Press release -
Golden opportunity to improve stroke services
The Stroke Association has welcomed the launch of a new public conversation about improving stroke services across Northern Ireland.
The charity’s Northern Ireland Director Barry Macaulay said: “This is a golden opportunity to develop world class stroke services and improve the quality of life for stroke survivors and their families in Northern Ireland. Ensuring as many people as possible have access to the support they need after a stroke is crucial. It could mean more stroke survivors living independently in their own homes, returning to work and taking control of their lives again.As the voice of stroke survivors across the country, the Stroke Association will support and encourage all those affected by stroke to share their ideas and views during this important process.
“Despite the substantial progress which has been made and the many dedicated health professionals in Northern Ireland, our stroke services are lagging behind other parts of the UK. We know there are dedicated professionals leading the way for stroke treatment across the country, but stroke survivors tell us that there’s not enough practical and emotional support when they leave hospital.
“Recent audits[i] have also found that Northern Ireland has no seven day stroke therapy service, poor access to specialist stroke units, and inadequate rehabilitation and long-term support in the community. Stroke patients living in Northern Ireland deserve better. It’s vital that we have a service which is strategically organised to help people make their best recovery from stroke - from prevention of stroke, to lifesaving treatment and long-term support
“We look forward to working together with our partners in health and social care, elected representatives and stroke survivors and carers to seize this golden opportunity to improve stroke treatment and care for everyone”.
Every year around 4000 people have a stroke or TIA (mini-stroke) in Northern Ireland and there are around 1000 stroke related deaths. There are more than 36,000 stroke survivors in Northern Ireland.
[i] SSNAP Clinical Audit (March 2016) Source: https://www.strokeaudit.org/Documents/National/Clinical/AugNov2016/AugNov2016-PublicReport.aspx
Topics
Regions
- Stroke is the 4th single largest cause death in the UK and 2nd in the world (Stroke Association: State of the Nation 2017)
- A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year; that is around one stroke every five minutes. There are over 36,000 people living with the effects of stroke in Northern Ireland. Every year around 4000 strokes occur in Northern Ireland with approximately 1000 stroke related deaths. Stroke accounts for around 3000 hospital admissions annually in Northern Ireland.
- Stroke Association is a charity. We believe in life after stroke and together we can conquer stroke. We work directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers. We campaign to improve stroke care and support people to make the best recovery they can. We fund research to develop new treatments and ways of preventing stroke. The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk
- For more information on the Stroke Association please contact the Northern Ireland office by calling 028 90508020 or www.stroke.org.uk/ni
