottage Hospital. Calleva is working closely with Hampshire County Council Adult Services and the Odiham Cottage Hospital trustees, with the initial focus being on the development of a local Integrated Care Team. This team will see GPs, community services, social care and primary care services working together to manage and provide care and support for local patients, supporting them to remain independent in their own homes, and avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions. The plans include using Odiham Cottage Hospital as a base for the team as well as providing a range of outpatient clinics, day treatments and community services. The trustees for Odiham Cottage Hospital are also developing plans to work with a local hospice to provide palliative and end of life services, and with a local charity to provide respite/social care services. Whilst these plans and supporting business case are being developed it is expected that some services will start to be provided at the hospital from November.
Hampshire Neurological Alliance (HNA) Since our last newsletter, we are participating in two 'Task and Complete Groups' one on Personalisation and the other on Workforce which have been set up by the Hampshire Neurology. Steering Group. There is a real commitment by all those involved to improve services for people living with long term neurological conditions. The HNA website has been updated to include recent reports. On 24th June we took part in an activity day also attended by two Hampshire LINk board members, organised by Carers Together in Romsey. Although there was not a large volume of visitors, we were able to make contact with quite a few people. We hope to be able to organise a workshop for our members with the Department of Work and Pensions in the near future to give up to date information on benefits etc. For further information about the HNA, you can contact Val Cross at
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Southern Cross – Tell us your concerns
by Janet Parsons Management Board Member Adult Care On 11 July it was announced Southern Cross will be wound up and its care homes transferred to new operators. There are 14 Southern Cross Care Homes in Hampshire with a total capacity of 715 beds. This could mean a period of uncertainty for a very substantial number of residents, relatives and friends. As the public voice on Health and Social Care issues, Hampshire LINk needs to have your feedback so that we may do all we can to influence those who will make decisions about the future care of residents in Southern Cross Homes. What do we know so far? • It does not appear that any homes will close immediately if indeed they do close. The Chief Executive of Southern Cross has said he is looking for an "orderly closure” of the company that would see staff transferred on their current terms to other providers, to ensure continuity of care to residents. • Once new owners take over the homes the picture is far from clear at the present time as the viability of keeping homes open will depend on whether occupancy rates are healthy and care fees sufficient to cover rents payable to landlords as well as staffing and running costs. These are issues which will be looked at carefully by the local authority. • Hampshire County Council currently have around 200 clients across a number of homes associated with Southern Cross within Hampshire. A statement made by Councillor Felicity Hindson, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Adult Social Care on the 12th July states, “As we do whenever there are concerns about a home, we have undertaken a risk assessment with each home to fully understand the circumstances and to plan if necessary for contingencies. Residents will never end up on the street. We would work with the home owners and the regulator, CQC, to ensure the wellbeing of residents and to find the best solution. We have contingency plans in case residential homes have to close suddenly for whatever reason. Our preferred option is to support residents where they are if possible. We will only move residents when there is no alternative. We have specially skilled staff to do this if necessary." What are LINk doing? • Board members have met with a senior manager from Hampshire County Council Adult Services to explore how we might work together in the best interest of residents and dialogue is ongoing.
• We have had in-depth conversations with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to express particular concerns and to discuss the impact of changes to Southern Cross homes. A collaborative approach will be taken by CQC and LINk in the best interests of residents with regard to both their emotional as well as their physical needs.
• We are attempting to gain as much information as possible about timescales and appreciate that the uncertainty itself could cause anxiety for residents and relatives.
• As this newsletter goes to press we are considering holding meetings across the county to meet those of you who do have concerns and would welcome the opportunity to talk to us face-to-face. Before we do this we need to be clearer about the detail and timescales for any proposed changes to residents’ care. The following updates from Southern Cross Healthcare Group PLC regarding the restructuring. Monday 18 July 2011 Southern Cross welcomes the announcement issued today by NHP, its largest landlord with 249 homes. The announcement provides further positive clarification on the restructuring process and the Company is encouraged by NHP's continued commitment to the welfare and care of residents. Southern Cross – Tell us your concerns ...... In a recent announcement, NHP has confirmed that at the end of the period of consensual restructuring, it plans to partner with Court Cavendish in the setting up of a new operating company for its homes. NHP has also said that it will continue to rely on the existing Southern Cross staff who manage its homes together with the back office services delivered by the Company's existing infrastructure in order to ensure continuity of both care and operations. Jamie Buchan, Chief Executive of Southern Cross, said: "Today's announcement from NHP is very positive indeed and should be welcomed by staff, residents and relatives as being in the interests of preserving resident care. Together with my team, I look forward to working closely with NHP and Court Cavendish in order to ensure a professional and seamless handover of operations." LINk exists to give you the opportunity to influence your local health and care services and following the recent extremely worrying news we would like you to come forward and contact the office to tell us how the developments at Southern Cross are affecting you – as a resident, relative or friend. Hampshire LINk wants to hear about your experiences during recent weeks and any ideas you may have to make the process of change run more smoothly. The best way to contact us is by e-mail to
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or alternatively telephone the office on 01489 611675.
Remember that LINk is the consumer champion representing YOUR views and has the power to influence change. We understand that this maybe a really worrying time for all Southern Cross residents and their families and we will pass your concerns to those who plan and run services. Posted August 2011
GP Out of Hours Service Survey
The Hampshire LINk has been working with the PCT, to improve the quality of the GP Out of Hours (OOH) service. A year ago, we carried out a survey of the recorded messages, at all of the GP surgeries within its ambit and found inconsistency of content. The LINk then engaged with the commissioners of the OOH provision, to produce a consistent and coherent framework, with the aim of encouraging the GP surgeries to use a standardised core message. The new framework was submitted to the Local Medical Council who endorsed its content and the issue of the request to all of the surgeries involved. This April Hampshire LINk repeated the survey, using a more sophisticated survey technique. The survey data is currently being processed and the report will be out next month, when we will see just how much improvement has been achieved.The OOH function comes under the heading of 'Unscheduled Care', which is a major activity within the NHS. The responsibility for this will pass to the hands of the GP's within the impending government changes. It is therefore even more important that we have a consistent approach, embedded within the current system, before the transition occurs. Posted August 2011 Return to top of page
Share your stories of mental health care
by Audrey Howe,
Hampshire LINK Management Board Member with a special interest in Mental Health  Have you heard of Patient Opinion? No, neither had I until very recently and I thought you might be interested in hearing about it if you are, or have been, a service user or had treatment for a mental health problem. Patient Opinion is a social enterprise that runs a website where anyone can share stories of their care. Patient Opinion has now agreed with the Department of Health and NHS Choices to provide a feedback platform for mental health service users across England.
How do you know the service is safe? All comments are previewed prior to publication by a team that includes a GP and a mental health social worker. Development of the website and the service was carried out with Mind, ReThink and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. All postings are edited to remove surnames and other information that would identify individual staff. Patient Opinion would like you to use a nickname instead of your real name to your story as this will help keep you safe. Who can use the service? Service users, carers and staff can all post comments and suggestions and rate the care they have received as well as viewing what others have said. Trusts, PCTs, patient organisations and LINks will also be able to post responses. To find out more, goto www.patient.opinion.org.uk, call 0845 113 0012 or email
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. You can also write (or draw) your story on one of their leaflets and post it to them. Posted December 2010 Return to top of page
Liberating the NHS - Healthwatch explained
On 12th July, the government published its vision for the future of the NHS in Equity and Excellence:
Liberating the NHS, known as a White Paper because it sets out a policy which is ikely to become law. The document details the government’s plans for a radical overhaul of the NHS in England, putting GPs in charge of much of the budget and abolishing all 10 strategic health authorities and all 152 primary care trusts. The government wants to put patients, carers and communities at the heart of planning, commissioning, delivery, regulation and scrutiny of NHS services while retaining the key principles of the NHS: a comprehensive health service available to all and free at the point of use. Read more about HealthWatch explained here. We would like to hear your views to help us improve health and social care services in Hampshire. You can do this on Community Voices online HealthWatch dicussion forum. Tell us your views:Phone us: 01489 611675 Email us:
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Write to us: Hampshire LINk, Forum 3, Whiteley, Fareham PO15 7FH
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