Invaluable feedback on charity’s No Life Half Lived strategy

EARLIER this year, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland launched a survey asking for people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions to share their experiences with us.

We want to extend a huge thank you to all those people in Fife who took the time to respond.

This invaluable feedback has helped to shape our new No Life Half Lived strategy, which will inform how we support people living with our conditions to manage their condition day to day and live as well as they can.

Our research highlighted the challenges that people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid are facing.

More than two in five people with our conditions say their conditions impacts their mental wellbeing.

A total of 45 per cent of people with our conditions get referred for rehab.

A total of 47 per cent of people with our conditions say there was support they needed but couldn’t access.

We want to change this.

The good news is that those who have used our services reported better mental health and overall well-being. We’re now focused on expanding our reach. Our new Community Healthcare Support Service model aims to reach 175,000 people in Scotland by 2028 by focusing on supported self management and community recovery.

We also understand the power of simple actions – a cup of tea and a meaningful conversation can the first step in a recovery journey.

Readers who wish to speak to someone about living with chest, heart or stroke conditions or Long Covid, or find out more about support available, can contact our Advice Line on freephone 0808 801 0899 or email adviceline@chss.org.uk.

Together we can ensure there is no life half lived in Scotland.

Jane-Claire Judson,

Chief Executive,

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.