A number of issues impact all of the stroke pathway. Below we outline our views on these structural challenges facing the world of stroke care.
Health inequalities
Stroke does not affect everyone equally. Research shows that stroke patients from the lowest socioeconomic groups have their first stroke a median of 7 years earlier than those from the highest.
We’re part of a group of 47 organisations calling on the UK Government to prioritise action to reduce health inequalities and ensure the prevention agenda is a key part of the Health Disparities White Paper.
Childhood stroke
Childhood stroke can affect babies (including in the womb), children and young people. More than 400 children are diagnosed with strokes every year in the UK.
Data and AI
Accessible data is at the heart of quality improvement in stroke, allowing policymakers to identify opportunities for targeted policy interventions and monitor stroke outcomes across the country. AI presents vast opportunities for improvements in diagnosis of stroke, assisting with the analysis of scan results, for instance.
Stroke and international development
Our five-year International Strategy (2019 – 2024) will ensure that our international engagement is two-way, bringing benefits to people affected by stroke in the UK, as well as to those across the world.
As a leading stroke support organisation (SSO) we will promote the development of other SSOs across the world and contribute to raising the profile of stroke internationally.
Stroke workforce
The stroke workforce is the backbone of our stroke services. From nurses and physiotherapists to speech and language therapists and social care workers, these individuals work tirelessly in challenging circumstances to provide the best level of care possible.
We are currently in the middle of our biggest ever health and social care workforce crisis. There are over 100,000 vacancies across the NHS in England. With this level of staff shortages, the remaining healthcare staff are placed under extreme and chronic pressure to deliver more care with fewer resources.
Read our policy position on the stroke workforce
Campaign with us
We are the force for change. By listening to and working with people affected by stroke, we can drive improvements in stroke prevention.