SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is backing a call to make stroke a health priority.
Mr Rowlands is supporting the Stroke Association who urged the Welsh Government to prioritise stroke on World Stroke Day 2025, held on Wednesday, October 29.
He recently met with representatives from the Stroke Association at an event in the Senedd and pledged his support to raise awareness of this disease.
Mr Rowlands said: “It is quite staggering to hear that 69% of Welsh people don’t know stroke is the leading cause of complex disability and that 42% felt that there was not enough support from the Welsh Government.
“I fully support any calls to make stroke a health priority as it is something we should all be aware of and know more about and I am always pleased to help raise awareness of this preventable disease.
“It is also important to note that with the right investment stroke is preventable, treatable, and recoverable.”
Every day in the UK, 240 people of all ages wake up to the impact of stroke, unable to move, see, speak, or even swallow. In addition, stroke is the fourth biggest killer in the UK.
Yet new survey results which are due to be released on World Stroke Day, found that people are are worryingly uninformed about stroke and the risk it poses to health as well as long-term quality of life. The survey found that 69% of people in Wales didn’t know that stroke is the UK’s leading cause of complex adult disability and nearly 60% of stroke survivors are left with a disability which is more so than neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s, arthritis or some types of cancer.
Furthermore, when asked about the Welsh Government’s support for stroke survivors, 42% felt it was insufficient, while 18% were unsure what support was currently available. When invited to share what more could be done, half of respondents called for longer rehabilitation support, 45% highlighted the need for better mental health services, 60% wanted increased funding for stroke care, and 80% urged for 24/7 access to life-saving treatments such as thrombectomy.
Katie Chappelle, Associate Director for Wales, Stroke Association, said: “Stroke changes a person’s life in an instant, with far-reaching repercussions for many.
“These shocking survey results also come at a time when stroke treatment and ongoing care in Wales are in a poor state — ranking 21st out of 26 of the world’s most developed countries for stroke care, behind England which is in 12th place.
“The Stroke Association is urging the Welsh Government to make stroke care a priority. This means taking a fresh look at how people affected by stroke are treated and supported, from emergency care through to rehabilitation, six-month reviews and life after stroke.
“We want to see this commitment embedded in the Welsh Government’s next Programme for Government, delivering on its promise to transform stroke services. Stroke survivors deserve consistent, high-quality care wherever they live in Wales.
“We’re calling for better national planning, specialist stroke centres that can treat emergencies 24/7 and support recovery, and for stroke survivors and their families to be directly involved in shaping the future of stroke care.
“Stroke must be prioritised by Welsh Government. Only then will people affected by stroke get the treatment and support they need, whenever they need it so that the growing number of stroke survivors in Wales can live well, both mentally and physically.”
