influence and
policy
The news that follow up care given to stroke survivors is patchy is not news to anyone with any experience of the condition. The Care Quality Commission’s review of 151 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England found “inconsistencies” regarding access to rehabilitation services such as speech and language therapy, support for carers, information provision, transfer from home to hospital and provision for the communication needs of people with aphasia. Our work on stroke includes a project looking at ways to improve life after stroke. We talked to survivors who felt abandoned by a health service that could only offer limited access to a trainee speech therapist or a set number of sessions, compared to longer access to more experienced professionals in authorities a few miles away, and frustrated by professionals who would not talk to them, only their carers. Carers told us either that they had received no information about their partner or relative’s condition, or that it had been piecemeal and incomprehensible at a time when they were struggling to deal emotionally with the drastic change to their life circumstances. We saw some wonderful examples of supportive, informative and rehabilitative clubs, many of which were a literal lifeline for survivors and carers bewildered by the disparity of the system on top of the unfairness of their condition. The therapeutic and informative benefits were obvious – meeting with others in a similar position, sharing information and advice and gaining hope and empowerment – and that these inspiring groups should be under threat from budget cuts is absurd. Stroke survivors and their carers are well placed, if they have the requisite information, to say what would be most beneficial to them. Talking to them about what support they need is the first step to addressing the inequalities highlighted by the CQC. I’d like those cutting services to have a few of the conversations we had last summer and see the enormous impact that a little help can have on stroke survivors’ and carers’ lives.
Care for stroke patients needs to improve? That’s not news
Donna Tipping, 12 JanuaryThe news that follow up care given to stroke survivors is patchy is not news to anyone with any experience of the condition. The Care Quality Commission’s review of 151 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England found “inconsistencies” regarding access to rehabilitation services such as speech and language therapy, support for carers, information provision, transfer from home to hospital and provision for the communication needs of people with aphasia. Our work on stroke includes a project looking at ways to improve life after stroke. We talked to survivors who felt abandoned by a health service that could only offer limited access to a trainee speech therapist or a set number of sessions, compared to longer access to more experienced professionals in authorities a few miles away, and frustrated by professionals who would not talk to them, only their carers. Carers told us either that they had received no information about their partner or relative’s condition, or that it had been piecemeal and incomprehensible at a time when they were struggling to deal emotionally with the drastic change to their life circumstances. We saw some wonderful examples of supportive, informative and rehabilitative clubs, many of which were a literal lifeline for survivors and carers bewildered by the disparity of the system on top of the unfairness of their condition. The therapeutic and informative benefits were obvious – meeting with others in a similar position, sharing information and advice and gaining hope and empowerment – and that these inspiring groups should be under threat from budget cuts is absurd. Stroke survivors and their carers are well placed, if they have the requisite information, to say what would be most beneficial to them. Talking to them about what support they need is the first step to addressing the inequalities highlighted by the CQC. I’d like those cutting services to have a few of the conversations we had last summer and see the enormous impact that a little help can have on stroke survivors’ and carers’ lives.
Related opinions