For this World Stroke Day (29th October) the Stroke Association is focusing on the struggles stroke survivors often face in finding appropriate rehabilitation in recovery.
Stroke survivors, their loved ones and carers say they often feel they don’t know where to turn, just when they are at their most vulnerable – when patients are discharged from hospital.
We have been campaigning for some time on three things we believe are essential to ensure stroke survivors get appropriate rehabilitation support for as long as they need it:
- Leave hospital with a personalised rehabilitation plan
- Have contact information for ongoing support from stroke services
- Receive a review of their progress and needs six months after their stroke
The Scottish Government set out these steps for Scotland’s health boards in its 2023 Stroke Improvement Plan, but two years on they are still very far from the norm.
We know the NHS is under pressure. But we believe improving stroke services is part of the solution. Investing in stroke services has the potential to limit lifelong disability, which, in turn, could significantly reduce reliance on the health and care system.
In the meantime, we are redoubling our efforts to expand Stroke Association support in Scotland, having secured National Lottery Community Fund money to help with that last autumn.
We are aiming to establish stroke support hubs in 10 NHS hospitals by autumn 2027 and working hard to recruit new Community Connectors to lead this charge, especially in harder to reach rural and remote areas.
Clearly this has to be done in conjunction with NHS boards and we’re currently in discussion with a couple where we don’t already have a presence, to explore where support is best provided – in hospitals, in rehabilitation units, or in the community.
Looking to next spring, the Scottish Election is providing us with a golden opportunity to try to ensure that the new intake of MSPs arrive in Holyrood ready to make stroke a priority.
To this end, we are trying recruit “constituency advocates” in each of Scotland’s 73 constituencies – volunteers who are sufficiently engaged with stroke to take a couple of simple steps to make the case for stroke with their local, campaigning political candidates.
We recently ran a survey, which found that more than half (52%) of Scotland’s adults have a close personal connection to stroke – whether having had one, or seen a close friend or relative affected. So we’re hopeful of a good response.
These are important times in stroke and we look forward to working closely with the volunteering community to try to influence politicians to make stroke a priority in our drive to support as many stroke survivors, their families and carers across Scotland as possible.
If you would like to volunteer with the Stroke Association please email engagementteamscotland@stroke.org.uk
If you would like to know more about the free services and support the Stroke Association provides in Scotland, and keep up-to-date with our campaigning, you can subscribe to our six-weekly e-newsletter using this form.
Our World Stroke Day resources – including social media assets – are available at Resources for World Stroke Day | Stroke Association
Stroke Association was an exhibitor in our Health Creation Hub at this years VHS Annual Conference.
