A stroke occurs every 3 minutes and 27 seconds in the UK.
Stroke is the fourth single largest cause of death in the UK, killing twice as many women as breast cancer and more men than prostate and testicular cancer combined a year.
- There are 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK.
- 50% of those survivors will have some form of disability caused by the stroke.
- One third will suffer from depression following the experience, and there is the fear of another attack and the feeling that partners and family treat you differently.
- One-third of those survivors will be reliant on some form of care.
Into this mix of harrowing statistics comes Derbyshire Specialist Stroke Service, a unique charity in our County and one that shines a light on friendship, support and the possibility of a meaningful future to hundreds of Derbyshire families.
All of their services ran from their own Stroke Support Centre in Chesterfield, were designed by specialists, stroke survivors and their carers. Some of those services include an adapted gym, gentle exercise classes, a drop-in café, carer support and therapy, respite cover and social functions.
Recently the team at the Stroke Service received a Foundation Derbyshire 2016 award, following on from a grant to support purchasing bespoke gym equipment – why did they receive that award?
We simply feel that this great charity deserves so much more recognition, they carry on in the face of funding cuts and the backdrop of a shifting NHS – so many survivors and their families feel isolated and cut off following such a seismic event – the Stroke Centre is a beacon of how things could be across the UK.
