Kingston Disabled and Older People's Forum
Kingston Disabled and Older People's Forum is the principal way in which the Council seeks to consult with disabled and older people in the Borough. It is run in partnership with Kingston Primary Care Trust and Kingston Hospital.
- To comment on Council services, contact Jane Young on 020 8547 5314, or email jane.young@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
- To comment on primary care services (most health services not provided in hospital) in Kingston, contact PALS on 020 8339 8107, or email leigh.broggi@kpct.nhs.uk
- To comment on Kingston Hospital services, contact Clare Parker, PALS Manager, on 020 8934 3993 or email clare.parker@kingstonhospital.nhs.uk
If you have any queries about the work of the Forum please contact Jane Young, Disability Equality and Access Officer, on 020 8547 5314 or at jane.young@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
December 2007 Newsletter
The December 2007 newsletter of Kingston Disabled and Older People's Forum is now available - follow the link at the bottom of this page.
Forum events
Two Forum events have been held so far - the first in June 2006 and the second on 5 October 2007. The events have given Forum members an opportunity to give their views on the extent to which Council and health services are accessible to them and meet their needs as disabled and older residents of the Borough.
The feedback from the first Forum event, in 2006, was used by the Council, the Primary Care Trust and the hospital to inform their Equality Schemes. At the second event each organisation gave an update on progress and Forum members were invited to give further feedback on their experiences of the services they provide.
About the Forum
What is Kingston Disabled and Older People's Forum?
Kingston Disabled and Older People’s Forum is a new way for disabled and older people to be involved in the development of local services provided by the Council, Kingston Hospital and Kingston Primary Care Trust (PCT). It is led by the Council.
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 imposes a duty on public bodies, including local councils and health bodies, to promote disability equality, partly through the production of a Disability Equality Scheme. The Schemes should be based on disabled and older people’s priorities for existing and new services, so that more services meet the needs of local disabled and older residents. We need to know what disabled and older residents think of the whole range of Council services and local health services - from refuse collection and the state of our roads to community care services and libraries, as well as primary care and hospital services, so we know what improvements are needed.
We also need help to identify and overcome barriers that prevent disabled people from making successful applications for employment within the public sector locally.
How can I be involved?
Although it is called a ‘Forum’, meetings and events will be infrequent and it will be quite possible for members to be involved without coming to meetings. Forum members can choose how they would like to receive communication: by letter, email, via the website or by phone (although it may be necessary to back up phone calls by letter or email). We will introduce a text message option if this is needed. We will do our best to provide information in members’ preferred format. If you do come to a meeting or focus event we will reimburse your travel expenses.
What issues will the Forum be involved in?
Members of the Forum can be involved in any issues that affect them as disabled and older people living in Kingston. The Forum will help us to understand the needs of our residents so that we can plan appropriate services.
What’s in it for me?
The main benefit to Forum members will be a sense of involvement and the satisfaction gained from helping to make local services better for disabled and older people living in the Borough. You will get your expenses paid, of course, if you can attend focus events.
How much of my time will it take up?
We realise that members need to be able to vary their involvement according to other commitments, variations in their health or other considerations. Members will be asked to make every effort to respond to material sent to them, but if circumstances mean that they are unable to respond to all communications that will not be a problem.
What if I have to go into hospital for a few weeks?
That’s no problem – just get involved again when you come out. The key to this project is flexibility.
But I can’t find accessible transport to take me to meetings!
If this is a problem for you, and you want to attend a meeting, we will try to help you identify accessible transport; for example, as your expenses will be paid you may be able to use a taxi. But if you really can’t travel, that’s no problem – just phone, email or write your response to the material we send.
So how do I get involved?
Email jane.young@rbk.kingston.gov.uk or phone Jane on 020 8547 5314.