Department of Health

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PALS useful links

  • Last modified date:
    29 January 2008

Other websites providing useful information linked to PALS.

Involving patients and the public in health

Since the publication of the NHS Plan there have been some significant developments empowering patients and the public to get involved in having a say in the way the health service works and enabling people to have a greater role in decisions about their own health and healthcare.

Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) - in every trust help patients and their families resolve concerns quickly  - data from PALS helps trusts identify areas where patients' experiences need to be improved. PALS act as a signpost for other services such as the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service(ICAS).  PALS Online is the website for PALS throughout England.

Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) - a free service, independent of the NHS that supports patients and carers wishing to pursue a complaint about their NHS treatment or care. For further information, see the corresponding link below.

Patient and Public Involvement Forums (PPI Forums) - are working in every NHS trust and PCT area to get the views of local people about local health services and feeding these into trusts. For further information, see the corresponding link below.

The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health - is responsible for appointing, supporting and providing advice and guidance to PPI forums. It will be abolished as part of the Department of Health's review of arms length bodies. For further information, see the corresponding link below.

Overview and Scrutiny Committees - scrutinise health services across England and through the local election process, are a vehicle for whole communities to influence local decisions affecting health. For further information, see the corresponding link below.

NHS websites

Gateway to the NHS in England connects you to your local NHS services and also provides national information about the NHS. Find out what the NHS is, how the NHS works, and how you can use it. It also provides useful links to the NHS in Scotland, NHS in Wales and NHS in Northern Ireland. For further information, see the corresponding link below.

NHS Direct is a 24 hr national health advice and information service, operating all year round in England. NHS Direct includes:

  • NHS Direct telephone service- 0845 46 47
    A 24hr telephone service providing confidential health advice and information to callers. The service is available in England and Wales. A similar service called NHS 24 has been introduced in Scotland.
  • NHS Direct Online- www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
    NHS Direct Online is a website providing high quality information and advice for people in England. It provides:
    - An interactive self-help guide to treating common health problems at home
    - An A-Z of illnesses and conditions with links to other websites
    - Information on best treatments
    - Frequently asked questions
    - Hot topics on current health issues
    - An online enquiry service, staffed by health information professionals
  • NHS Direct Interactive on digital TV
    Available within the interactive area, initially to digital satellite viewers. The service allows people to access good quality health information in their own homes. It will provide information about a wide range of conditions and treatments, advice on healthy living, answers to popular health questions, and information about using NHS services.
  • NHS Direct self-help guide- 'Not feeling well'
    A guide to around 25 of the most common health problems, this publication helps people to identify their symptoms by answering simple questions. It then helps them to work out the best course of action to meet their immediate health needs. As well as being part of the website , the guide is available as a handy reference section at the back of the Thomson Local Directory in England.

For further information on the work of NHS Direct, see the corresponding link below.

The National Patients Safety Association (NPSA) is a Special Health Authority created in July 2001 to co-ordinate the efforts of the entire country to report, and more importantly to learn from, adverse events occurring in NHS-funded care.

As well as making sure events are reported in the first place, the NPSA is trying to promote an open and fair culture in the NHS, encouraging all healthcare staff to report incidents without undue fear of personal reprimand. It will then collect reports from throughout the country and initiate preventative measures, so that the whole country can learn from each case, and patient safety throughout the NHS can be improved. For further information, see the corresponding link below.

NHS Library Services offer information and knowledge services including access to journals, databases, the National electronic Library for Health (NeLH), internet and intranet resources. In addition to locally available resources your librarian can obtain information from national and international sources. The range of services available to PALS  may vary from location to location. Your nearest librarian will be pleased to help you.

List of voluntary sector/health related websites

All links and information about websites are provided for information and convenience only. We cannot accept responsibility for sites linked to, or the information found there. A link does not imply an endorsement of a site; likewise, not linking to a particular site does not imply lack of endorsement.

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