Stroke

NHS QIS commissioned a one year project on Aphasia in Scotland to the Centre for Integrated Healthcare Research.  Aphasia is a condition which affects the speech, language and communication skills of people after they have experienced brain damage. One of the most common sources of such damage in adults is stroke and about a quarter of people who have strokes also have aphasia. For many of these their aphasia can have a serious, pervasive and long lasting impact on the individual, on their families and those in their immediate environment.

 

The project aimed to make a significant contribution to the future development of services for people with aphasia in Scotland.

 

The project had four objectives captured as four specific questions:-

 

1. What is the incidence of aphasia associated with stroke in Scotland?
2. What is the level and the nature of the service offered to people with aphasia following stroke?
3. What is the impact of aphasia on the individuals with aphasia and their families following stroke?
4. What are the current and emerging models of practice for the management of aphasia following stroke?

 

This publication sets out NHS QIS response to Aphasia in Scotland.  

 

This response document, led by Sheena Borthwick, Speech and Language Therapist Clinical Specialist in Stroke, promotes the transfer of knowledge from the Aphasia in Scotland Report and provides actions and advice for future work in aphasia.  The document includes a self-assessment tool to facilitate local evaluation of aphasia services based on the findings from the Aphasia in Scotland research.

 

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is currently working with people with Aphasia to develop a communication accessible version of the Aphasia in Scotland research and this will be available late summer 2008 (www.nhshealthquality.org). A CD including these publications will also be available summer 2008.

 

If you have any questions in relation to this work, please contact Claire Tester, Professional Practice Development Officer - Allied Health Professions, at claire.tester@nhs.net on 0131 623 4277 or Michelle Miller, Practice Development Project Co-ordinator, michelle.miller2@nhs.net on 0141 225 6995. 

 

Hard copies of this report can be obtained by e-mailing ahpadmin.qis@nhs.net .

 

NHS QIS have supported a scoping workshop to identify whether further work is required by the organisation in relation to dysphagia following acute stroke.

This report highlights scoping work carried out by the Practice Development Unit, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, with Allied Health Professionals and Nurses in the area of dysphagia following acute stroke. 
As a result of this work, an action group has been convened to develop a programme of Practice Development support for Nurses and AHPs and will meet on 24 April 2007.

This report outlines a review of issues relevant to Allied Health Professionals and Nurses in the management of ankle-foot orthoses following acute stroke.  This scoping work was carried out by the Practice Development Unit, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, in collaboration with the National Centre for Training and Education in Prosthetics and Orthotics, Strathclyde University. 

As a result of this work, a Best Practice Statement on ankle-foot orthoses following stroke will be developed.
This is the second publication of a suite of products entitled ‘The Road to Recovery’.   
 
Click here to download the Ankle-Foot Orthoses Following Acute Stroke – Scoping Report (PDF, 1.11M, 5.23Mins)