NHS urged to offer stroke patients three hours a day of rehab

Updated guidelines say stroke patients should be offered additional rehabilitation on the NHS.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence had previously recommended 45 minutes a day, but it now believes some patients may need more intensive therapy for recovery and is suggesting three hours a day, five days a week.

Experts have welcomed the advice, but question how feasible it will be for a stretched health service to deliver.

NHS England have said increasing the availability of high quality rehabilitation is a priority, adding that more people than ever are surviving a stroke thanks to improvements in NHS care.  There are around 85,000 strokes every year in England, and around a million stroke survivors, many of whom are living with long-term effects.

Professor Jonathan Benger, chief medical officer at NICE, said “We recognise the challenges the system faces in delivering these recommendations, not least the problems inherent in increasing service capacity and staff.  We also know current practice is inconsistent, even when it comes to implementing our previous recommendations.

“But equally, it shouldn’t be underestimated how important it is for people who have been left with disabilities following a stroke to be given the opportunity to benefit from the intensity and duration of rehabilitation therapies outlined in this updated guideline.”

Dr Maeva May from the Stroke Association said “It’s vital that governments act urgently to address staffing issues across health and social care, and within rehabilitation services, and share detailed plans to support and resource them, so that these recommendations can become a reality.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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