Galway’s Croí heart & stroke charity has welcomed the launch of the National Stroke Strategy by the Health Service Executive.
Stroke is the second leading cause of death in middle to higher income countries and the leading cause of acquired neurological disability in Ireland.
Approximately 5,800 adults were admitted to hospitals with a stroke in 2020.
This figure does not include the estimated 1,500-2,000 people admitted or evaluated urgently for a suspected / threatened stroke or a transient ischaemic attack.
The National Stroke Strategy focuses on Prevention, Acute Care and Cure, Rehabilitation, and Education & Research.
Laura Walsh, Croí’s Community Stroke Support Specialist, said that action is needed, with the HSE predicting a 59% increase in the total number of strokes by 2035.
“It is important that this strategy is now implemented to improve stroke prevention, improve access to acute treatment and rehab and improve support for survivors and caregivers”
Prof Rónán Collins, Clinical Lead for the HSE National Clinical Programme for Stroke said, “Stroke is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in our population and a major cost to our health service when outcomes are poor.”
“Much improvement in services and outcomes has occurred since the inception of the National Clinical Programme for Stroke.”
“But the nature of our changing demography, development of new stroke treatments and technologies, and the need for healthcare staff and public engagement on the issue of stroke are a significant challenge over the next decade.”
To view the strategy document, see https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/ncps/stroke/.
