Organisation: Lymphoedema Network Northern Ireland (LNNI)

Description:
LNNI is a new managed clinical network formed as a result of the recommendations of the DHSSPS document, Report of the Lymphoedema Services Review Group 2004. The network has been formed to co-ordinate and shape regional service development in order to provide a high standard of accessible care throughout Northern Ireland.

The network will act as a mentor for the individual Trust leads (one per Trust), provide strategic direction (including multi professional and cross-sector education, audit, research and patient support) and a voice for health promotion, public relations, strategic communications, future commissioning opportunities and potential joint ventures with other agencies outside the public sector.

The network board meets four times per year, with the inaugural meeting on 4 June 2008. A wider stakeholders’ forum will also take place every six months. The Board is supported by the Chair (Clare McGartland), Clinical Lead (Jane Rankin) and Project Manager (TBC).

Contact name: Jane Rankin, Clinical Lead

Address:
Physiotherapy Department

Cancer Centre

Belfast City Hospital

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Lisburn Road

Postcode: BT9 7AB

Tel: (028) 9069 9430

Fax: (028) 9069 9459

Email: jane.rankin1@belfasttrust.hscni.net

Website: www.lnni.org

Sector (statutory, voluntary, community, other): All

Area of interest/expertise: Lymphoedema management

Mission statement:
LNNI will actively develop and promote:

the profile of lymphoedema (prevention and management) including lobbying within all care sectors;

high standards of locally available lymphoedema management for all patients with lymphoedema and those deemed to be “at risk” of developing it;

support for the individual trusts in the development of local equitable services;

lymphoedema prevention/screening for “at risk” patient groups to increase early diagnosis and immediate service access, promote prevention/patient self care and knowledge of regional services and ultimately reduce prevalence rates

lymphoedema management: informing and influencing health policy, models of service delivery (in line with the CREST Lymphoedema Guideline 2008) and education (both uni and multi-professional at generalist and specialist levels) across all care sectors.