Stroke survivors demand cuts rethink

Two stroke survivors have said that proposed cuts to services provided by the Stroke Association are "short-sighted".

Chantal Whitting, 64, from Church Stretton and Caroline Gallacher, 49, from Bayston Hill both suffered strokes in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

Both women received support from the charity through their Stroke Recovery Service (SRS) which offers personalised recovery plans once they leave home and start to rebuild their lives.

However, the Stroke Association said that cuts proposed by Shropshire Council to the SRS, would be "hugely damaging to some of the most vulnerable people in Shropshire." The BBC has approached Shropshire Council for comment.

Whitting and Gallacher were both supported by Glenda Parker, a co-ordinator from the charity, following their strokes through home visits and one-to-one support that would be ended in the proposed cuts.

For Whitting, Parker's knowledge helped reassure her about what she went through and said that "she made everything sound simpler and less scary."

Gallacher also benefitted from Parker's experience and said she knew the answers to questions she did not even know she had, and was like her "cheerleader".

"She just seemed to get me straight away." Gallacher added.

"With my speech and the way my brain was working. It knocks your confidence and it was hurtful that people sometimes thought I was lying!

"Glenda supported me with the practical and emotional effects of a stroke".

Gallacher said she was 'very sad' to hear of the plans to cut the recovery service provided by the Stroke Association.

She added that it can feel lonely after a stroke when people do not understand what you have gone through and if you do not have family to help out.

"We need the charity to be there for others who need the support at such a scary time".

Sarah Adderley is the Midlands Associate Director at the Stroke Association and said that personal recovery plans can help survivors navigate 'the practical and emotional impact of a stroke'.

"Unfortunately, we are expecting the number of people having a first or second stroke to increase to more than 151,000 a year by 2035", she added.

"When you consider the physical and indeed, financial strain this will put on our already stretched NHS, it seems very short sighted to make cuts to such a valuable and affordable service."

The BBC has approached Shropshire Council for comment.

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