Photo is provided with permission from Nottingham rehab

In recent years there have been several documents and publications about how people with long term conditions, including stroke, can access the services they need over the course of their illness. ( See page 3 in this section ) This is a time of an ageing population and increased demands on health and social care.

One positive aspect has been that patients and carers are being recognised as the experts in what they need and services are encouraged to find ways to work as partners in managing the long term condition. Stroke as with other long term conditions can have very different effects on individuals. From diagnosis to later stages of the illness the person and carer may require different levels of support. The person may need flexibility in the services they need if their condition is variable.