A charity has called on the the Scottish Government to be bold in prioritising stroke rehabilitation

A charity has reported a rise in Scots living with the effects of a stroke.

On World Stroke Day (Tuesday 29 October), Scotland’s largest stroke care charity, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland is making an urgent appeal for the Scottish Government to be bold in prioritising stroke rehabilitation.

The call comes as new analysis of NHS figures reveals that the number of people in Scotland living with the effects of stroke has increased by 15% over ten years to its highest level this decade.

NHS Scotland figures show that in 2018/19 128,949 people in Scotland were living with the impact of a stroke – 16,346 more than in 2009/10.

The charity warns that without proper support, Scottish stroke survivors are missing out on the chance to live life to the full after their stroke. It is urging ministers to commit to introducing a Right to Rehab for survivors which would see:

• Increases in specialist nurses and NHS rehabilitation staff like physios and speech and language therapists.

• Funding to increase home and community-based rehabilitation support offered by third sector organisations.

• Better coordination between NHS and Council services and third sector community services like support groups and teams who give regular personal support to survivors.

NHS Scotland’s Stroke Care Audit also highlighted unequal access to stroke rehabilitation programmes that help get patients out of hospital and back home to rebuild their lives.

Chief executive of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, Jane-Claire Judson, said: “We’ve clearly made progress helping people survive strokes in Scotland – but there isn’t enough support to help them really live.

“Stroke survivors tell us that they get so much care in hospital, but once they come out they feel alone and need help.

“Quick access to physios and speech and language therapists is patchy across the country and there is nowhere near the integration needed between NHS, councils and charities to properly meet demand.

“The Scottish Government needs to be bold and commit to delivering a Right to Rehab in Scotland. That will give every stroke survivor in Scotland a guarantee of equal access to support that helps them get back to the things they love doing.

“This is the next bold policy reform needed in our health and care services.”

Darlene Drummond is the lead rehabilitation support coordinator for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland in Tayside. They are running a pilot rehabilitation support project that works closely with NHS teams to help stroke survivors make the transition from hospital to home.

She said: “Team work is so important. By working closely with the teams across NHS Tayside our pilot project is really helping people to build their confidence to leave hospital and get back home.

“Then once they’re home we work with them to get back to living life – it could be getting back to the garden, making a cup of tea or getting out to the shops.

“If we could replicate that teamwork and integration right across Scotland it would make a huge difference to stroke survivors in Scotland.”

Paula Leask had a stroke when she was 29 years old. It happened when she was ceilidh dancing with her husband at a friend’s wedding in 2015, when she suddenly started to feel dizzy and collapsed. During her recovery, Paula received care and support from Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland Nurses at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin. Paula, now helps other stroke survivors as rehabilitation support coordinator at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland. She said: “I was in such a dark place after my stroke but I managed to get through it because of the love and support of amazing people around me.

“The rehabilitation support I got was so important to my recovery. It really is the difference between just getting by and really living.

“I’m now helping stroke survivors and their families at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and it feels like an incredible place to be.

“Now that I’m am in a better place physically and emotionally and made it to the other side it feels so important to me that I help someone in their recovery like I was helped in mine.

“I want to give people hope for the future and help them move forward with their lives.”