2006 Conference

The Carer Questionnaire Project aims to identify the timeliness, quality and different types of information carers receive regarding their relatives’ cardiac condition. It seeks to discover the perceptions and experience carers have had regarding the following:

  • Being present at the patients’ diagnosis and understanding the impact it had on their future lives.
  • Awareness of the organisations or authorities, Age Concern PALS, Citizens Advice Bureau and the Social Services Carers Team and the support these organisations can provide to the patient and carer.
  • Were the needs of the carer considered and information provided?
  • Involvement of carers in the discharge planning process
  • If the home care provided met the needs of the patient and carers

The questionnaire was developed in collaboration with the project team above: a patient who had undergone Cardiac Surgery and a Researcher for advice. The questionnaires were piloted with a number of carers who were caring for people with Coronary Heart Disease. The questionnaire was amended following the comments we were given regarding the questionnaire during the piloting phase. We ain to disseminate the findings widely and to influence practice. Information need and the role of the carer will be discussed.

Authors

Griffiths ~ May

Primary Care Research in Manchester Engagement Resource (PRIMER), University of Manchester. May has been a PRIMER member since 2008. She is a former full time carer of her husband who had cardiovascular problems. She completed an MA dissertation in identifying health effects of carers living with long term conditions, and co-led research into needs of carers living with coronary heart disease.

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Lynch ~ Kerry

Carers Development Officer, Blackpool Social Services, Kerry Lynch is a Carer Development Officer based in the Blackpool Social Services Department. Her role is to raise awareness of the role carers play in caring for the person, ensure carers rights are promoted, influence carer leaflets and information and identify previously unknown or new carers across the Blackpool area.

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Swithenbank ~ Lesley

Service Improvement Manager, Lancashire and South Cumbria Cardiac Network. Lesley Swithenbank has spent most of her career in Primary Care. As an experienced Practice Nurse and through own personal experience has in depth knowledge of the impact caring for people with Chronic Disease has on the carer and family. Lesley now works with the Cardiac Network across the Fylde Coast.

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