Local MSP Rachael Hamilton met with Stroke Association Scotland to discuss the challenges in Stroke rehabilitation.
Rachael Hamilton has joined with Stroke Association Scotland and called on the SNP Government to take action and improve the level of information relating to the availability and use of stroke rehabilitation services in hospital and the community.
The lack of information available means that it is impossible to know what support stroke survivors are receiving, especially after discharge from hospital.
Stroke Association’s discussions with stroke survivors implies that they are not getting what they need - thus putting their recoveries at risk.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the UK affecting mobility, speech, memory, emotions and behaviour. Often many people cannot go back to work, live in the same house or lead the life they used to.
Rehabilitation helps people get back to independence and regain the everyday abilities and skills they had before their stroke
In Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire there are 2,058 stroke survivors. This makes the constituency the 5th highest out of the 73 constituencies in Scotland for numbers of people living with the effects of a stroke.
Rachael Hamilton MSP said: ‘To give those that have experienced a stroke the best possible chance of recovery and getting back to ordinary life, we need to ensure they receive the rehabilitation services they need.
‘However, until the SNP Government improves the level of information available on stroke rehabilitation services in Scotland, it will be impossible to identify and address any gaps in providing these vital services.
‘This issue is particularly important in this constituency because we have the 5th highest number of people living with the effects of a stroke. And I want people living with disabilities following a stroke to live their lives to the best standard possible. The SNP Government must provide better information.’