PATIENTS with conditions such as MS and Parkinson’s Disease are being invited to share their experiences of health and social care services in the Vale of York.
Organisers of an audit of neurological services are hoping their insights and ideas will help provide better care.
Focus groups are being run in York this week and next week by Neurological Commissioning Support (NCS) – a joint initiative from the MND Association, MS Society and Parkinson’s UK – and the North Yorkshire and York Neurological Alliance, so that people can have their say and shape future development of services.
Anyone affected by a condition such as epilepsy, motor neurone disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and brain injury is being invited to participate, including their carers.
About 10 million people in the UK have a neurological condition, with about 62,000 living in the York area.
Marilyn Ekers, acting chair of the Alliance, said: “We want to see people with a long-term neurological condition at the heart of the design, delivery and evaluation of services. By working with health and social care professionals, we can improve services for people who live with a longterm neurological condition.
“This review is a great opportunity to do that, by people talking about their experiences of health and social care services and sharing their ideas about what they’d like to see in the future.
“We do hope people will come to one of the focus groups to contribute to this review.”
Sue Thomas, chief executive of NCS, said: “NCS is delighted to be in Vale of York to facilitate this review of health and social care services.
“In other areas that we have worked, we’ve been able to identify service improvements that could be made to improve outcomes and quality of life for people living with neurological conditions as well as cost-savings for the NHS. We hope to do the same here.”
Focus groups are in York today and also next Thursday, September 12 and Saturday, September 14. To attend one, call 020 7963 3990 or email jane.clarke@csupport.org.uk
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