Experts urge stroke service revamp as Covid impact revealed Urgent action needed to avert stroke crisis
Scotland could be heading for a stroke crisis without urgent action, a leading support charity fears.
Research suggests 128,000 people in Scotland currently live with the after- effects of strokes but that could rise by 59% in over- 45s to almost 175,000 by 2035 as the treatment and related costs reach £4.57 billion.
In the run- up to the Scottish parliamentary election in May, the Stroke Association is urging the next Scottish Gover nment to establish a new, progressive service for stroke patients, in which everyo n e re c e i v e s timely access to specialist treatment and rehabilitation support.
The charity’s public affairs officer, Colin Oliver, said: “The fallout from Covid- 19 is going to pose challenges for everyone in health and social care.
“Our Recoveries At Risk report highlighted the real-life impact of the pandemic on people recovering from a stroke. Emerging evidence of links between Covid-19 and stroke means that now, more than ever, a renewed national focus on stroke is needed in Scotland.”
Strokes, which kill 4,000 people in Scotland every year, happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. The impact of the stroke depends on which part of the brain is affected.
Statistics show that almost two- thirds of survivors leave hospital with a disability. As well as a range of physical disabilities, stroke commonly affects speech and communication, thinking processes and vision. A third of survivors experience depression.
Wh e n a s t ro k e h a p p e n s, the absolute priority for the patient is timely access to s t r o ke ex p e r t i s e. The re is unequivocal evidence that highquality acute services reduce deaths and disability.
The Stroke Association in Scotland’s manifesto highlights the impact of strokes and how to build on the current work to improve services. It says strokes must be treated as a priority but Covid has greatly impacted on patient care in the last year.
The charity’s latest report, published in September, suggests the pandemic has affected every aspect of stroke treatment, from delays calling 999, to hospital care and discharge.
Covid has also affected access to rehabilitation and support, resulting in significant challenges for stroke survivors trying to rebuild their lives, according to the report.
Respondents said they felt anxious and concerned about the future, while carers have felt the pressures of lockdown.
Further research suggests the coronavirus could put people at greater risk of having a stroke, due to an increased risk of blood clots brought by the illness.
Oliver added: “We look forward to seeing the draft model for improved Scottish stroke services in the next few months.
“Whatever the outcome of May’s election, we look forward to working with the government to see improvements delivered from hospital care through to rehabilitation and community support.
“The implementation of a new, improved stroke service across the entire pathway from prevention to hospital treatment, rehabilitation and support, in tandem with forthcoming changes nationally to delivery of social care presents an opportunity for the next government to make a profound difference to the lives of thousands of Scots families.”
A new national focus on stroke is needed now