A colleague has sent me this link to an article in the Nursing Times which serves to highlight two major gaps in stroke care:
1. The growing gap between the improving quality of acute stroke care in hospitals and the pitiful level of rehabilitation available through the NHS and social care on discharge from hospital
2. The gulf between the aspirations of dedicated professionals and what is provided in reality on the ground by way of rehabilitation for stroke survivors.
If you want to read the words of one of those professionals expressed with some passion simply click on the Contribute to this Blog tab above.
Meanwhile in more upbeat news, the George Mackay Brown Fellowship has decided to award a “Highly Commended” to my short story, Spirit of Fako. In due course, I will add a link to this blog which will alow you to read the story.
Today the press and other media are full of reports that exercise after stroke and heart attacks is as beneficial as medication – this feels to me like a statement of the bleedin’ obvious – but a word of caution. Every stroke is different – and this is not always something that is brought out in media coverage. For example, there are many stroke survivors out there who are very limited in the amount of exercise they are able to take. For them it can be quite frustrating to read such reports. Then again, there is no doubt that exercise is a great way to attack that other curse of stroke survivors – depression. I wonder how many GPs will now prescribe exercise as something to be taken alongside medication.
Eric Good to read these bits of information. I am learning all the time. The reference to stroke victims being prone to depression makes me anxious for Angus F amongst others but funnily enough my earliest experience of a stroke victim was a fellow pilot maybe 30 years of age, who was so cheerful and happy after this experience that I would underline in my own mind your comment that every stroke patient is different. Thanks again for all that you are doing in parliament to emphasise the need for better understanding of the stroke treatment needed. Good wishes John
Eric Thank you for keeping us all informed. I have place a comment on your blog. Good wishes John