Embargoed until 00.01 28 May 2008
The Lost Without Words campaign:
Call to Assess the Needs of Stroke Survivors with
a Communication Disability
Voluntary and professional bodies in Scotland are today calling on The Scottish
Government to give greater attention to stroke survivors with a communication
disability and recognise ongoing communications support as a service that must
be fully integrated into the stroke care pathway. This call is informed by The Stroke
Association's UK Lost Without Words report which is of direct relevance to Scotland.
The Stroke Association, Chest,
Heart and Stroke Scotland, Speakability and The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
in Scotland are joining forces to urge for incidence of stroke-related
communication disabilities to be reliably collected through for example, The
Scottish Stroke Care Audit. We are also calling
for clear referral procedures into communications support services to ensure
stroke survivors with a communication disability are receiving the service as
and when they need it for as long as they need it.
Maddy Halliday, Director Scotland of The Stroke Association said, "Experiencing a stroke can have many
severe consequences. One of the most common and devastating effects can be the
onset of a communication disability. Aphasia
is by far the most common communication disability and this can affect the
ability to speak and understand language as well as the serious related effects
such as distress, difficulties with day to day life and for some, the inability
to get back to work."
" Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland and Speakability provide communication support services across Scotland and this support is greatly valued by people affected by aphasia. Because we don't know the numbers of people
affected by a communication disability, we don't know if
everyone who needs a service is
getting one. Lost Without Words is a call
to action to address need and catch those who may be falling through the gaps
in receiving this vital support."
"Although Stroke survivors in Scotland are much more likely to have a local communication support group to go
to than their counterparts in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland, the lack of information on
actual need means it is not clear if what's currently available is meeting that
need for communication support."
Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland's Chief Executive David
Clark said, "Speech and language problems, or aphasia, are the real
hidden disabilities after stroke. Being unable to communicate normally is
incredibly frustrating and often affects whole families.
CHSS communication support
groups provide a lifeline for people affected by stroke in Scotland. We know from
independent research1 that they provide real and lasting benefits,
including:
Ø Improving communication
skills
Ø Restoring self-confidence
Ø Helping re-integration into
families and the wider community
Ø Reducing social isolation
We've been operating on the
ground in Scotland for more than 30 years and
provide these services (The Volunteer Stroke Service) across 85% of Scotland, from the inner cities to
the most remote island areas."
Melanie Derbyshire, Chief
Executive of Speakability said, "As an empowering charity, Speakability is delighted that people
with aphasia in Scotland are benefiting from our six existing self-help groups. These groups have facilitated the active
engagement of people with aphasia in a wide range of initiatives. These include the Scottish Executive Quality
Improvement Scotland Report - Aphasia in
Scotland (Nov 2007) and the Communication Forum (Scotland)
- Communication Toolkit (May 2008).
Speakability plans to initiate more self-help groups in Scotland
and wants to ensure that people with aphasia are able to contribute their
‘voice' in discussions about the future of services for people who have acquired
communication disability. These people
know what it is like to live with aphasia - their views are absolutely
essential if future services are to meet the true needs."
Lost Without Words also recommends
a clear and consistent referral procedure into communication support services. These procedures are presently not consistent
amongst Stroke Managed Clinical Networks across Scotland.
The Scottish Government's Scottish
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Stroke Strategy recognises the need for more
long-term care and support for stroke survivors with aphasia and recommends
that social services, hospitals and primary care teams should develop a
strategy to provide appropriate follow up and treatment to improve the
patients' and families' quality of life.
Kim Hartley, Scotland Officer at The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in Scotland commenting on the current policy environment and the needs of stroke
survivors with aphasia said,
"The Royal College of Speech and
Language Therapists hope that the current review of Scotland's Stroke Strategy results in vastly improved communication support
services in the community. People need both significantly increased NHS Speech
and Language Therapy and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland and Speakability communication support services to work in partnership
so they can get back to a life after stroke. The Royal College of Speech and
Language Therapists wholly support the Stroke Association Scotland's call for action."
The Scottish Coronary Heart Disease
(CHD) and Stroke Strategy is currently being updated by The National Advisory
Committees for CHD and Stroke and is expected to be published later on this
year. It is hoped the strategy will
focus attention towards the needs of stroke survivors with a communication
disability.
-ENDS-
For a copy of the Lost Without
Words Campaign report, and general media enquiries, please contact Angela
Macleod, Communications Manager at The Stroke Association on Tel: 0131 555 7244
or Email: [email protected].
Alternatively you can download a
copy of the report from www.stroke.org.uk
Stroke
1. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is
disrupted. Most strokes occur when a
blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by
bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood
supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some
strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary disabilities
such as paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak,
read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.
- A stroke is a
brain attack which causes brain damage.
A stroke can be diagnosed by using FAST - Facial
weakness, Arm weakness, Speech problems, Test all three. If any of these symptoms are present
call an ambulance straight away. - The risk of having a stroke can be
reduced through lifestyle factors such as a healthy diet - particularly reducing salt intake,
drinking alcohol in moderation, not smoking and taking regular exercise.
Scottish stroke
statistics
- Each year about 12,500 people will have a stroke in Scotland2.
- Whilst Stroke mostly affects people over 65, 20% of strokes are
experienced by people under 65. - In Scotland there are 100,000 individuals living with stroke and
its consequences. - Stroke is the leading cause of severe disability amongst adults.
- Stroke is the
third most common cause of death killing three times as many women,
for example, as breast cancer. - Whilst about 40%
of people experiencing a stroke will recover quite well, another 40% will survive
with considerable disability - both physical and cognitive.
The
Stroke Association
1.
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 services which include 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.
2. More
information on The Stroke Association can be found at www.stroke.org.uk
Chest,
Heart & Stroke Scotland
Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland is the
only independent Scottish charity providing support for people who have had a
stroke and their families in Scotland through its vital community services. These include
communication groups, outreach services, stroke support nurses, welfare grants,
a specialist nurse-led advice line and information. The charity also
funds research into the prevention, rehabilitation and treatment of stroke
illness at Scottish hospitals and universities as well as running a Scotland-wide education
and training service for health professionals and those caring for people
with stroke illness. For advice or information about stroke please call the
CHSS Advice Line on 0845 077 6000.
Speakability (Action for Dysphasic Adults)
Speakability is the UK-wide charity supporting and empowering people with aphasia,
and their relatives and carers. It was
founded by Diana Law (who experienced Aphasia) in 1979 as ‘Action for Dysphasic
Adults' and adopted the working name ‘Speakability' in 2000.
Speakability offers impartial information and support through its Helpline, website
and training courses, and distributes its own fact-sheets, low-cost
publications and videos. Throughout England,
Scotland and Wales, Speakability is also developing a network of Aphasia Self-Help Groups - run by people with Aphasia for people with Aphasia. Each Self-Help Group offers individuals real
empowerment, the chance to share
experiences, grow in self-confidence, rebuild communication skills and make new
friends in a supportive environment. As
the UK ‘voice' of people with Aphasia, Speakability has a campaigning role and
works to improve services for people with Aphasia by influencing individuals,
organisations and statutory bodies.
Website: www.speakability.org.uk
Helpline: 080 8808 9572
The
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
The Royal College of Speech and
Language Therapists 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
References
1.
Volunteer Stroke Service (VSS) groups for patients with communication
difficulties after stroke: a qualitative analysis of the value of groups to
their users.
Lynn Legg, David Stott, Academic
Section of Geriatric Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust,
Graham Ellis, Monklands Hospital, Airdrie and Cameron Sellars Dept of Speech and
Language Therapy, Glasgow Royal Infirmary 2006
Published In Clinical
Rehabilitation Journal 2007; 21:794-804
2. ISD 2007
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