Younger people whose lives have been touched by a stroke will get the chance to shape their future services, as part of a national pilot scheme.

An open meeting is being held in Bradford next Tuesday when younger people and their carers can talk to other stroke survivors, hear what other groups are doing throughout the country and decide whether a stroke survivors' group should be formed locally.

The meeting stems from a workshop for patients and carers held in Bradford in March, which highlighted the lack of resources and support for stroke survivors, aged under 65.

"People of a working age felt that services for stroke patients were geared up for older people," said NHS workforce designer Philip Shields.

"They wanted something more specific to meet their needs."

Under the NHS Changing Workforce Programme, 13 pilot sites throughout England are looking at new ways of working across a range of specialities.

The aims of the Bradford pilot scheme are to identify problems within local stroke services, address the problems through staff working in new ways and to ensure patients are seen by the right people with the right skills.

The meeting, at the Whetley Hill Resource Centre, is open to all younger stroke survivors and carers.

Anyone wishing to attend should contact Ann West at the Changing Workforce Programme on (01274) 365118 as soon as possible.