Budget sees no help for stroke survivors

DEAR Sir,

Each year 8,000 people a year have a stroke and 1 in 4 of them are under 65. As a stroke survivor myself I urge you to print this letter on the week of World Stroke Day October 29th, to let others know they are not alone and can find support and friendship from other stroke survivors through the Irish Heart Foundation’s network of stroke support groups.

Stroke is unlike any other disease. It can hit anyone, of any age at any time. If it doesn’t kill you it can rob you of your power of speech, leave you paralysed, forced to spend the rest of your life dependent on others. Survivors struggle to get their lives back on track post discharge and those who do return to work can experience a huge loss in income.

There are over 50,000 stroke survivors in Ireland and with modest investment in hospital and community services we could see a life changing impact on many people. It saddens us to see another Budget pass with no investment in services for stroke survivors. Existing funding in vital community rehabilitation programmes provides an average of less than two physiotherapy sessions a year for stroke survivors with often complex physical, communication and psychological difficulties due to their brain injury.

The Irish Heart Foundation has developed a Stroke Manifesto which sets out a rationale for upfront investment in acute, rehabilitation and community services that have been proven to reduce death and disability rates among stroke patients, as well as cutting service costs.

I hope our politicians will listen.

Yours, Bryan Oliver