Actress Jane Lapotaire article on her stroke

Actress Jane Lapotaire on the consequences for her following her stroke. The Guardian newspaper article can be found at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2003/apr/29/healthandwellbeing.health

Stroke debate in House of Lords

Stroke was discussed in the House of Lords recently, led by the Rt Hon Lord Rodgers, who himself had a stroke a few years ago and was in the Royal Free and the National. Here's the link to the debate.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100630-0007.htm#10063035000546

We have a Facebook Page

Dear All,
Here's the link to our Facebook page, please let your friends know!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/InterAct-Reading-Service/135570389794247?ref=ts

InterAct perform at Connect for a Day

InterAct performed a piece entitled It Couldn't happen to Me at Connect, the disability support network head office on Marshalsea Road London as part of their Connect for a Day workshops. The play, a two hander performed by Nirjay Mahindru and Eleanor Rhodes explores the consequences of stroke on a couple, and lasts about 12-13 minutes. This was followed by a Q n A with the audience, who thorough enjoyed the piece. Alex Stirling, Specialist Development Manager at Connect said "Your play obviously had a great impact on our audience of people with aphasia and their relatives. "

BBC highlights stroke information

Here's a link to a BBC breakfast item this morning.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10723076

More links to stoke related policy documents

Here's a great link to access various stroke policy and strategy documents.
http://www.healthcareforlondon.nhs.uk/stroke-project-documentation/

Transforming Stroke Services Conference Tuesday 20th July

The transforming Stroke Services conference occured yesterday and here are some brief points from it.
Dr Anthony Rudd Clinical Director of Stroke in London said that the reconfiguration of stroke services in London represented a major step change in stroke service delivary.

In 2004, Stroke cost the NHS £7bn but only £590 million of that was spent on acute care.

Hyper Acute Stroke Units (HASU's) officially went on stream as of 8am on the 19th July 2010.

Average ambulance journey time to a HASU is 14 minutes in London.

Since February 2010 there has been 587 thrombolysed patients, a four fold increase.

Average length of stay in a HASU is 3 days and average lenght of stay in a London stroke unit is now down to 17 days.

Dr Rudd stated that post hospital discharge was still problematic, saying that it cost "£50,000 to keep someone in a nursing home per year".

The national context of accelerating stroke improvement was articulated by Professor Roger Boyle, the Director for Heart Disease and Stroke, Dept of Health. Professor Boyle has led the development of a national stroke strategy since 2006. It was refreshing to hear Professor Boyle say that "The patient experience is vital" and that the psychological well being of patients is part of the London pathway.

Patient experience was consistently commented on, bringing new validity and importance to the once derided notion of anecdotal evidence. Keith Millar, a stroke survivor summed it up rather succinctly when he said that following his stroke "I became a non-person". We still have plenty of work to do!