Turning commitments into action
Following the 2026 Senedd election, we welcome the strong cross‑party recognition of stroke as a priority for Wales. Commitments made before the election, including Plaid Cymru’s pledge to review nationally optimised pathways, reduce regional variation in care, improve mental health support for stroke survivors, and deliver biennial Act FAST campaigns, reflect the urgency of improving stroke outcomes.
We now need to see these commitments translated into delivery.
The updated Quality Statement for Stroke (2026), alongside the new NHS Wales Stroke Standards, provide a clear, evidence‑based framework to drive improvement. If fully implemented, these can ensure more consistent, high‑quality stroke care, reduce inequalities between regions, and improve outcomes for people affected by stroke.
However, delivery depends on stroke remaining a clear priority.
As pressures across the NHS continue to grow, there is a real risk that focus shifts elsewhere. This is already slowing progress. We cannot allow stroke to fall further behind.
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in Wales. Yet Wales currently ranks 21st out of 26 high‑income countries for stroke outcomes, compared with England at 12th. This gap highlights both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to do better.
Our call to the Welsh Government
We are calling on the new Welsh Government to:
- Make stroke a national priority within NHS planning and delivery.
- Ensure full and timely implementation of the Quality Statement for Stroke (2026) and NHS Wales Stroke Standards.
- Act to reduce variation in the quality and consistency of stroke services across Wales.
- Invest in prevention and public awareness, including regular Act FAST campaigns.
- Improve access to specialist rehabilitation and mental health support for stroke survivors.
- Work in partnership with the Stroke Association and wider stakeholders to drive improvement.
We stand ready to work with ministers, NHS leaders and partners to ensure these commitments result in meaningful, measurable change.
What you can do
Improving stroke services in Wales depends on continued political focus and accountability. You can help ensure stroke remains a priority.
Contact your Member of the Senedd (MS)
Your MS represents you and can raise issues directly with the Welsh Government, scrutinise NHS performance, and push for improvements locally and nationally.
By contacting your MS, you can help ensure that commitments made before the election are delivered in practice.
You can use this template to contact your Member of the Senedd.
You may want to ask your MS to:
- Support making stroke a national priority
- Back the full implementation of the Quality Statement for Stroke (2026) and NHS Wales Stroke Standards
- Take action to reduce variation in stroke care across Wales
- Improve access to rehabilitation and mental health support
- Champion prevention and public awareness, including bilingual Act FAST / Cam NESA campaigns.
Why your voice matters
Without sustained attention, progress risks stalling as other NHS pressures take priority. By speaking up, you help keep stroke on the political agenda and ensure decision makers deliver the improvements people need.
We will continue to work with people affected by stroke, policymakers and health leaders to ensure stroke services in Wales improve and deliver the care everyone deserves.