Health services face ‘major challenges’
He said: “I really miss the social side of the group and miss seeing everyone. It’s great that Lynne from CHSS calls us, we look forward to her call and it’s reassuring to know we still have that contact and help.
“Any contact at this time means such a lot and it’s important that people who have had a stroke are still able to access the help and support that they need.”
The charity has launched their No Life Half campaign, calling on all political parties to pledge their support for expanding its Hospital to Home services for chest, heart and stroke conditions in the next Scottish Parliament.
Lawrence Cowan, campaigns director, at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: “This report shows that we’re making progress in helping people to survive. But it’s also a big warning sign of the major challenges facing our health services for years to come.
“From the figures we can see that even before the pandemic, the number of people whose lives were changed by stroke and heart failure is the highest in a decade. Hospital discharges for stroke, heart failure and heart attacks are also up.
“That means more people are being treated compared to 10 years ago and more people are leaving hospital needing support to live well at home.
“Many people are leaving hospital scared and alone – not knowing where to turn. If we don’t give people the right support in the community they are more likely to end up back in hospital or needing more complex care.
“Urgent action is needed to avoid plunging our health services into a permanent state of crisis. We need to better join up the work of the NHS, social care and charities like ours. This approach keeps people well at home, saves lives and protects the NHS.
“It needs to be the standard way that we care for people across the country – but thousands of people are currently missing out.”