Calls for more support for people in Lincolnshire who've had a stroke
Predictions suggest there could be a 50 per cent increase in strokes in the next decade
Last updated 29th Apr 2024
There are calls for more support for people in Lincolnshire who've had a stroke.
The Stroke Association says with an expected 50% increase in strokes over the next ten years, we need better approaches to treatment and recovery as well as greater funding .
Shirley Johnson works for a stroke support club in Lincoln - we spoke to her about the situation.
She told us: "It is important because I had someone phone me the other day who was enquiring for his dad".
"He couldn't get any information from anybody and he said it's so frustrating."
"He told me meeting like minded people would help."
It's just nice to get out and meet other like minded people
"Knowing that you're going to a stroke club - where other people have had strokes and some that are worse than they are - just meeting up can be important."
"There isn't a lot out there."
"So loads of these different groups like Spalding - they just pulled the plug"
"A lot of these groups that were running just don't exist anymore."
"That to me is very sad."
"I think we need more funding put into it."
"What they've struggled with is not being able to get out."
"Some of our stroke sufferers live on their own."
"It's just nice to get out and meet other like minded people."
"It's a lifeline to them."
The Government says it's committed to improving stroke treatment and recovery
The government says it's committed to improving stroke treatment and recovery, and will invest more into prevention and early intervention.
The Stroke Association says:
New analysis by the Stroke Association finds that the number of new strokes will increase by 51% from 100,000 to 151,000 by 2035, costing over £75 billion1 – roughly half the current NHS budget.
The Stroke Association is calling for better approaches to prevention, treatment and recovery from stroke, to be included in parties’ manifestos for the upcoming General Election to reduce the burden of stroke on people’s lives, the NHS and the economy.
A combination of ageing population, lifestyle factors and insufficient action on stroke prevention is set to increase the number of strokes by 51% by 20351.
In turn, the stroke survivor population will increase by 62% from 1.3 million to 2.1 million, nearly matching the current population of Slovenia.
At present, 60% of patients who survive will be left with a disability
Currently, one in four strokes happen to people of working age. 37% of working age stroke survivors give up work following their stroke meaning that by 2035, there will be over 173,000 stroke survivors missing from the workforce.
The current loss of productivity due to stroke is £1.6 billion, which is set to increase by 136% by 2035.
The cost of stroke by 2035 is estimated to exceed £75 billion, which is nearly half of the current NHS budget.
This is avoidable with targeted Government intervention on stroke prevention, treatment and recovery.
Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted by a clot in an artery or a bleed, causing the brain to start to die.
For every minute stroke goes untreated, 1.9 million brain cells die. Last year, only 40% of stroke patients were admitted to specialised stroke care units within the four-hour target, a considerable decline from 55% pre-pandemic.
At present, 60% of patients who survive will be left with a disability.
For many, this means not being able to walk, write, speak or even see or swallow.
Recovery is possible, but often requires rehabilitative therapies such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.
Few patients receive the recommended dose of rehabilitative therapies they need.