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Having your say about health services
There are several groups and organisations that aim to ensure that the views of patients, carers and the public are heard and acted upon by those making decisions concerning health and health services. You can find out about some of these organisations in this section.
Action for Health – Senior Citizens in Newcastle (AFH-SCIN)
Action for Health – Senior Citizens in Newcastle (AFH-SCIN) is a sub-group of Newcastle Healthy City and functions as the health and social care working group of the Elders Council of Newcastle. It is a group of older people from different parts of the city who are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of older citizens.
The Old Spice Drama Group is an off-shoot of AFH-SCIN and gives even more opportunities to raise issues of health and safety and age discrimination by performing to older peoples’ groups and by providing teaching sessions to agency staff.
To find out more information, or to get involved, contact AFH-SCIN using the details given below.
Community Action on Health – Health Action Networks
Community Action on Health is a charity that works with communities in Newcastle to help them to decide what's important to them in terms of health. Community Action on Health also tries to ensure that people who don't usually get the chance to have their voices heard are listened to.
Community Action on Health has a Health Action Network. The Health Action Network is a citywide network of people who work with and represent communities. They come together to discuss issues related to all aspects of health, whether it be identifying gaps in services, putting forward ideas for new GP services, or sharing views and thoughts. The network is strategic in its remit; providing a structure that enables communities to influence health activity and planning at a more strategic level. It enables communities to be integral to the planning and development of local health services by identifying and tackling health inequalities.
To get involved, you could:
- join the Health Action Network and take part in its work; or
- bring your local health issues along to the meetings.
If you need any more details about the Health Action Network, contact Community Action on Health using the details given below, or visit their website.
Local Involvement Network (LINk)
Newcastle Local Involvement Network (LINk) is an independent network for people and voluntary and community sector groups who want to have a say on how health and adult social care services are run. Newcastle LINk supports diverse views and voices and acts as a 'critical friend' to commissioners and service providers. It replaces the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums that were abolished at the end of March 2008.
Newcastle LINk is supported by a partnership between Community Action on Health and Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service (NCVS). For more information, visit the Newcastle LINk website, or contact the Newcastle LINk Support Team using the details given below.
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Having members is an essential part of the Hospitals Trust being a Foundation Trust.
You may want to become a member if you are interested in finding out about the Hospitals Trust’s current and future proposals and want to contribute to some of the projects and planning that they do.
Members provide a broad representation of the local community and reflect a variety of different views.
Being a member of the Hospitals Trust is completely free. To get involved, you could register and:
- attend events to see what goes on behind the scenes at the hospitals;
- receive information about the hospitals' plans and developments via a members only website and newsletter;
- join specific projects and give your views on services;
- stand for election to the Members Council (the governing body for the Hospitals Trust); and
- vote for your representatives on the Members Council.
To find out more, or to complete an online membership application form, see
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust website.
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide range of mental health, disability and substance misuse services for local people of all ages, as well as some specialist regional and national services. Having members is an essential part of being a Foundation Trust.
Being a member is free. To get involved, you could register and:
- receive regular information about the Trust;
- give your views on the Trust's future plans and your ideas to make things better for everyone who uses its services;
- have your say on issues that interest you;
- elect people to the Council of Governors (which represents the views of the members); and
- stand for election to the Council of Governors.
To find out more about Foundation Trust membership, see the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust website.
If you would like to become a member, contact the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust using the details given below.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) provides support and information to patients, their families and carers if they have any concerns about the care they receive from their doctor, hospital or other health care service. They also identify trends from both positive and negative feedback and can pass these issues on to the relevant organisations to help to improve services.
There is a PALS service in each NHS Trust. This is provided by an organisation called North of Tyne PALS. North of Tyne PALS operates across the whole of the north of Tyne area, working with NHS Trusts in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland. The service is confidential and is independent of the NHS.
To find out more information, or to have your say, you can contact PALS using the details given below. You can also find further details on PALS in our section How to complain about health services.
Contact Information
Action For Health - Senior Citizens in Newcastle (AFH-SCIN)
c/o Quality of Life Partnership, MEA House, Ellison Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8XS.
Telephone : 0191 233 0200, Fax : 0191 260 5307.
Email : info@qualityoflife.org.uk
Community Action on Health
26 Hawthorn Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6RJ.
Telephone : 0191 226 3450, Fax : 0191 273 1623.
Email : office@caoh.org.uk
Community Advisory Panel
Patient Services, Level 1, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN.
Telephone : 0191 233 6161 extension 27740.
Email : caroline.mcgarry@nuth.nhs.uk
Newcastle LINk (Local Involvement Network)
FREEPOST Newcastle LINk.
Telephone : 0800 756 9528, Fax : 0191 230 5640.
Email : findoutmore@newcastlelink.org.uk
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Chief Executive's Office, FREEPOST NAT 18163, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7BR.
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust
FREEPOST NTW, Cherry Knowle Hospital, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 0NB.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
c/o North of Tyne PALS, Old Stables, Grey's Yard, Morpeth, NE61 1QD.
Telephone : 0800 032 0202 (Freephone).
Email : northoftynepals@nhct.nhs.uk
Article last updated December 16, 2011 9:21 pm
