One third of stroke survivors must pay for essential rehab services

More than a third of stroke survivors (36 per cent) are left with no option but to pay privately for essential rehabilitation services, according to a new report.

The National Survey of Stroke Survivors by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation found that 50 per cent had no access to speech and language therapy or occupational therapy in the community, 89 per cent had no access to no psychological services, while a third had no access physiotherapy therapies.

People who had had strokes addressed the Stroke Survivor Conference at Croke Park yesterday, which was attended by more than 350 people.

David Bowe said he received 15 minutes of counselling after he suffered a stroke at 24. "I was in a terrible state . . . Nobody seemed able to figure out why it had happened to me and at one stage I was very low. I had a brief counselling session and that was it."

Mr Bowe said he sought out counselling to help him deal with the changes in his life.

“Luckily I was able to pay for my own treatment. I don’t know what would have happened to me if I couldn’t or what does happen to all the people who get nothing.”

IHF head of advocacy Chris Macey said there had been no improvement in community rehabilitation services in recent years which were vital to recovery.

“We need to invest more resources in rehabilitation now that will save the state money in the short, medium and long term,” he said. “We do not believe it is acceptable that more than a third of stroke survivors are being forced to pay for their own rehabilitation.”

Dr Frances Horgan, a RCSI senior lecturer, said rehabilitation made a huge difference in the quality of lives for stroke survivors – everything from the person's walk, balance, arm movement and communications could be hugely improved.

Martin Quinn, 53, said he suffered his first stroke in January last year but it was months after he left hospital before he had access to rehabilitation services.

“It was so frustrating.  I thought I was going to be left there, never to improve,” he said.

“I was determined to get better and have a quality of life again.

“When I finally got the services, they worked brilliantly for me.”