Stroke Care in England

I welcome the Stroke Association’s recent report, Unlocking Potential, which lays bare the unacceptable inequalities in stroke treatment and recovery across England. 

My Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues and I are pushing for wider access to blood pressure checks in pharmacies, libraries, community centres and other public venues; a simple step which could save thousands of lives. 

Our broader health policy is rooted in community care and prevention. Restoring the Public Health Grant would give local areas the power to shape health initiatives which reflect their own needs. We support social prescribing and community-led projects which tackle isolation and promote wellbeing. 

We’ve consistently campaigned for improved stroke care, from early intervention to long-term rehabilitation, which should be accessible to all, not just those living near major hospitals. Rural communities mustn’t be left behind, as they too often are. 

Innovations like pre-hospital video triage (PVT) show what’s possible when patients are prioritised, and rollout of these programmes, wherever clinically appropriate, should be encouraged. 

It’s unacceptable that four in five survivors must pay for their own rehabilitation. Local rehabilitation units, especially in rural areas, must be supported; distant alternatives in urban areas are often prohibitive.