This was the fifth Jubilee Workshop and was held at Norhtfield Club on 29th July 2003.

Approximately 40 people attended and the same format was adopted which included an update to local stroke carers and survivors about the work of Strokewatch and how they have impacted in the local service. This was followed by an update of the current service by the Nurse Consultant for Stroke and an opportunity for those attending to ask questions about the service as well as to share their experiences.

The workshop then progressed into group work where participants got together around a table to share their experiences further and make comments back to the stroke service about different aspects of it.

KEY FINDINGS

1. Comments about treatment after stroke were wide ranging but it is also important to acknowledge that these experiences were recalled over a period of time; some very recently, others as much as 13 years ago. There were positive comments about experiences on the Acute Stroke Unit (Ward 110), experiences in the Assessment Unit were perhaps less positive – people were waiting a long time and did not feel that they got sufficient information.
2. Experiences regarding the Rehabilitation Units, to those who were transferred to one, were very good. There were comments also suggesting that an experience 2 years ago which was much less positive than within the last 6 months.
3. Comments about whether people received enough information was again, varied. Information given at Alderson and St Marys was reported to be very good. There was less well evaluated information giving in the Acute stage.
4. Getting information about benefits and entitlements was again evaluated differently ranging from no information at all to 2 people whose experiences were good; but in the main, 4 out of the 5 tables had difficulty getting information regarding benefits.

Tips for the professionals

Two main themes, one being giving more information across Primary and Secondary care and informing carers better. The other main point was not to talk about people as if they do not understand just because they have had a stroke; be a little more patient and understanding, especially towards relatives.

What improvements did people want to see?

1. More information for patients and carers
2. More specialist staff on the Acute Stroke Unit
3. A mechanism for ongoing reviews and continuous follow up
4. Better involvement from GPs
5. More Psychological input

ACTION PLAN

Training and Education

Foundation training for all professionals working in stroke care is now up and running and well subscribed by staff across the service as well as people working in residential and nursing homes. We will encourage staff from the Acute Assessment Unit at the Hull Royal Infirmary to attend this course.

Support for Carers

Strokewatch are currently evaluating what carers want by distributing a questionnaire. This will be fed back into the service to help further developments progress.
A rolling training programme of education and support to carers is proposed to be developed in 2004.

Patient information

The introduction of the Personal Health and Patient Handheld Record will hopefully improve the standard of information giving and sharing to patients and carers. This will be evaluated in 2004.

More Rehabilitation

Each year the stroke service puts in requests to the Primary Care Trusts to support additional therapies for rehabilitation after stroke and long term support. The Stroke Service has seen gradual improvements and continues to highlight the importance of more therapists into the service.

Outreach

Plans are underway to pilot an outreach support service that will support stroke patients who have not yet been admitted to the Stroke Unit. The Stroke Working Group have raised this important need as a resource issue.

Thank you
Dinah Fuller
Dilys Page