A NEW community mouthpiece aimed at improving health and social care services in York will be officially launched this week.

York Local Involvement Network (LINk) has been set up to replace the Patient and Public Involvement in Health (PPI) forums that were disbanded in April last year.

It will give everyone in the community the chance to say what they think about local services and how they could be improved.

Everybody is welcome to attend the organisation’s inaugural AGM, which will be held on Thursday at the Priory Street Centre, in York.

It’s not too late if you would like to take up a position – with elections taking place at the meeting.

Annie Thompson, York LINk partnership coordinator, said: “The LINk is supporting the right for the people in York to the best health and social services. We already have several nominations for posts, but would urge anyone else who is interested to get in touch.

“Even if you cannot commit to taking an active role, if you want to take part in surveys, one-off meetings or just want to be kept informed of developments please register as a member.”

Volunteers are invited to come forward to be:

* A member of the LINk Steering Group, which will govern the work of LINk

* A member of LINk Readers Panel, which is responsible for making sure LINk publications can be easily understood by members of the community

* A LINK expert, who will carry out a scrutiny role and should have extensive knowledge of a specific area of health or social services

* A LINk ward representative, who will liaise directly with the people of York living in their ward. York LINk is funded by the Department of Health through local government and will give people a voice in the way health and social services are run by providers such as York Hospital, North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust and City of York Council.

The AGM will start with lunch at 12.30pm, and end at 3.30pm.

If you would like more information, phone the LINk office on 07971 054829 or 01904 621631, email participate@yorklink.org.uk, or write to York LINk, William House, Shipton Road, York YO30 1XF.