Forums existed for each Primary Care Trust and NHS Trust and were small groups of individuals. Their powers related to health care only. LINks' powers relate to both health and social care, and cover the same geographical area as the councils that establish them. They will be networks of people, groups and organisations, so they will be able to bring together the views and ideas of lots of different people. LINks will be supported by the Host organisation to:

• give people the chance to say what they think about local health and social care services - what is working well and what is not so good;
• give people the chance to check how health and social care services are planned and run; and
• feedback what people have said about services so that things can change for the better.