Results
Response
Between January and March 2006, there were 126 responses
to the stroke care coordinator survey. Of these, forty-six
responders stated that there was no one in tbeir local health
community who fulfilled our definition.The remaining 80
respondents indicated the presence of a possible local community
SCC. Two of these were not followed up because
the identifying clinician suggested that the SCC would
be informed and would contact the research office.
Seventy-eight potential SCCs were therefore contacted
by email or telephone. Six did not respond and 15 were
excluded because they provided either an acute-based
service for inpatients, or were in a solely strategic or
managerial role, with minimal patient contact. A further
14 respondents were in the process of developing the
SCC role by either expanding current duties or crreating/
applying for a new post.
Eorty three respondents met our definition of a community
based stroke care coordinator and were therefore sent
a survey questionnaire. Up to three reminders were sent to
16 SCCs, of whom four did not respond. In total, 39 SCCs
completed part 1 of the questionnaire and, of those, 20
completed the part 2. The majority of SCCs (n^20) were
concentrated in the south of England, seven were in the
Midlands and seven in the North. In addition, there were
three coordinators from Wales, one fix)m Scotland and one
in Jersey. Five of the coordinators based in the South West
of England formed part of a local educational and support
forum specifically for SCCs.