Stroke Association launches Thriving after stroke (Scotland) campaign

The Stroke Association (Scotland) is collaborating on three things they believe will make a huge difference to stroke survivors.

Life after stroke support is a crucial part of the holistic stroke rehabilitation pathway. Core rehabilitation therapies, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, are complemented by other support, including peer support, to address longer-term practical, social and emotional needs.

Life after stroke support can include signposting people to online resources and help in their community, including from charities. Where appropriate, it should also provide emotional support, return to work support and support for carers.

The Progressive Stroke Pathway is a new vision for stroke support in Scotland and was published in spring 2022 to guide Health Boards in transforming stroke services. The Stroke Improvement Plan was published in June 2023 giving a detailed roadmap of how to get there. But some areas are progressing faster than others and there is still much to do.

The Stroke Association (Scotland) is campaigning and collaborating on just three things they believe will make a huge difference to the lives of stroke survivors, their families and carers:

• Thrombectomy 24/7 across Scotland
• Increased psychological (cognitive & emotional) care
• Stroke survivors have access to the rehabilitation and life after stroke support they need

Their ‘Thriving after stroke’ campaign focuses on the third. It aims to raise awareness of why life after stroke support is important and points to three key things that need to happen to drive that provision.

To help everyone to thrive after stroke, ever stroke survivor should:

• 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

Through a review of last year’s Stroke Improvement Programme annual report and some anecdotal evidence, Stroke Association (Scotland) have established that Health Boards have been advancing on this front over the last year or so, but it is very patchy across Scotland.

They hope this campaign will bring everyone in the stroke community in Scotland together, igniting discussion and promoting collaboration that will see change happen quicker.

You can read the full Thriving after stroke (Scotland) briefing here.

The Stroke Association’s Engagement Team in Scotland are in regular contact with Health Board stroke teams to offer a range of support to patients including:

• Their Stroke Helpline ( 0303 3033 100 / helpline@stroke.org.uk ), which provides
  support to anyone affected by stroke, including family and friends. Their friendly team will help find answers on anything about stroke. They also provide information, guidance, and support on practical problems like fatigue, finances, getting back to work, driving and more.
• Their publications, which provide trusted and accessible health information that can help answer a person’s questions and improve their understanding of stroke and its effects. You can also order information in print and alternative format such as braille.
• Their online community, which connects thousands of people in the forums. Chatting to people who understand stroke first hand can help people feel more supported.
• Scotland Stroke Connect Group on Facebook, for both people who have had a stroke and carers.
• Weekly telephone calls through Here For You, which offers a weekly phone conversation with one of their trained volunteers to help people rebuild their life after stroke.
• Health professionals can sign up for Stroke Association Connect to be able to refer patients for a phone call when they leave hospital, to signpost them to ongoing support.

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