Stroke Association

Vital research for an area of stroke that often goes unspoken about. 💜

Logo for the EASE clinical trial, evaluating antidepressants for emotionalism after stroke.

Are you aged 18 or over? Have you sustained a stroke? Do you suffer sudden onset, uncontrollable crying, or laughter episodes since the stroke? Post-stroke emotionalism is a common problem and at UEA we are conducting ground-breaking clinical research to find an effective medical treatment.

Thanks also to those people who shared their testimonies with @munirawilson.bsky.social to reiterate how great those challenges are.

If you're a stroke survivor or family member who would like to shape the future of stroke care. Join our Campaigns Network today: bit.ly/3Lk2cTj

Thank you @munirawilson.bsky.social for hosting the #WorldStrokeDay debate in Westminster today, and for shining a light on the many challenges that so many stroke patients and survivors are expected to navigate alone, once discharged from hospital.

📢 We need to #MakeStrokeAPriority.

Text says Westminster Hall debate, 28 October 2024 from 4:30 pm until 5:30 pm, World Stroke Day 2025

Investing in stroke prevention, treatment, and rehab NOW could save the NHS tens of billions every year by 2035.

More importantly, it will save lives.

Join @munirawilson.bsky.social live on Parliament TV later today as they discuss the need to #MakeStrokeAPriority this #WorldStrokeDay. 👇

In a study of 29,000 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), medics have shown clopidogrel to be more effective than aspirin at preventing strokes and cardiovascular events, without increasing the risk of bleeding.

A result that could transform health guidelines worldwide. 👇

A young man with short brown hair and glasses holding a handset to his ear, in an office environment.

Want to contact our Stroke Support Helpline over the bank holiday weekend? Here are our opening hours:

Saturday: 10am to 1pm
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 10am to 1pm

Our normal hours resume from Tuesday, which you can read more about here: https://bit.ly/3xbnRpI

Thrombectomy not only saves lives – it restores quality of life. But too many stroke patients miss out on this game-changing treatment, due to service delivery constraints.

Thank you @foysolchoudhury.bsky.social for championing round-the-clock treatment to #MakeStrokeAPriority in Scotland.

Thank you so much for all your continued support!💜

To finish, the ombudsman added, clinicians need to act quicker in the event of a stroke, even if the symptoms are atypical, and communication and collaboration need to improve if diagnostic and treatment pathways are going to deliver the best possible outcome for patients.

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This increases the risk of death and long-term disabilities such as paralysis, memory loss and communication problems.

Stroke treatment is urgent and time sensitive. No patient should have to endure worse outcomes because of delays to treatment. The NHS needs to learn from these findings.

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Complaints to the ombudsman of 'missed symptoms' and 'delays to diagnosis' have risen by two-thirds in the last five years, and recent figures show that fewer than half of stroke patients (46.6%) are arriving at a specialist stroke unit within four hours of symptoms starting.

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Headline from The Guardian says NHS repeatedly failing in care of stroke patients, watchdog says

Yesterday, the Government announced a new 10 Year Health Plan for England, while a recent headline from The Guardian reinforces why we need it: bit.ly/3IbEGGw

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Personal Independence Payment (or #PIP) is not an out-of-work benefit.

Many recipients of PIP already work…

But the clue is in the title: Independence.

Living with a disability comes with a real financial cost. PIP is supposed to help cover that cost, so disabled people can live independently.

Every day in the UK, over 240 people wake up after a stroke. Our TV advert captures the catastrophic impact a stroke can have on anyone, at any age, including children.

Our charity is here to help you find your strength through support, no matter how long it takes.

#StrokeAwarenessMonth

Well done, Tina! Great work.👏👏👏

A blue container with pharmacy bags, and someone rifling through the bags.

One in four strokes happen to people of working age, meaning some survivors have to endure the cost of ill-health, and pay prescription charges for extended periods.

We welcome the Government's decision to freeze prescription charges and keep the monthly cost below £10.

Lauren has brown hair and a fringe. She's holding a mug that says Dr Lucas, and she's smiling.

Congratulations to physiotherapist, Lauren Lucas!

Now Dr Lauren Lucas, after passing her PhD viva with flying colours yesterday. 👏

We funded Dr Lucas to investigate the relationships between stroke survivors and their therapists, and the effect it can have on long-term recovery.

Hi Dan, thanks for your comment. Sorry to see the exclusion of ME. We should add that the source for this table is the Department of Work and Pensions. These are their figures. We had no involvement with the creation of this list.

A list of illnesses that will be most affected by cuts to disability benefits with cardiovascular disease ranked third, affecting 95,000 people

No one plans a stroke. It comes with enormous physical, emotional, and financial costs.

Already, stroke survivors* struggle to access benefits like #PIP - and these cuts will leave more & more families affected by stroke & disability, with less & less. We must do better.

*Cardiovascular disease 👇

Thank you @andymcdonaldmp.bsky.social for raising the challenges faced by Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital to provide the best quality care for stroke patients and survivors, at #PMQs.

The Government has to #MakeStrokeAPriority in its 10-Year Health Plan. Here's what we recommend: bit.ly/3DqKb2c

Thanks so much for supporting our efforts to #MakeStrokeAPriority, Sharon!

I am proud to support @thestrokeassoc.bsky.social and their work to provide support and campaign on behalf of stroke survivors.

Key recommendations: 1) Thrombectomy treatment, 2) investment in community rehab and therapy, 3) dedicated stroke leadership in the department of health, 4) better stroke prevention through NHS health checks

Without urgent action, the Government will not meet its target to reduce heart attack and stroke deaths by 25% by 2035.

Stroke is preventable, treatable, & recoverable. The Government can unlock this potential by developing a road map for stroke.

Our suggestions, @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social. 👇

I've signed up to campaign, will you? The General Election is coming. Stroke needs to be a priority for the next Government. Join us.

Later today, Kate will speak in Parliament to discuss the challenges she faced as a stroke survivor in the healthcare system.

If you, like Kate, want to #MakeStrokeAPriority for the Government's 10-Year Health Plan, join our Campaigns Network: bit.ly/4isykzj

'I have problems with my short-term memory and have really struggled to cope mentally.’

Kate received weekly calls from our support coordinator, Ava, who was a ‘lifeline’.

'She provided the empathy, support and understanding I needed.'

Kate has dark hair pulled back, and large glasses to help with her post-stroke visual problems (that she no longer has to wear). She's also wearing a black top and looking towards the camera.

'I had to wait 24 hours for a bed, a month for a scan and, had I not have gone private, over a year for surgery.'

Time is crucial for treatment and recovery, as stroke survivor Kate knows all too well.

We need to #MakeStrokeAPriority to build a pathway that transforms lives. 🧵

Stroke patients need timely access to vital & life-changing treatments.

Thank you @sarahdykeld.bsky.social for raising ambulance delays in Parliament, and to @ashleydaltonmp.bsky.social for responding - we look forward to working with you to #MakeStrokeAPriority & improve ambulance response times.

Thank you all so much for your support!💜

Thank you so much for all your support and volunteering, James!