House of Commons · Westminster Hall
21 April 2021 · 6 other contributors · 8,748 words
Opened by Bob Neill Con Bromley and Chislehurst
Responding minister: Jo Churchill
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Bob Neill raised concerns about stroke: aftercare in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Neill asks the government to provide effective support and rehabilitation, including personalized long-term care programmes and more integrated services. He seeks details on the timing and resourcing of the upcoming national stroke programme and calls for better recruitment of specialist therapists across all disciplines.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Bob Neill is concerned about the lack of consistent rehabilitation for stroke survivors after initial acute treatment. He cites his wife's experience where she did not receive the recommended level of therapies due to resource limitations, such as shortages in speech and language therapists. He notes that two-thirds of stroke survivors leave hospital with a disability, highlighting the need for long-term care beyond discharge.
Mr Baker highlighted the high incidence of strokes in North Norfolk, citing the worst ambulance response times. He emphasised the importance of early treatment and proposed expanding the use of stroke ambulances for rural areas. Drawing from personal experience, he underscored the need for better prevention, treatment, and care services.
Jim Shannon highlighted the need to increase clot-removing treatment availability and proposed a target of delivering a tenfold increase in thrombectomy procedures. He also raised awareness about stroke symptoms through regular adverts, emphasizing the importance of quick action when someone has a stroke.
Ms Morrissey expressed concerns about the broken care pathways after a severe stroke, praising hospital staff but highlighting shortages in post-stroke rehabilitation workforce capacity. She proposed a strategic recruitment drive for professions such as occupational therapy and speech and language therapy to meet future demands.
Mr Madders thanked the hon. Member for securing the debate, noting increased awareness of stroke symptoms and improved acute care but highlighted the need for better aftercare. He mentioned that 100,000 strokes occur annually in the UK, with two-thirds of survivors leaving hospital disabled, making it a significant health issue despite lower research funding compared to other areas. Mr Madders asked about the allocation of funding under the NHS long-term plan and progress towards meeting its targets.
The MP highlighted the importance of adequate funding for stroke services and aftercare. He noted that Stepping Hill Hospital has been rated the best in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on three occasions since 2015. Public Health England statistics reveal that roughly 57,000 people suffer their first stroke each year, with around 30% experiencing another stroke later. The MP stressed the need for more research funding and highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on charities' fundraising capabilities.
Ms Maskell, a former physiotherapist in the NHS with expertise in stroke rehabilitation, highlighted the importance of public health measures to reduce risk factors such as smoking and poor diet. She expressed concern over the postcode lottery for thrombectomy processes and advocated for integrated care systems to set up clinical networks for strokes, ensuring specialism during the acute phase. Maskell emphasized the need for specialist support after discharge from hospital and called for better training around stroke rehabilitation for GPs and community physios. She also stressed the importance of regular intervention and continuity of care beyond six months.
Government Response
Jo ChurchillCommended the efforts of stroke services and highlighted progress in establishing integrated stroke delivery networks, expanding access to thrombectomy and rehabilitation services, and improving data collection for better patient care. Mentioned the importance of a needs-based approach and patient-led reviews. Noted that there are now 20 integrated stroke delivery networks operating across the country, with Norfolk and Norwich being one of the pilot areas for non-neuroscience centres to deliver thrombectomy. Discussed the expansion of disability-reducing treatments like mechanical thrombectomy and thrombolysis, as well as increased access to rehabilitation services. Announced funding for research into stroke areas, quality improvement projects, and recruitment drives for allied health professionals including speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.