Save Care in the Community

The Health Authority as we know are suffering financial hardships and the Primary Care Trust
for Watford/3 Rivers have decided in order to alleviate this situation they should cut further, our
Community Services. This will mean there will be no longer any Community Care in Hertfordshire for Stroke Sufferers or their carers.

Stroke is the third largest killer and the single largest cause of disability in the UK. The Stroke Association Dysphasia Support Service has been in Watford working with the community for ten years. This service is funded by the Health Authority and works to help stroke sufferers who have been left with speech and language difficulties following a stroke. As you can imagine living alone or in care with not only a physical disability but also being unable to speak, read or write is extremely frustrating. Our service works along with a team of dedicated volunteers, who work with patients to improve their speech and language, confidence and help build relationships with other stroke sufferers to enable them to attain their maximum possible recovery. Over the years we have all worked tirelessly in our community to raise awareness of strokes, providing talks on the prevention of strokes, free blood pressure checks in the Harlequin Centre and provide access to literature and support. Without the pressure of the stroke association on Parliament we would not now have Stroke Units and dedicated staff in all hospitals. This service has helped hundreds of stroke suffers and their carers in the community to deal with this debilitating disability.

Closing this service will have a devastating effect on our community. The health authority are using the cuts in our community care as quick fix but the long term effects will be immense as we have seen following cuts in the past.

Please sign the petition below to show your support for this worthy cause. Thank you.

For further information on this campaign please contact, Pat Storey Dysphasia Support Organiser on 01923 246782 or email at [email protected]