Stroke

A man talking to his nurse

Over 1.2 million people across the UK have had a stroke with many experiencing disabilities or other serious complications as a result.

Our NHS Long Term Plan aims to save thousands of lives over the next 10 years by identifying and supporting those at the highest risk and helping them to manage their conditions.

It will also improve the quality of care and treatment available for those people who do have a stroke through ensuring that high quality, specialist care and treatments, such as thrombolysis (clot-busting drugs) and mechanical thrombectomy (clot extraction), are increasingly available to more patients as part of Integrated Stroke Delivery Networks. These networks will lead a smaller number of more specialist stroke units, that are able to provide a higher quality of care.

Our NHS Long Term Plan will also make sure that people get high quality rehabilitation to help them recover after their stroke and remain as independent as possible.

What we will do

  • Prevent thousands of strokes by identifying and supporting people with atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and high cholesterol (ABC), all of which increase the risk of stroke
  • Make sure that more patients get the best treatment by improving access to ICT and MRI scanning, clot-busting drugs and clot extraction treatment, and train more NHS consultants to offer the latest surgical techniques
  • Increase availability and quality of rehabilitation services, working with the Stroke Association and other partners, so that more stroke patients can leave hospital earlier and make a good recovery at home
  • Create new 24/7 integrated stroke networks across the country to make sure that patients receive high quality care and treatment, sooner.

Putting it into practice – Angela’s story

Angela, 53, was a busy mum of three when she had a life-changing stroke.

She was rushed to hospital where it was confirmed she’s had two strokes.

After returning home a month later, she was supported by the Community Stroke team, receiving physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychological support.

Angela was then referred to the Stroke Association’s Reablement Service, which provides high quality information, practical advice and emotional support.

Through this service, Angela was encouraged to join several groups, where she could meet others affected by stroke and take part in workshops to help with her recovery.

Angela went on to develop a beauty workshop to help stroke survivors who have also lost the use of movement in one side.

Ronnie’s story

Ronnie, a young father of three, was in the gym one Christmas Eve training for a marathon when he felt a sharp pain above his eye. Unbeknownst to Ronnie, he was suffering a stroke. Ronnie was fortunate to quickly receive pioneering mechanical thrombectomy treatment, which led to his recovery.

Ronnie’s story: Stroke – Referral

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rauqjfCNeTA

Ronnie’s story: Stroke – Treatment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac8ypOfXUUU

Ronnie’s story: Stroke – Rehabilitation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on_WR2NULJk

Find out more

Read our case studies about treatment, rehabilitation, and life after stroke.

See what the NHS Long Term Plan says about stroke.

Read about NHS England’s work on stroke.