A new befriending project at NHS Tower Hamlets and Barts and The London NHS Trust and, the first of its kind in the UK, is set to improve the quality of life for patients in Tower Hamlets who lose the ability to communicate following a stroke.
Stroke is the most common cause of disability in London. In Tower Hamlets, approximately 350 people have a stroke every year and there are about 2,314 people currently living with stroke in the borough. It is estimated that a third of stroke patients will experience some degree of aphasia.
Aphasia is a common complication of stroke where people have problems speaking and writing and also understanding both the spoken and written word.
The befriending project is the first in the UK aimed at both English and non-English speaking (Bengali) stroke patients. It is being established in response to the National Stroke Strategy which called for better support, advice and information for people living with aphasia and an increased involvement for people living with aphasia regarding the services they receive.
The project team is looking for English, Bengali speaking or bilingual volunteers from anywhere across north-east London affected by aphasia following a stroke who are willing to befriend patients.
Bilingual speech and language instructor Nasrin Haque Chowdhury said: “Initially we hope to recruit five-six volunteers. We will be working with the aphasia charity Connect to train volunteers in communication techniques such as reading facial expressions and visual cues and understanding non-verbal communication.”
Typically a stroke patient will spend up to 72 hours in a specialist hyper-acute stroke unit, then two-three weeks in a dedicated stroke unit undergoing rehabilitation before being discharged home.
Ms Chowdry said: “We would expect our volunteers to befriend patients and give them advice and emotional support shortly after they have suffered a stroke; of course the timing of this will depend on the severity of the stroke. This support from volunteers will continue when patients are discharged from hospital and return home.
“We aim to slowly build up a support network of mentors in the local community so we can reduce the anxiety for this group of stroke patients while they are still in hospital and then help them retain an optimal quality of life and less social isolation after they leave hospital.”
Although fit and healthy, Angur Miah, 56, from Aldgate suffered a stroke in September 2009. Before his stroke Angur was a very active member in the Bangladeshi community including the local mosque. He is hoping to return to these activities shortly and is also considering getting involved in the befriending project.
Commenting on the project he said: “Yes, this is a good thing you are doing. They (a befriender) would have been through the same thing, they would be an expert. It would have been very useful to hear what happened to them, how they got through it.”
The project is being funded by a £20,000 grant from the North East London Stroke Network and is being run in partnership with Barts and the London NHS Trust and Connect, the communication disability network.
Further information
People interested in finding out more about the scheme should contact Caty Palin or Barbara Hegarty on 020 8223 8841.
More than 75 per cent of strokes occur in people aged over 65. Black and Asian communities are more at risk. Every year approximately 110,000 people in England have a stroke.
In July this year Barts and The London NHS Trust was designated a hyper-acute stroke centre. Patients who suffer a stroke will have rapid access to expert care in a dedicated stroke unit at The Royal London Hospital 24 hours a day.
