Project summary
A group of carers and people with Aphasia was set up in November 2005 to ensure that information and services were made more accessible. Appointment letters are now written in Easy-Read and patients' stories have been shared at events and on radio.
Project Dates
Start Date: 11/11/2005
Ongoing
Location of project
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Area of healthcare
Primary care, Acute care, Community care
Target groups
Carers, People with Aphasia
Guidelines followed
We follow the National Standards for Community Engagement.
Members of the group have also been involved in Equality and Diversity Impact Assessements.
Approaches used
Action planning/ community appraisal, Exhibitions/ events/ public meetings, Leaflets, Patient/ lay members of committees, Story Dialogue and story gathering
Aims and objectives
Following a Consultation Event in October 2005 a group for service users and carers was established, facilitated by Speech & Language Therapists, with the following aims:
To increase awareness of Aphasia in all health settings through to the general public;
To improve services for patients and carers; and
To improve access to a wide range of services including health and leisure.
The group meets monthly and writes an Annual Work Plan. Minutes and agendas are produced in Easy-Read format.
What we did
Patients reported difficulty understanding appointment letters from Speech & Language Therapy and following feedback these are now made available in Easy-Read format.
Due to lack of information on Aphasia the group decided to run Carers Information Sessions which have now developed into sessions for all. These run twice a year, and carers and people with Aphasia contribute to their organisation.
Picture charts for hospital drinks trolleys were created.
For Aphasia Month in June 2009 the group set up information displays in every Stroke Unit in the area. Service users’ stories were gathered to be shared on Celtic Radio station. Two members, facilitated by two Speech & Language Therapists, ran a workshop on the experience of using local services from the perspective of a person with Aphasia at an Understanding Patients’ Experiences Event.
We commented on the accessibility of the NHS ‘My Stroke’ booklet and ensured ‘The Stroke and Aphasia Handbook' is in all Glasgow libraries.
Training undertaken
Specific training was given to members on how to appraise literature in order to gauge its accessibility.
Evaluation
Attendees at each of the Aphasia Information Sessions complete an evaluation form, and this feedback has helped to shape future sessions, for example, a change in location and different topics.
The members of the group review their annual Work Plan together and discuss and evaluate what work has been done and how successful this has been.
Plans for the future
The group will be looking at the following areas in the future:
- Easy-Read menu choices in hospitals;
- Investigating befriending or others ways of supporting people with Aphasia;
- Maintain and develop the Aphasia Information Sessions;
- Recruiting new members.