Stroke survivors have been left out in the cold when it comes to recovery services - Kelly
Aontú Newry and Armagh Candidate Martin Kelly has said the state of aftercare for stroke survivors is appalling.
Martin Kelly said:
“With so many services still being denied because of the vacuum at Stormont it comes as no surprise that stroke survivors have been left out in the cold when it comes to recovery services here. Many stroke survivors are struggling to access services such as speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and counselling and indeed many people are finding that they have to fight for the rehabilitation and support they desperately need to recover.
“Currently there are over 38,000 stroke survivors in the north. The Stroke Association charity has warned that 59% of stroke survivors feel that they have not received adequate support with their recovery.
“A survey by the Stroke Association found thousands of survivors struggle to access the support they needed. The charity's Lived Experience report found: 20% of stroke survivors here said they did not have the information they needed when they left hospital. Although 86% of survivors were left with mobility problems, 48% said they needed longer or more frequent support from physiotherapy services than was provided. 28% of survivors reported not receiving enough emotional support, leaving them struggling to cope.”
Barry Macaulay, director of the Stroke Association has said:
"Surviving a stroke is the first challenge; recovery is tough, but it's only possible when stroke survivors can access the range of support services that they need, and deserve, to rebuild their lives."
