Vital boost for stroke awareness and support

The Stroke Foundation has welcomed today’s announcement by the Australian Labor Party that, if elected, it will deliver a vital $16 million boost to stroke awareness and stroke survivor support.

Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King pledged to partner with the Stroke Foundation in a national FAST campaign to raise awareness of the signs of stroke and to roll-out a follow up and referral service for stroke survivors and their families. Ms King made the announcement at a community event in Box Hill this morning.

Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan said the funding would improve outcomes for the one in six Australians that will suffer a stroke in their lifetime.

“Currently stroke kills more women than breast cancer, more men than prostate cancer, and it is a leading cause of acquired disability. However, it does not have to be this way, stroke is treatable and it is beatable,’’ Ms McGowan said.

“Thousands are living with the impact of stroke and this funding will go a long way towards improving community awareness and supporting stroke survivors to make their best recovery possible,” she said.

A stroke is always a medical emergency but the average person has an alarming lack of knowledge about it.

“Getting to hospital FAST is critical to recovery from stroke,” Ms McGowan said.

“When a stroke occurs brain cells die at a rate of 1.9 million a minute, time-critical treatments can help stop the damage spreading and in some cases even reverse it.

“We should all know the signs of stroke, they are easy to learn and someday it might save the life someone you love or even your own.”

Building on the national FAST campaign, funding for the Stroke Foundation’s follow up and referral program will ensure thousands of stroke survivors and their families across Australia get the support they need upon discharge from hospital.

“For many stroke survivors and their families there is a void in support once they return home from the hospital. Up to half of stroke survivors currently leave hospital without a plan to support their transition home, limiting their recovery opportunities,’’ Ms McGowan said.

“The program will deliver stroke survivors, their carers and families with the information and support they need to maximise their recovery. It will help survivors to navigate the often confusing and frightening journey of life after stroke by linking them to the support and services they desperately need.

“There are too many stroke survivors who currently get home from hospital, unable to get through daily tasks, with no idea there is support out there to help them. This program will ensure no survivor is left to go it alone.”

Stroke survivor Bill Gasiamis also welcomed today’s announcement saying it had the potential to transform lives.

“For many stroke survivors, dealing with the aftermath of stroke is a daily battle,” he said.

“This funding will transform the lives of thousands of stroke survivors like myself and our families.”

Ms McGowan said the Foundation was now calling for leadership from all political parties to commit to key priorities to improve the state of stroke, outlined in its Tackling a rising tide platform.

“This election presents an enormous opportunity to make a difference. Stroke is not a hopeless cause – it is largely preventable and treatable, there are actions we can take now to tackle it,” she said.

“I welcome today’s commitment and call on all political parties to make stroke an election priority, recognising the devastating impact it has on our community.

“Stroke doesn’t discriminate – it impacts people across all walks of life. It is time we take a cross-party approach and look at how we can tackle stroke together.

Together we can fight stroke and win.”