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Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

My Lords, I am glad that the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, was able to join us in the Chamber for the debate. Her amendments were brilliantly moved by her colleague. We are all pretty trepidatious when it comes to taking her on with her experience of trust work. There is no one in this House more committed to that work, especially in mental health. I understand that the noble Baroness is concerned with the best possible outcomes; she has spoken to me about this herself. But with her Amendments Nos. 209A and 210ZA there is a risk of not joining up activities across LINks and foundation trusts, and there might be some overlap. The noble Earl described more eloquently than I could the differences between LINks and foundation trust boards. The functions of the two bodies are different. Foundation trust boards are institution-based and focus only on healthcare, while LINks are area-based and cover both health and social care. LINks will be networks of individuals and organisations and are about bringing work together; they are certainly not about duplicating it. There will be enough to do without duplicating the work of the foundation boards. Crucially, LINks will include organisations that might have little attachment to health, but whose members will be affected by health provision. Foundation trusts may wish to work with LINks or contribute to LINk research, and they may see the benefit of developing relationships with LINks as a useful means of gathering additional information to inform the development of services. I know that the noble Baroness is concerned that the two types of organisation will not co-ordinate their work when visiting institutions. She made an important point on that. I know from my officials’ discussions with governors of foundation trusts which are members of the Foundation Trust Network that the majority of board members see LINks as a real opportunity to be able to influence wider service improvement. If a mental health trust has the capacity to reach out into the community and identify at an earlier stage of intervention people who might otherwise find themselves institutionalised, offering care through self-help groups and mental health groups in the community, it is a valuable LINk. We would want to see that happen. I acknowledge my noble friend’s concerns. I shall ensure that an explicit reference to how LINks and foundation trust boards should work together is made in our guidance. It will address visits to institutions—the next amendment will relate to that further. The guidance can set out protocols that LINks and foundation trusts can use to ensure no overlap of activity. That is a better way forward than trying to make provision in the Bill and then having to amend it later. Guidance can set out good practice and make useful suggestions of ways of working. It will ensure that LINks and foundation trusts work together as well as possible.