Assembly Members called to account for stroke

Urgent stroke issues facing the people of Wales should be the focus of pre-National Assembly election debates, says The Stroke Association as it launches its Welsh Manifesto for the 2007 National Assembly elections.

"Stroke is the third biggest killer in the country and with Wales' ageing population, experts agree that the incidence of stroke can only increase over the next few years. But it needn't be this way." Comments Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of The Stroke Association. "Forty per cent of strokes could be prevented, and with better healthcare mortality rates could be dramatically reduced. That's why it's essential that all the candidates in the forthcoming National Assembly Election are called to account on what they will do to improve stroke prevention and services."

With the recent welcome publication of the Welsh National Service Framework for Older People and its section focussing on stroke, it is a very good time to be seeking support for the concrete measures that are needed if the implementation of the NSF is to be a success.

The Stroke Association is calling on all political parties and candidates in Wales to address the massive inadequacies in public awareness of stroke, the huge lack of investment in research and deficient levels of stroke care and services. These failings are causing thousands of people to suffer or die unnecessarily.

The Stroke Association's Welsh manifesto calls for immediate action on the most urgent stroke issues. The NSF has set out the improvements needed in stroke care in Wales. Now, The Stroke Association calls on all political parties in Wales to confirm their commitment to improving the lives of stroke survivors through:

• Prioritising stroke as a medical emergency
• Improving public awareness
• Improving access and reducing the time from onset of stroke symptoms to brain scans
• Ensuring that all stroke patients are treated in a stroke unit
• Ensuring that local rehabilitation services in Wales are developed to meet the needs of stroke survivors
• Ensuring more funding for all aspects of stroke research in Wales

"The Stroke Association listened to the needs and concerns of everyone affected by stroke in order to produce this vital manifesto. It clearly sets out the key messages we all believe political parties should endorse and work to achieve, whether in the National Assembly for Wales or opposition" comments Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of The Stroke Association. "There is urgent work to be done. The Stroke Association urges that these issues are addressed and thoroughly debated to reach our vision of a world where there are fewer strokes and all those touched by stroke get the help they need."

Minister for Health and Social Services Dr Brian Gibbons said: "As The Stroke Association recognise, the Welsh Assembly Government is already taking action to improve access to integrated and effective services for people with strokes. The National Service Framework (NSF) for older people, which was launched in March, includes a specific standard focusing on stroke. The NSF will help to drive up quality services for stroke patients of all ages by improving awareness of stroke symptoms, improving access to specialist acute stroke services, rehabilitation and longer term multi agency support, including those provided by voluntary sector agencies such as The Stroke Association."

For further information please contact Cat Griffith, Public Affairs Officer for Wales at The Stroke Association on 029 20 521 495 or email Cat Griffith

Notes to editor

1. The Stroke Association Manifesto for Wales Launch will take place from 12pm - 1pm, Wednesday 28 June 2006 at the National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay.

2. Christine Gwyther AM will be hosting the manifesto launch at the National Assembly for Wales, and speakers at the event will include: Brian Gibbons Minister for Health and Social Services, Professor Dafydd Thomas, MA, MD, FRCP, Senior Lecturer in Neurology at Imperial and University Colleges, London and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Joe Korner Communications Director, The Stroke Association.

3. Clinicians and other health stakeholders in Wales will also attend the launch. Every five minutes someone in Wales has a stroke. Almost one in four men and nearly one in five women aged 45 can expect to have a stroke if they live to 85. Yet, there is an alarming lack of awareness among people in Wales as to the risks, and recent reports show that current strategies are failing stroke survivors. We are launching this manifesto to set out the steps that need to be taken to improve the stroke services in Wales.

4. We run a national Stroke Information telephone helpline 0845 30 33 100.

5. Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.

6. The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.

7. A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

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