By Isle of Wight Observer
A vital support service for stroke survivors, cut due to budget constraints, is set to return to the Island after a new funding agreement between NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight and the Stroke Association.
The service, which closed in March 2023, had supported over 3,000 island residents in their recovery journeys, providing guidance to patients and their families on issues like post-stroke fatigue, memory problems, and practical issues such as driving or accessing benefits.
From April, stroke survivors on the Island will once again benefit from the Life After Stroke service, a move welcomed by Chris Messer, a 74-year-old stroke survivor who had campaigned to reinstate the programme. Chris, who lives in Winford, shared how the service helped him and his wife, Joeley, cope after his stroke, calling its return “marvellous news”. He said: “ the treatment I received St Mary’s Hospital was excellent, but once I came home Joeley and I would have had real difficulty coping.
“You have a massive stroke, and then you’re released from hospital and you’re on your own and you feel lost. You don’t know what the next step is without the Stroke Association.”
The Island’s ageing population means the rate of people living with long-term stroke effects is around 50 per cent higher than the national average. The reintroduced service aims to bridge this gap, ensuring ongoing care and reducing the likelihood of further strokes.
Garry Jopling of the Stroke Association commended the NHS for prioritising this initiative despite financial pressures, calling it vital to ensuring equitable support for stroke survivors across the region.
For more information, contact Martin Oxley at martin.oxley@stroke.org.uk.
Mal Butler