Stroke patients ‘let down’ in long wait for rehabilitation

MANY STROKE patients are being “let down” as they are being forced to wait for months on end for rehabilitation once they are sent home from hospital, experts have warned.

Some of the life-changing consequences of suffering a stroke, such as weakness or paralysis on one side of the body or problems with moving and performing everyday activities, can be helped with physiotherapy.

But new analysis of services in England shows that some patients are forced to wait for more than four months for physiotherapy once they are sent home from hospital, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said. All patients receive intensive rehabilitation in the immediate aftermath of their stroke before they are discharged from hospital. But a new audit of services shows that many patients face long delays in accessing care once they are sent home.

The CSP warned that waiting for long periods could potentially stall any progress a patient has made or even risks a deterioration in their condition.

The Stroke Association said the findings were “extremely concerning”, as it urged health leaders to come up with a national strategy to improve stroke care for patients in England.

Just 86 out of the 177 clinical commissioning groups which responded to Freedom of Information requests offered an early supported discharge service for stroke patients, or prioritised urgent need.