An Isle of Wight stroke survivor fears budget cuts – which could see the island’s stroke support service axed – would be devastating for those who need it after leaving hospital.
Musician Chris Messer and his wife are among more than 3,000 people who have been supported by the Stroke Association’s service, which is funded by the Isle of Wight Council.
However, budget cuts being discussed by the council’s cabinet on Thursday (9th February) that could see the charity’s funding reduced or even withdrawn completely.
This is despite the number of people living with the lasting effects of stroke on the Island, which has an ageing population, being 50% higher than the national average.
Chris, 70, said support from the Stroke Association was invaluable to both him and his wife Joeley as he struggled to rebuild his life after suffering a stroke. He had been a professional musician for many years, playing everything from country to rock, but found to his horror that he couldn’t remember how to play the guitar.
Chris explains:
“After the stroke I had totally forgotten how to play… everything, scales, chords, I couldn’t remember any of it. I knew what a guitar was but couldn’t remember how to play it. The Stroke Association and my wife encouraged me to learn everything again.
“They also introduced me to the stroke group. At first, during the pandemic, it was on the phone and Zoom, but it helped me get back into a community.
Article continues below this advertisement “My brain capacity at that point was very limited. It gave me an incentive to do something.
“If the Stroke Association support service is cut, I would say ‘Don’t have a stroke on the Isle of Wight because you’ll get no support. You’ll have nowhere to go’. It would be devastating.
“You have a massive stroke, you go through the hospital, have a bit of physiotherapy and then you’re released and you’re lost. You don’t know what the next step is without the Stroke Association. When the Stroke Association came on the scene that was a real help.”
His wife Joeley, 63, said:
“The Stroke Association is a lifeline for people with no knowledge of what to do. It can give the comfort, help, advice and support that you are not alone, which as a wife or partner is a very big thing when life is turned upside down.”
2 years on, Chris again mastered the guitar and is looking forward to performing again later this year.
Almost 4,000 people living on the Isle of Wight are recorded by their GPs as having had a stroke.
Jacqui Cuthbert, the charity’s associate director for the South West and Channel Islands, said the service, which is made possible by the £70,000 funding from the council, is a vital lifeline for stroke survivors as they struggle to cope after leaving hospital.
Jacqui says:
“Every stroke survivor treated by St Mary’s Hospital is currently referred to the service and every single one is offered support. Last year, this was more than 300 people.
“Our support coordinators help stroke survivors to live their best possible life after stroke, working with them to set and support their recovery goals,and make sure they don’t face the future alone.”
“This vital service also saves money in the long term, by reducing delays in discharge from hospital, better care planning, reducing unplanned hospital readmissions, and reducing the need for community-based health and social care services.
“We understand the financial pressures that the council is facing but the service is cost-effective and is simply invaluable for the hundreds of stroke survivors and carers we support every year.”
This service is a lifeline to stroke survivors and our only sense of official support. My wife suffered a stroke in 2019.. After being admitted to hospital the staff were wonderful and for about three months. After that we have had only the support of the Stroke association. I am my wife’s 24 hour carer and we do appreciate the Stroke Café but that has now had to be run by the stroke survivors themselves because of cuts (and they do this very well). We have no family on the island and few friends so our only support is the stroke Association.
How very sad. It’s all part of the conservative agenda to run down the NHS so poorer people move to private health care (same as with dentistry and opthalmology). No money to be made on the NHS but loads of profit in private health care provision.
A very good friend of mine has had these services and I agree with the comments made by the director and Chris’s story. What I will say is that who needs the councils funding? Why not rely on donations which people do as it’s a good cause… this charity will keep going even after councils withdrawal so what’s the panic?
Fundamentally – please don’t be ill on the Isle of Wight.
Don’t be old and suffer a stroke or have dementia.
BUT, do pay your taxes and National Insurance all your adult life and receive NO care when you need it.
This is not a criticism of any staff working in the care sector – because they work their socks of – but a fact of our broken health care system – especially on the Isle of Wight.
Alliance, a council of tax rises and cuts to services. Apart from there pet project, benefits scroungers.
This service should absolutely remain in situ.
This Council would axe such an important service that is provided to island stroke survivors which is outrageous.
Find other ways to save money. Are you over staffed in County Hall? Too many Managers on eye watering salaries?!?!?!? Get my point?