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Prosthetics Service Survey

9. The Focus Groups

9.1

Focus Groups were also held with service users. These included limb-users who had been injured in the Omagh bomb; members of the Disabled Police Officers Association who were users of the service; and a group of general limb-users.

9.2

The main features of the Focus Group discussions reinforced the outcomes of the patient survey. Specific concerns were raised about the following:

The appearance of the limb and the covering were a real issue for some patients.
The quality of limbs and sockets was highly variable.
There were policy issues which needed to be resolved, such as the provision of flex feet.
Pain was a serious problem for a minority of users.
Information to patients and carers, and to PAM staff in the community needed to be substantially improved.
There was a need for patients to be given greater choice and freedom, with a better attitude towards choice and modern technology.
There was a general lack of awareness by patients as to who could help them in the community.

: Front Page : Contents: Survey : Going to Centre : About Centre : Staff : Treatment : Information : Limbs :
: Verdict : Focus Groups : Quality :
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