A LINk has been set up in every area of England to help local people influence or change the way their local NHS and social care services are planned and delivered. The Suffolk LINk wants to empower users of services and promote effective public involvement that will lead to a real change in health and social care services in Suffolk.

The Suffolk LINk recognises that involvement should be as diverse as possible and that the voices of all communities are heard.

By being part of your local LINk you can make your voice heard and improve services.

• A LINk is made up of individuals and community groups who work together to improve local health and social care services
• The job of a LINk is to find out what people like and dislike about local services, and to work with the people who plan and run them to help make them better
• This may involve talking directly to health and social care professionals about a service that is not being offered, or suggesting ways that an existing service could be made better
• LINks also have powers to help them do their job and to make sure that changes happen

A LINk can:

• ask local people what they think of local health and social care services
• give people a chance to suggest ideas to care professionals that may help improve services
• look into specific issues of concern to the community (like a dirty hospital), make recommendations to the people who plan and run services, and expect a response
• ask for information about services and get answers within a specified amount of time
• carry out spot checks, when necessary, to see if services are working well
• refer issues to the local council overview and scrutiny committees if it seems that action is not being taken