CSP welcomes reshaping stroke care consultation in Northern Ireland

Commenting on the Department of Health’s Reshaping Stroke Care: Saving Lives, Reducing Disability proposals, which were announced today to reshape stroke services across Northern Ireland, Tom Sullivan, Public Affairs & Policy Manager for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said:

'Too often, stroke patients leaving hospital are unable to access rehabilitation services to continue their recovery and regain their independence, with devastating consequences for some.

'Waiting too long for vital rehabilitation following a stroke – or missing out entirely – can reverse recoveries and cause lasting damage to a person’s quality of life.

'People in that situation are left facing a distressing future when access to high-quality rehabilitation could have made an enormous difference to their life.

'The launch of this consultation is very welcome and provides a timely opportunity to improve stroke care across Northern Ireland, particularly after people leave hospital. We very much welcome the commitment in the consultation document to 'driving improvement in rehabilitation and long-term support'.  This will help ensure that in the future all patients are able to access specialist physiotherapy services at the right time and for as long as they need them.'  

Notes to editors

1. The consultation document, Reshaping Stroke Care: Saving Lives, Reducing Disability will run for 12 weeks.
2. The CSP's campaign Rehab Matters highlights the importance of community rehabilitation and can be viewed at this location.

For further information contact:-

Tom Sullivan, Public Affairs & Policy Manager

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy NI

email sullivant@csp.org.uk