Embargoed until 1am on 5 March 2008
Stroke survivors miss out on vital communication therapy: survey
People who survive stroke are not receiving the speech and language therapy they need to help them cope with their severe communication problems.This is the disturbing finding of a Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) survey of stroke survivors, carried out across England in late 2007.
Over 500 stroke survivors with communication problems following their stroke responded to the survey and described how speech and language therapy had improved their lives.
Two-thirds said speech and language therapy had allowed them to remain independent and over three-quarters that it helped them to understand and be understood by their family and friends.
Over three-quarters said speech and language therapy enabled them to make choices and meet their needs, and more than half said the therapy had helped them to feel less isolated.
A vital service, but too little and too late
Although stroke survivors spoke highly of their speech and language therapy, less than one in five of respondents said they received therapy in the first month following their stroke.
Half said they had to wait over two months for their speech and language therapy to begin. Three-quarters of the stroke survivors said they only received speech and language therapy for six months or less.
Not surprisingly, more than half felt they did not receive enough speech and language therapy.
RCSLT Chief Executive Kamini Gadhok says stroke is the most common cause of major disability in adults in the UK.
"Every year, an estimated 150,000 people have a stroke and a third of them are left with a communication disability as a result.
"Stroke causes a major impact on the quality of life of people of all ages and is an issue we cannot afford to ignore."
Joe Korner, Director of Communications at The Stroke Association comments: "This survey highlights how vital it is for people to get intensive speech and language therapy as soon as possible following their stroke.
"It also demonstrates the importance of long-term support and how much stroke survivors rely on help from local support groups. Sadly, as the results show, all too often speech and language therapy is not available quickly enough and stops too soon.
"The Government's Stroke Strategy has recognised this and calls for every stroke survivor to get all of the rehabilitation they need, for as long as they need it. The challenge is for health providers around the country to deliver this promise."
RCSLT recommendations
The RCSLT calls on Government to recognise that the ability to communicate is a basic human right.
It also says there must be adequate, appropriate and equitable provision of communication support for stroke survivors to meet this right.
Where this provision can be met by speech and language therapists, Government should implement the RCSLT's workforce resource planning guidelines on the level of service necessary to meet this need:
One in 10: in an acute ward there must be one speech and language therapist for every 10 people who have had a stroke.
Communication lifelines: every stroke survivor must have prompt referral to speech and language therapy to allow the rapid development of methods of communication in the immediate days following their stroke.
Community service: every community service team must have a least one speech and language therapist
QUOTES:
"Following stroke I was unable to communicate at all, but this has improved within three weeks thanks to speech therapy." (Stroke Survivor)
"Although the SLTs were very good they did not have enough time to spend with her because of funding." (Stroke Survivor's partner)
The RCSLT and The Stroke Association have stroke survivors willing to share their experiences with the media.
Ends
Notes for editors:
The All Party Parliamentary Groups on Speech and Language Difficulties and Stroke will launch the survey results to ministers and MPs at the House of Commons on 5 March at 4pm. To attend the launch or for more information contact RCSLT Communications Manager Steven Harulow, tel: 0207 378 3004, or email: steven.harulow@rcslt.orgThe RCSLT is the professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK and has over 13,000 members. It is responsible for setting, promoting and maintaining high standards in education, clinical practice and ethical conduct. Visit: www.rcslt.org
The Stroke Association is the only UK charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. The charity funds research into prevention, treatment, better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services which include communications support, family and carer support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. The Stroke Association also campaigns, educates and informs to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society acting as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.
The RCSLT carried out a nationwide survey of stroke survivors in autumn 2007 with support from The Stroke Association, Connect, Help the Aged, Age Concern and Sue Ryder Care. For more information contact RCSLT England Policy Officer Jane Mackenzie. Tel: 0207 378 3020, mob: 0797 370 2772 or email: jane.mackenzie@rcslt.org
For further information please contact The Stroke Association Media Team tel: 020 7566 1500 or email: press@stroke.org.uk
For more information contact Steven Harulow, email: steven.harulow@rcslt.org tel: 020 7378 3004