Post-stroke care is in crisis as two thirds of survivors don’t get structured support, reveals the Stroke Association on World Stroke Day

Post-stroke care is failing to help thousands of stroke survivors recover as the number of patients receiving vital six-month reviews is at the lowest rate for over half a decade.

Every day in the UK, 240 people of all ages wake up to the impact of stroke unable to move, see, speak, or even swallow. It is the leading cause of complex adult disability and also the fourth leading cause of death in the UK today. Many stroke survivors need long-term robust support to recover and live well, which should be regularly assessed following a patient’s discharge from hospital. This includes a consultation after six months to discuss their individual progress and ongoing needs.

However, the latest data from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) for April 2024 – March 2025 found that only 35.1% of patients had this vital six-month review – which is the lowest in six years.¹

The latest SSNAP data looking at patient recovery at these six-month reviews also found 64% of stroke survivors had ongoing problems doing their usual activities, 47% had anxiety or depression, and 62% struggled with mobility. This highlights the need for quality support in the right quantity to meet the needs of each person.

In addition, clot-busting thrombectomy² – which can greatly reduce the chances of a stroke survivor being left with a disability - is reaching less than half of all eligible patients. Although the number of people having this procedure is slowly increasing, it continues to be monopolised by an unfair postcode lottery which limits when and where this lifechanging and lifesaving treatment is available for stroke patients.

The Stroke Association is concerned that thousands of stroke survivors fail to get the help they need to mentally and physically recover from stroke, as set out by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the national clinical guidelines for stroke.³

The charity says that one of the reasons for this is the stretched NHS workforce and huge number of vacancies across multidisciplinary teams which support stroke survivors. It hopes the Government’s upcoming NHS Workforce Plan, currently under consultation, will help ensure stroke survivors to have bespoke and consistent support throughout their recovery.

This comes on World Stroke Day (Wednesday 29 October) and in the wake of a recent survey which found that the nation is woefully unaware of stroke, and the lifelong impact it can have on the UK’s increasing number of stroke survivors.

The UK survey of 2,000 members of the public and 1,000 stroke survivors⁴ found that 64% didn’t know that stroke is the UK’s leading cause of complex adult disability. In fact, nearly two thirds (60%) of stroke survivors are left with a disability⁵– which is more so than neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, arthritis or some types of cancer.

In addition, 27% of those surveyed believe more people die from stroke than survive it. Today, more people are having strokes and surviving them⁶ and many of the UK’s current 1.4 million stroke survivors are living with lifechanging disabilities.

The survey also found that only 19% thought stroke survivors need long-term rehabilitation and recovery support with 25% thinking it took six months or less to recover. Conversely, around 30% of stroke survivors said their recovery took longer than expected or that the process was worse than they thought, and they didn’t recover as much as they had hoped.

Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association, said: “Stroke changes a person’s life in an instant with far-reaching repercussions for many. It requires treatments including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and mental health support. The fact that 65% of stroke survivors don’t get this is truly shocking and demonstrates the dire state stroke treatment and ongoing care is in.

“As around 90% of strokes are preventable, we also need the public to know how to reduce their risk of stroke by exercising regularly, eating healthily, not smoking, and monitoring alcohol intake. This all helps regulate blood pressure, a major risk factor for stroke.

“Stroke must be prioritised by Governments and the NHS from prevention to diagnosis, treatment and long-term recovery. Only then will stroke patients get the treatment they need, whenever they need it, so the increasing number of UK stroke survivors can live mentally and physically well.”

Patsy Hyman, 58, from Hounslow had a stroke in May due to a previously undiagnosed hole in her heart, called a PFO. After having problems with her vision, she went to A&E where an MRI confirmed her diagnosis. She spent a week on the stroke ward before being discharged home. Fortunately, she was left with minimal physical side-effects, but she had crippling fatigue and poor mental health.

Initially, Patsy was supported by the Stroke Association’s NHS-commissioned services but, when funding for this service ceased, Patsy was left without any ongoing support, including no six-month review.

Patsy said: “Even though I’m one of the lucky ones, recovery doesn’t stop when you leave hospital. In fact, that’s when you really need someone to turn to and, without consistent follow-up, people can feel lost. You can look fine on the outside, but there’s so much more going on underneath.

“Stroke isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Every stroke survivor is different, and they should be supported for as long as they need it. I’m so grateful for the help I received from the Stroke Association, but now that the service has been shut down, I can’t help feeling robbed of the future support I could have had. It’s really sad to think others won’t get it, either. The right support helps you rebuild your life, and that’s something every stroke survivor should have.”

The Stroke Association supports stroke survivors and their families by phone, at home, and in the community. Find out more at www.stroke.org.uk

ENDS

For more information, contact: Jude Clay, PR Manager at the Stroke Association on 07834422040 or jude.clay@stroke.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1: SSNAP data on how many eligible patients had six-month reviews:

2: Thrombectomy is a simple procedure which removes the blood clot which caused stroke, therefore restoring normal blood flow. It is most effective with 4.5 hours of the onset of stroke to save lives and reduce disability. The latest SSNAP data found that only 4.36% of eligible stroke patients had a thrombectomy in 2024/25 - an increase from 3/86% in 2023/24, 3.10% in 2022/23 and 2.46% in 2021/22.

2024/25 - 35.10%

2023/24 - 38.80%

2022/23 - 39%

2021/22 - 40.90%

2020/21 - 42.70%

2019/20 - 40.60%

2018/19 - 33.70%

2017/18 - 33%

2016/17 - 33.20%

2015/16 - 29.2%

2014/15 - 22.70%

2013/14 - 19.90%

The data on patient progress measured at six-month reviews is from the SSNAP Spotlight Report 2023/24: SSNAP-Annual-Report-2024-Outcomes-Spotlight-Report.aspx

More information on the procedure can be found here: https://www.stroke.org.uk/stroke/symptoms/treatment/thrombectomy

3: NICE guidelines: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng236 and National Clinical Guidelines: https://www.strokeguideline.org/

4: An online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 3,006 respondents from across the UK. Of these, 2,004 were members of the public and 1,002 were stroke survivors. The research fieldwork took place on 10^th September – 15^thSeptember 2025. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.

5: Complex disability in defined as a person having two or more co-occurring conditions that significantly impact daily life, requiring specialised and ongoing support. https://www.stroke.org.uk/10-Year-Health-Plan

6: NHS England Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) data found that the total number of stroke survivors in England has risen by 2.47%, from 1,175,341 in 2023/24 to 1,204,419 in 2024/25 https://qof.digital.nhs.uk/ This is a 2.47% rise in the last year