North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today sponsored and opened the Wales Stroke Association Summit in the Senedd.
The event is an annual gathering for both people who work in the Stroke sector and those who are affected by Stroke to hear what the Stroke Association in Wales has been working on, celebrate achievements and hear about their plans for the next year.
Mr Isherwood highlighted that there are over 70,000 stroke survivors living in Wales, and an estimated 7,400 people in Wales experience a stroke each year.
He also referred to a recent report by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales on their “National Review of Patient Flow: a journey through the Stroke pathway” which highlighted that, in Wales, stroke provision and outcomes have been in decline since 2019.
He said:
“The Stroke Association is working to support a reduction in the number of Strokes in Wales, and to improve support for stroke survivors and their families across the whole Stroke pathway.
“Stroke is estimated to cost NHS Wales £220 million annually, and for all sectors of the Welsh economy this is a combined cost of £1.63 billion, equivalent to £45,409 per patient in the first year.
“This cost is forecast to rise to £2.8bn by 2035 if no action is taken to mitigate against this.”
He added:
“A recent report by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales on their “National Review of Patient Flow: a journey through the Stroke pathway” highlighted that, in Wales, stroke provision and outcomes have been in decline since 2019.
“The Stroke Association is working to support a reduction in the number of Strokes in Wales, and to improve support for stroke survivors and their families across the whole Stroke pathway.”
Mr Isherwood spoke of the wide range of services for stroke survivors, their carers and families delivered by the Stroke Association, which include commissioned services in five Local Health Boards, 44 stroke groups which are a part of the Stroke Group Network, and universal Stroke Association support services such as their helpline, website and publications.
He added:
“Furthermore, there are other provisions offered in Wales such as group volunteer forums, and campaigns forums.
“These forums ensure that the voice of lived experience is at the heart of all their services and activities.
“They also work closely with Local Health Boards, the Welsh Ambulance Service University Trust, Local Authorities, Welsh Government and other key stakeholders to drive forward improvements and better outcomes for people affected by stroke.”
Mr Isherwood, who has previously spoken in the Senedd Chamber in support of the Stroke Association’s calls for a renewed FAST campaign - Face, Arms, Speech, Time - by Public Health Wales, and for Public Health Wales to commit to running a regular FAST campaign, to improve awareness of stroke symptoms and urge those experiencing these to call 999 as soon as possible’, added:
“In June, last year I visited Buckley Stroke Group with the Stroke Association to learn about their experience of stroke, and subsequently raised the issues in the Senedd they had raised with me.
“Issues raised with me by Stroke Survivors there included lack of joined-up care, although professionals were kind and caring; having a Stroke in England, but not being told what was available when they returned to Wales; trouble getting through to GPs; not being told what happens to you when you have a Stroke; and, when asking their GP if they can see a Stroke Specialist, being told 'Get me a name, and I will refer you’.
“Speaking in the Senedd/Welsh Parliament after my visit, I referred to the Stroke Programme Board’s planned engagement on the future of Stroke Services and asked the then First Minister how he will ensure that the voices of Stroke Survivors and Carers are heard and involved in the co-production of this work.
Mr Isherwood is a member of the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Stroke which was re-established in October 2023.