Experiences of Welsh speaking people with aphasia
During 2023, the Stroke Association worked with Cardiff Metropolitan University to understand the experiences of Welsh speaking people with Aphasia, a common communication difficult after stroke.
Under the current Welsh language requirements, people working in stroke should consider the use of Welsh and the specific needs of Welsh speakers throughout the recovery process. Language plays a crucial role in rehabilitation, as well as fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment for survivors.
We launched the report at the Cross-Party Group on Stroke on 26 September 2024. Here are our five policy calls for Welsh Government and NHS Performance and Improvement to improve Welsh language provision for Welsh speaking stroke survivors, particularly those with aphasia:
1. Implement a system to record language preference
We recommend getting a better understanding of the number of Welsh speaking speech and language therapy staff in stroke and developing measures to monitor the level of need. We recommend that the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) is developed to effectively record Welsh language preferences.
2. Ringfenced funding
Dedicated funding that is secure and accessible to provide resources, such as bilingual assessment tools and therapy materials.
3. Public awareness campaigns
Health boards and social care providers should be encouraged to run campaigns to promote the ‘Active Offer’ and link in with the importance of this for people who speak Welsh who are affected by stroke.
4. Pilot Projects
Those working on the transformation of stroke services to consider running pilot projects to support enhanced bilingual speech and language therapy support for stroke survivors.
5. Bilingual speech and language therapy
A coordinated plan for how we will reach the goal for an ‘Active Offer’ for bilingual speech and language therapy services for people affected by stroke.
Co-production to ensure that we are working towards the same goal and that this is shaped by people on the ground and those with lived experience.
Please get in touch with campaigns@stroke.org.uk for more information.
Mental health, wellbeing and Stroke
In January 2023, the Stroke Association joined forces with mental health charity Mind Cymru to begin to scope mental health support for people affected by stroke in Wales.
We launched our findings and recommendations of this in a report, which we launched at the Senedd in January 2024.
The report made five recommendations
- The Stroke Association and Mind Cymru should continue to work together to explore, iterate and deliver these ideas.
- People working in stroke should recognise the impact of stroke on people’s mental health and deliver services accordingly.
- Plans to transform stroke services in Wales should include a focus on mental health support.
- Public bodies should raise awareness of stroke, particularly among racialised communities and areas of social deprivation.
- The next Welsh Government’s mental health strategy needs to include reference to how people with specific physical health conditions are able to access mental health support tailored to their needs.
Our Senedd Cross Party Group on 6 June 2024 on Stroke drove forward the recommendations within this report and we responded to the Welsh Government’s consultation on its draft Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy 2024 – 2034.
Please get in touch with campaigns@stroke.org.uk for more information.