Free training on stroke awareness available to care home staff (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Pilot course offers free training on stroke awareness

9:40am Sunday 17th February 2013 in News By Barbara Jordan

ONE person has a stroke every five minutes in the UK.

Free training is now being offered to care home staff in Widnes to ensure stroke survivors receive the best possible support and advice.

Stroke trainer Jane Lewis showed employees the signs and symptoms to watch out for.

She explained the effects a stroke can have on individuals and their families.

Jane, from the Stroke Association, said: “I’m really pleased to deliver the QCF level 2 award in stroke awareness qualification for free.

“It is in line with the Government’s national stroke strategy, which states that there aren’t enough staff with the right mix of skills for stroke care.”

Stroke survivor, Bob Bryant, who founded Halton’s Let’s Go Stroke Club, is delighted that care home residents will now be informed of his club.

It offers practical help and support, social evenings, holidays, trips and caravan respite breaks to more than 200 members.

Bob, of Claremont Road, Runcorn, said: “I am pleased that residents of care homes in Halton will get the benefit of this special training and I extend a warm welcome should they decide to visit the club in the future.”

Jill Maloney, partnership officer at Halton Council, is encouraging care home managers to put their staff forward for the training.

She said: “This free accredited training will help to improve stroke care outcomes as it focusses on what care workers should know and do to make a difference to recovery.”

A stroke is a brain attack which occurs because of a clot or a bleed in the brain, causing brain cells to die.

The Stroke Association hopes to run more courses, following the success of this pilot in Halton. For more information, call Jane Lewis on 0161 742 7476 or jane.lewis@stroke.org.uk.