Stroke care is in a “dire state”, a charity has warned amid concerns that not enough people are not getting timely stroke treatment and dwindling numbers are receiving appropriate after care.
The Stroke Association warned that patients are facing a “postcode lottery” when it comes to getting a clot-busting treatment which can reduce the odds of a stroke victim being left with a disability.
And just over a third of patients are getting the recommend after care, the charity said.
As a result, thousands of stroke survivors are not getting the help they need to physically and mentally recover from a stroke, the charity said.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “Stroke changes a person’s life in an instant with far-reaching repercussions for many. It requires treatments including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and mental health support.
“The fact that 65% of stroke survivors don’t get this is truly shocking and demonstrates the dire state stroke treatment and ongoing care is in.
“Stroke must be prioritised by governments and the NHS from prevention to diagnosis, treatment and long-term recovery, only then will stroke patients get the treatment they need, whenever they need it, so the increasing number of UK stroke survivors can live mentally and physically well.”
Stroke patients should be given a review six months after their stroke to discuss their physical and mental health and their ongoing needs.
The first sign of a stroke might not seem like much.
— NHS SNEE ICB - west Suffolk (@SNEEICB_WS) August 24, 2025
Any sign of a stroke is always an emergency. Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it's time to call 999. https://t.co/rAolS4C0hH pic.twitter.com/CDJQTz8cEX
But data from the 24/25 Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme revealed that only 35% of patients had this review – the lowest level since 2019/20.
The Stroke Association said that data from the audit reveals that less than half of eligible patients are getting a clot-busting thrombectomy, a procedure which should be delivered within 4.5 hours of a stroke which removes the blood clot and restores normal blood flow.
The charity said when it comes to thrombectomy, patients are facing a postcode lottery which “limits when and where this life-changing and lifesaving treatment is available for stroke patients”.
Patsy Hyman, 58, from Hounslow, west London, went to A&E in May with problems with her vision where she was diagnosed with a stroke.
Thank you to @DrBrianMay for talking about his minor stroke. We're pleased to hear that it was treated as a medical emergency.
— Stroke Association (@TheStrokeAssoc) September 4, 2024
The quicker you receive treatment, the better. Remember to #ActFAST if you have any of these symptoms. 👇 pic.twitter.com/ghIwUbc1YK
After spending a week in hospital, she was sent home but had ongoing issue with fatigue and poor mental health.
She did not get a six-month review.
“Even though I’m one of the lucky ones, recovery doesn’t stop when you leave hospital,” she said.
“In fact, that’s when you really need someone to turn to and, without consistent follow-up, people can feel lost – you can look fine on the outside, but there’s so much more going on underneath.
“Stroke isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation.
“Every stroke survivor is different, and they should be supported for as long as they need it.”
Ms Hyman was initially supported by the Stroke Association’s NHS-commissioned services but, when funding for the service ceased, she was left without any ongoing support.
“I’m so grateful for the help I received from the Stroke Association, but now that the service has been shut down, I can’t help feeling robbed of the future support I could have had,” she added.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “While more people than ever are now surviving a stroke and the proportion of patients discharged to a specialist stroke rehabilitation service in the community has risen to more than two thirds, we recognise there is too much variation in care.
“The NHS is continuing to expand lifesaving thrombectomy treatment, with rates increasing again this year, and further work is under way to reduce regional variation and ensure all stroke patients are able to access appropriate after care.”
