Improving the effectiveness of the link system in an acute trust

Link staff are a valuable asset to any ward area. They can disseminate information to their colleagues from the clinical nurse specialist, act as role models and identify strengths and weakness. However, many trusts are discovering that, although sound in theory, practice is quite different. Ward staff find it difficult to attend meetings due to pressures of work and those who can attend fail to pass on information. This study describes how a trust identified the problems of the link system and suggests a solution that may be helpful to others.