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Step 3: Identify and influence your target
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Routes of Influence
My Breakthrough
Local Government
Local government is also known as a local council or local authority. There are different kinds of local councils in the UK and they look after different services. The kind of council you have will depend on where you live.
I contacted the Democratic Services Officer at the Town Hall and she invited me to present a public submission to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that looks at health. It was very daunting, but the councillors were very supportive. As a result, the NHS Trust was asked to respond to the concerns we raised within a set timescale. I was then invited to join the group charged with implementing the changes to the breast care services. This was great news as I could help to ensure the best outcome for breast cancer patients.
Daphne Havercroft, Breakthrough CAN member, Bristol
A local councillor will represent a ward – a geographical area. Each ward can have up to three councillors. It’s best to approach the councillor for your ward in the first instance, as they are there to represent you, as well as approaching the Chair of the OSC or other councillors involved with it.
Get to know your local councillor
It’s important that you think about developing a relationship with your local councillor, and become familiar with lobbying them, in particular those who sit on the health OSC. They are your first port of call if you want to enlist their support to ask an OSC to examine a local breast cancer service.Decisions about the design and delivery of health services are increasingly being made at a local level – this means you have more opportunity than ever to make a difference to local breast cancer services.
Your local authority’s information office or website should provide you with a list of councillors and council committee membership, as well as information about how to contact them.
