Stroke Association response to the Spring Budget 2023

Juliet Bouverie OBE, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association said: “While the announcements on postponing the Energy Price Guarantee increase, will be welcomed by many stroke survivors, we still have serious concerns about the ongoing, systemic issues affecting the stroke workforce, which the measures announced today leave unaddressed.

“Over half of acute services have an unfilled stroke consultant post, with posts vacant for a median of 18 months, and in the last year, the standard of stroke services fell substantially. This drop in quality reverses much of the progress made in the years prior to the pandemic. The workforce retention measures announced today are not enough to address the severe vacancy issues affecting stroke care right now.

“We recognise the enormous constraints on the economy and the health and care system, but the government must look at the bigger picture. There is an urgent need for a sustainable workforce with the ability to provide stroke treatment and support recoveries, including supporting stroke survivors back into work.

The upcoming Workforce Plan needs detail and funding, to save the health and care system and stroke services.”