Stroke Survey will Improve Services

24/01/05

A survey of 3,500 people in Gloucestershire planned for this week is set to give carers of people who have suffered a stroke an 'unprecedented opportunity' to have their say on how services could be improved to support them.

The initiative, a first for the county, asks for feedback from carers on their role, the kind of support they receive and continue to receive from Health and Social Services and asks about the preparation they had before they took on their role as carer.

The initiative was developed with the direct involvement of carers and carer representative, David Hall has been working with the Gloucestershire Primary and Community Care Audit Group (PCCAG) to put the survey together.

Carer Representative, David Hall said:

"As a Carer for my wife, Muriel, who suffered a brain haemorrhage in 1997 and sadly passed away last year, I would like to assure carers that this information is vital if we are to continue making the improvements in service provision, which we have witnessed in recent times. This is good news for them and good news for future carers."

Chair of West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust's Professional Executive Committee, Dr Mike Roberts said:

"We are confident that the survey will provide us with valuable feedback from carers about what they think can be done by Health and Social services to support them in carrying out their role. We are very excited about the survey's potential for identifying what is working well and where improvements need to be made."

Craig Robinson, Stroke Coordinator for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Primary Care Trust, said:

"I would urge all carers who receive the questionnaire to take the time to fill it out and tell us what they think."

The survey also asks questions to find out if carers are managing to take a break from their caring responsibilities, the extent of their role as a carer and the severity of disability of the person they are caring for.

The survey will be mailed out from 57 GP Practices on Wednesday January 26 to stroke patients with a letter requesting them to pass the survey to their carers.

Responses will be treated in the strictest confidence and it is hoped that the results of the survey will be available within 4-5 months.