Stroke Association
@thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
990 followers 64 following 27 posts
Stroke changes lives in an instant, but the brain can adapt. And so can you. We’re here to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Being a stroke charity based in UK, we rarely see a Bluesky, so this will have to do. ☁️

Hi. 👋
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Want to contact our Stroke Support Helpline over the bank holiday weekend? Here are our opening hours:

Saturday: 10am to 1pm
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 10am to 1pm

Our normal hours resume from Tuesday, which you can read more about here: https://bit.ly/3xbnRpI
A young man with short brown hair and glasses holding a handset to his ear, in an office environment.
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Thrombectomy not only saves lives – it restores quality of life. But too many stroke patients miss out on this game-changing treatment, due to service delivery constraints.

Thank you @foysolchoudhury.bsky.social for championing round-the-clock treatment to #MakeStrokeAPriority in Scotland.
foysolchoudhury.bsky.social
Despite a clear commitment to deliver round-the-clock treatment, hundreds of patients are still being denied access to thrombectomy, one of the most effective and time-critical stroke interventions available.

📰 Read my latest article: theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/07/stro...
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Thank you so much for all your continued support!💜
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
To finish, the ombudsman added, clinicians need to act quicker in the event of a stroke, even if the symptoms are atypical, and communication and collaboration need to improve if diagnostic and treatment pathways are going to deliver the best possible outcome for patients.

🧵4/4
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
This increases the risk of death and long-term disabilities such as paralysis, memory loss and communication problems.

Stroke treatment is urgent and time sensitive. No patient should have to endure worse outcomes because of delays to treatment. The NHS needs to learn from these findings.

🧵3/4
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Complaints to the ombudsman of 'missed symptoms' and 'delays to diagnosis' have risen by two-thirds in the last five years, and recent figures show that fewer than half of stroke patients (46.6%) are arriving at a specialist stroke unit within four hours of symptoms starting.

🧵2/4
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Yesterday, the Government announced a new 10 Year Health Plan for England, while a recent headline from The Guardian reinforces why we need it: bit.ly/3IbEGGw

🧵1/4
Headline from The Guardian says NHS repeatedly failing in care of stroke patients, watchdog says
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Personal Independence Payment (or #PIP) is not an out-of-work benefit.

Many recipients of PIP already work…

But the clue is in the title: Independence.

Living with a disability comes with a real financial cost. PIP is supposed to help cover that cost, so disabled people can live independently.
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Every day in the UK, over 240 people wake up after a stroke. Our TV advert captures the catastrophic impact a stroke can have on anyone, at any age, including children.

Our charity is here to help you find your strength through support, no matter how long it takes.

#StrokeAwarenessMonth
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Well done, Tina! Great work.👏👏👏
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
One in four strokes happen to people of working age, meaning some survivors have to endure the cost of ill-health, and pay prescription charges for extended periods.

We welcome the Government's decision to freeze prescription charges and keep the monthly cost below £10.
A blue container with pharmacy bags, and someone rifling through the bags.
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Congratulations to physiotherapist, Lauren Lucas!

Now Dr Lauren Lucas, after passing her PhD viva with flying colours yesterday. 👏

We funded Dr Lucas to investigate the relationships between stroke survivors and their therapists, and the effect it can have on long-term recovery.
Lauren has brown hair and a fringe. She's holding a mug that says Dr Lucas, and she's smiling.
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Hi Dan, thanks for your comment. Sorry to see the exclusion of ME. We should add that the source for this table is the Department of Work and Pensions. These are their figures. We had no involvement with the creation of this list.
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
No one plans a stroke. It comes with enormous physical, emotional, and financial costs.

Already, stroke survivors* struggle to access benefits like #PIP - and these cuts will leave more & more families affected by stroke & disability, with less & less. We must do better.

*Cardiovascular disease 👇
A list of illnesses that will be most affected by cuts to disability benefits with cardiovascular disease ranked third, affecting 95,000 people
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Thank you @andymcdonaldmp.bsky.social for raising the challenges faced by Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital to provide the best quality care for stroke patients and survivors, at #PMQs.

The Government has to #MakeStrokeAPriority in its 10-Year Health Plan. Here's what we recommend: bit.ly/3DqKb2c
andymcdonaldmp.bsky.social
I recently saw the brilliant neurosciences dept at Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital.

But it only has 18 rehab beds when the guidelines say it needs 80 beds.

I asked the PM for the resources to develop a world-class new rehabilitation centre to serve Tees Valley.

#PMQs
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Thanks so much for supporting our efforts to #MakeStrokeAPriority, Sharon!
Reposted by Stroke Association
sharonhodgsonmp.bsky.social
I am proud to support @thestrokeassoc.bsky.social and their work to provide support and campaign on behalf of stroke survivors.
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Without urgent action, the Government will not meet its target to reduce heart attack and stroke deaths by 25% by 2035.

Stroke is preventable, treatable, & recoverable. The Government can unlock this potential by developing a road map for stroke.

Our suggestions, @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social. 👇
Key recommendations: 1) Thrombectomy treatment, 2) investment in community rehab and therapy, 3) dedicated stroke leadership in the department of health, 4) better stroke prevention through NHS health checks
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Later today, Kate will speak in Parliament to discuss the challenges she faced as a stroke survivor in the healthcare system.

If you, like Kate, want to #MakeStrokeAPriority for the Government's 10-Year Health Plan, join our Campaigns Network: bit.ly/4isykzj
I've signed up to campaign, will you?
The General Election is coming. Stroke needs to be a priority for the next Government. Join us.
bit.ly
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
'I have problems with my short-term memory and have really struggled to cope mentally.’

Kate received weekly calls from our support coordinator, Ava, who was a ‘lifeline’.

'She provided the empathy, support and understanding I needed.'
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
'I had to wait 24 hours for a bed, a month for a scan and, had I not have gone private, over a year for surgery.'

Time is crucial for treatment and recovery, as stroke survivor Kate knows all too well.

We need to #MakeStrokeAPriority to build a pathway that transforms lives. 🧵
Kate has dark hair pulled back, and large glasses to help with her post-stroke visual problems (that she no longer has to wear). She's also wearing a black top and looking towards the camera.
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Stroke patients need timely access to vital & life-changing treatments.

Thank you @sarahdykeld.bsky.social for raising ambulance delays in Parliament, and to @ashleydaltonmp.bsky.social for responding - we look forward to working with you to #MakeStrokeAPriority & improve ambulance response times.
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Thank you all so much for your support!💜
thestrokeassoc.bsky.social
Thank you so much for all your support and volunteering, James!