Stroke Association

New figures show ongoing failure to deliver life-changing stroke treatment, with Scotland lagging far behind rest of the UK

12 August 2025 18:41

John Watson, Associate Director for the Stroke Association in Scotland, said:
“Stroke is Scotland's third biggest killer, and the leading cause of complex adult disability. But the latest official figures1 show the ongoing failure of health boards to make stroke the priority it needs to be.
“The failure is most striking in thrombectomy, a life-saving, life-changing treatment that should b

Bearded man wearing yellow jacket with his dog on top of a mountain

Proposed Long Term Conditions Framework risks hard-won progress in stroke policy

17 July 2025 11:59

The Stroke Association has responded to a Scottish Government consultation on its proposed Long Term Conditions Framework

Smiling suited man in front of Stroke Association banner

Shetland MSP to host Scottish Parliament event to highlight thrombectomy postcode lottery

4 June 2025 15:53

Beatrice Wishart MSP is hosting an event with the Stroke Association and Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland at the Scottish Parliament on 12th June, to bring the plight of stroke survivors across Scotland to the attention of Members of the Scottish Parliament.
Around 10,000 Scottish residents have a stroke every year and the latest figure for Shetland is 37 islanders had a stroke in 20231.

Scale of stroke in Dumfries & Galloway prompts call for volunteers to help provide support

30 May 2025 15:44

The latest statistics on the scale of stroke in Dumfries and Galloway show 325 people had a stroke in 20231, with admissions across both Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary and Galloway Community Hospital.
The Stroke Association estimates that 60%2 of these people will be left with some form of disability, while the charity’s research has found that 75% are likely to experience mental he

Scale of stroke in Fife prompts call for volunteers to help provide support

30 May 2025 15:36

The latest statistics on the scale of stroke in Fife show 759 people had a stroke in the area in 20231.
The Stroke Association estimates that 60%2 of these people will be left with some form of disability, while the charity’s research has found that 75% are likely to experience mental health issues3.So, for Volunteers’ Week, the Stroke Association is calling for new volunteers to come forward

Local politicians turn out to support Stroke Association volunteers

13 May 2025 16:06

This month is Stroke Awareness Month and members of the Stroke Association’s Clackmannanshire Stroke Support Group are in various locations around the Wee County to raise awareness of the condition and the support available to stroke survivors in Scotland.
They were in Alloa Library last week where they welcomed Brian Leishman MP, who heard about the scale of stroke in his own constituency and

Stirling sisters honour mum by raising more than £20k for Stroke Association

12 March 2025 16:55

Sisters Kirsty and Shirley Macgowan remember when their mum died of a stroke with immense sadness. She was only 62 and seemed well, from keeping fit and healthy. In fact, she had been out on her bike the day before she had a stroke.
That was 23rd July 2008, and they still feel their mum, Molly’s loss keenly. The sisters say, “Mum's stroke was so sudden and unexpected - it made us realise how li

Stroke Association marks World Stroke Day highlighting the importance of peer support

29 October 2024 10:57

.A new poll for the Stroke Association found that one in five stroke survivors (18%) said talking to other stroke survivors was the single most important part of their recovery1.

Stroke charity welcomes honest appraisal of Scottish stroke services being held back by wider hospital systems failures

30 July 2024 11:06

Stroke is one of the biggest killers in Scotland, and the leading cause of adult disability, but these figures show Scotland’s health boards are still struggling to provide pre-Covid levels of stroke care with catastrophic impact on stroke survivors and their families.

Campaigners raise alarm over Scotland’s high stroke numbers

24 January 2023 13:18

Responding to the latest annual Scottish Stroke Figures, the Stroke Association has expressed concern that people in Scotland are much more likely to have a stroke than those in the rest of the UK.
The latest data from Public Health Scotland suggests that the incidence rate for stroke (adjusted for age and sex) has decreased by just 2.4% since 2012/13.
John Watson, Associate Director for the

Stroke Prevention Day 2022: Nine out of ten stroke survivors would warn their younger self to change their lifestyle

14 January 2022 00:01

Anna Richardson: When I found out that up to 90% of strokes can been prevented by making healthier lifestyle choices, it certainly gave me the nudge I needed to overhaul my own lifestyle.

Stroke Association response to England December 2021 ambulance response times

13 January 2022 17:34

More than 40,000 who called 999 in December 2021 waited nearly two hours for an ambulance with an emergency condition such as stroke, today’s figures show.

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