Commissioning initiative helps stroke care and prevention

The Joint Commissioning Unit (JCU) in Staffordshire is leading on a number of successful community based preventative services for potential stroke victims, and rehabilitation services for stroke survivors.

Working with the Stroke Association, South Staffordshire PCT, South Staffordshire practice based commissioners and the local Stroke Network, the partnership’s work is recognised nationally and regionally as best practice in helping stroke survivors to rebuild their lives.

Backed by three year government funding until 2011, their work consists of:

• Primary Prevention Service – increasing the service in South Staffordshire to provide information, blood pressure checks and lifestyle advice. An estimate of 3,000 people per year will be reached


• FAST (Face Arm Speech Take action) training – aimed at front line staff working in general practice to increase their understanding of what a stoke is, how to identify it, and the need for it to be treated as a medical emergency


• Communication Plus – providing a new model of support for individuals with communication disability, the scheme puts greater emphasis on supporting people to resume day to day tasks such as shopping and leisure activities


• Back to Life courses – a rolling programme of courses for stroke survivors and their carers, focusing on need. This may include coping with the psychological impact; understanding what a stroke is, and reducing risk; medicine compliance; getting back to work and relationships; and financial issues. The service aims to work with 200 survivors each year.


• Long Term Support Service – a two year project to support survivors and carers by setting up activity groups that will become self supporting by the end of the funding period.


• Workforce Planning – the JCU has commissioned ten days’ training to be provided by the Stroke Association to improve the skills of 200 care staff in residential and nursing homes.

Contact: Vanessa Pugh, County Commissioner (Long Term Conditions), Joint Commissioning Unit, telephone: 01785 854603 or 07815 167447.