‘Postcode lottery rehabilitation' failing stroke patients

A new report has warned that patients are failing to recover properly from a stroke or heart attack because the NHS offers too little rehabilitation following discharge from hospitals.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP), the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and the charity Sue Ryder detail a ‘postcode lottery’ in the availability of community rehabilitation in England, which is having devastating consequences for patients. Furthermore, the ‘patchy provision’ means those with arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other long-term conditions also miss out on care that can make a huge difference to their health and quality of life.

The paper found that only 15 per cent of those with lung problems deemed eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation are referred for it. Additionally, half of people who have had a heart attack or stroke have cardiac rehabilitation after being discharged, whilst most cancer patients do not receive rehabilitation before they have treatment, even though that can boost the chances of success.

In total, the survey of 1,002 people who have a long-term health condition revealed that just 29 per cent said they had received enough rehabilitation. Among the 71 per cent of patients who felt they received too little rehabilitation, 44 per cent said they felt ‘abandoned by the system’ as their needs went unmet. Those who miss out are more likely to suffer continuing ill-health, fail to get back to work and incur avoidable care costs to the NHS.

Charlotte Nicholls, head of policy at the Stroke Association, said: “There are thousands of stroke survivors being let down by the health and social care system when they leave hospital because of a postcode lottery for physiotherapy and rehabilitation services that desperately needs fixing. We hear stories of stroke survivors who were told they would never walk, feed themselves or hold a pencil again being able to do all of these things after sustained rehabilitation and hard work from teams of specialists. These life-improving gains are being denied to people who cannot access rehabilitation services.”