Patient Advocacy – Where can I get more information

General

• An outline of Patient Advocacy provisions is contained on the NHS website
• A summary of PALS is given on the Department of Health's website
• A summary of ICAS is also given on the Department of Health's website
• icaslearning.com is a website that provides information for advisers and advocates working in ICASs, which contains some information that is equally useful for users of the service
• You can read the legislation that requires NHS Trusts to provide ICASs in the Health and Social Care Act (2001)

Identifying your Local Trust

• If you do not know which Trust a given hospital comes under, you can find out by on the NHS website here

Further Information about the Abolition of Community Health Councils

The Abolition of Community Health Councils was:

• Proposed in The NHS Plan (2000)
• Detailed in Involving Patients and the Public in Healthcare (2001)
• Enacted in The National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act (2002)

English Independent Complaints Advocacy Services (ICASs)

There are nine English Independent Complaints Advocacy Services (ICASs). Their contact details are as follows:

South West England
(Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucs, Soms, Wilts)

Citizens Advice
Tel: 0845 120 3782 Web: www.nacab.org.uk

South East England
(Berks, Bucks, Hants & IoW, Kent, Oxon, Surrey, Sussex)

South East Advocacy Projects
Tel: 0845 600 8616

Greater London

Citizens Advice
Tel: 0845 120 3784 Web: www.nacab.org.uk

East of England
(Beds, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk, Suffolk)

POhWER Advocacy Agency
Tel (Beds/Herts):
0845 456 1082

Tel (Cambs/Norfolk/Suffolk):
0845 456 1084

Tel (Essex):
0845 456 1083

Web: www.pohwer.net

East Midlands
(Derbys, Leics, Lincs [except N & NE Lincs], Northants, Notts, Rutland)

The Carers Federation
Tel: 0845 650 0088

Web: www.carersfederation.co.uk

West Midlands
(Herefords, Staffs, West Midlands, Worcs)

Citizens Advice
Tel: 0845 120 3748

Web: www.nacab.org.uk

Yorkshire and the Humber
(East Riding, Hull , N & NE Lincs, N Yorks [except Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland], S Yorks, W Yorks, York)

Citizens Advice
Tel: 0845 120 3734

Web: www.nacab.org.uk

North West England
(Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancs, Merseyside)

Citizens Advice
Tel: 0845 120 3735

Web: www.nacab.org.uk