MORE than a third of stroke survivors in the West Midlands say they ‘feel abandoned’ when they leave hospital according to the latest statistics.
The Stroke Association figures released as part of Stroke Awareness Month also show almost half of the region’s survivors left hospital without a care plan meaning they did not have the support in place they needed for their recovery.
More than half say they were not contacted by a healthcare professional on their return to home and 39 per cent say they did not receive their vital six-month assessment of their health and social care needs.
Jon Barrick, chief executive at the Stroke Association, labelled the findings ‘deeply concerning’ and said although major strides had been made to the way stroke was treated in hospital, the same was not true when stroke survivors returned home.
“No one plans for a stroke, but the Government can, and should, ensure that the right care and support is there when people need it most.”
In light of the figures the charity, which built the UK’s first Life After Stroke Centre in Bromsgrove, is launching a major new campaign.
A New Era for Stroke calls on the Government to commit to a new stroke strategy.
The current ten-year National Stroke Strategy for England ends next year and the charity warns survivors’ recovery will continue to be put at serious risk unless the Government commits to a new strategy.
“Stroke survivors have told us that they have had to wait weeks – and in some cases months – for the support and therapy they need to rebuild their lives.
“For too many people, their support comes too late, it stops too soon, or they don’t have access to all types of therapy they need,” Mr Barrick added.
He said the charity successfully campaigned for the first strategy ten years ago which led to dramatic improvements in the way stroke was treated in hospital but, he added, this had not been carried through to the support offered when people returned home.
The charity has launched a new public petition calling on the Government to commit to a new stroke strategy.
“The Government has said they don’t have plans to renew the stroke strategy, yet half (51 per cent) of stroke survivors in the West Midlands have said a national plan is needed.
“That’s why we’re urging people to sign our petition calling on the Government to bring in a new era for stroke.”
Visit www.stroke.org.uk/newera to sign the Stroke Association’s petition for a new stroke strategy.
