Major failings in stroke services in England are identified in a new study of both patients who have had a stroke and their carers. Although many patients received good quality care, patients' and carers' heartfelt descriptions of poor or non-existent treatment, lack of information and support, and difficulties with both diagnosis and rehabilitation, paint a bleak picture of NHS services.
The study was commissioned by the Research Unit of the Royal College of Physicians in association with Different Strokes and the Stroke Association. National clinical guidelines for stroke are being drawn up and it was decided that patients' views would be just as important as research evidence in deciding how stroke services should be run. This is the first time that patients' views have been incorporated into evidence-based guidelines.
This submission was included:
"Different Strokes estimates that there are about 1,000 strokes in people under the age of 30 year in the UK. Young patients are faced by a lifetime of living with the aftermath of stroke with its impact on family, education, work and social relationships.
Rehabilitation needs to maximise the potential of young stroke survivors to return to independent living. Because stroke is considered to be predominantly a disease of old age, younger patients have reported to Different Strokes particular difficulties with services as they are currently provided.
At first onset of stroke, some health professionals appeared not to believe that stroke could affect young people, and ascribed the symptoms to other conditions, from migraine to drunkenness.
Young adults with stroke often report distress at being admitted to and cared for on elderly care wards.
Existing discharge advice and information is often designed to meet the needs of older people, when the goals of young stroke survivors may involve needs for re-education, retraining and re-employment within significant family lifestyle changes. Leaflets on a variety of topics of particular relevance to young stroke survivors are produced by Different Strokes."
The report is only available from the RCP Publications Department on 020 7935 1174 ext.358 and costs £8.50 inc. p&p or £7.00 if collected in person.
