Annual Evidence Update on Stroke: 30 November - 3 December 2010

An update of the evidence on this topic from NHS Evidence - stroke.

Following on from the last Annual Evidence Update in November 2009, this update for health professionals and patients will present significant advances in knowledge about stroke rehabilitation. Topics will include organisation of care, upper limbs, mobility, speech and language, basic personal needs, cognition and perception and living with stroke. There will also be a section on uncertainties identified and, as usual, expert summaries will be included to help make sense of the new evidence presented.

Find out more at www.library.nhs.uk/stroke.

Annual Evidence Update on Stroke: 30 November - 4 December 2009

An update of the evidence on this topic from NHS Evidence - stroke.

The forthcoming Annual Evidence Update covers new high quality evidence (mainly systematic reviews) on stroke rehabilitation. Despite evidence of its effectiveness in reducing mortality and long term disability rehabilitation is often seen as a ‘Cinderella service’: underfunded, understaffed, and with a low profile compared to care at the ‘hi-tech’ end of the spectrum of care.

The National Stroke Strategy sets Quality Markers (QM) across the spectrum of stroke care. QM 10 sets out the ambition for rehabilitation: "People who had had strokes access high-quality rehabilitation and, with their carer, receive support from stroke-skilled services as soon as possible after they have a stroke, available in hospital, immediately after transfer from hospital and for as long as they need it."

Find out more at www.library.nhs.uk/stroke.

Annual Evidence Update on Stroke: 2-5 December 2008

An update of the evidence on this topic from the NLH Stroke Specialist Library.

This is the first Annual Evidence Update that has been undertaken on a stroke-related topic and it will be published to coincide with the UK Stroke Forum conference in Harrogate.

The Annual Evidence Update will focus on rehabilitation following a stroke, including Early Supported Discharge (ESD). Despite evidence of its effectiveness in reducing mortality and long term disability rehabilitation is often seen as a ‘Cinderella service’: under funded, understaffed, and with a low profile compared to care at the ‘hi-tech’ end of the spectrum of stroke care.

With the advice of our Expert Panel comprising a nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and stroke physician, we have focused this AEU on a number of the key components of stroke rehabilitation set out in the National Stroke Strategy, together with relevant outcome measures and a focus on ESD.

Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/stroke.

Launch of Stroke Specialist Library

The Stroke Specialist Library was launched this week at the UK Stroke Forum in December to coincide with the publication of the Department of Health's National Stroke Strategy.

Stroke is the third commonest cause of death and biggest single cause of disability in the UK. The National Audit Office reported on the state of stroke care in the NHS two years ago and highlighted areas for improvement, including public and professional knowledge of this potentially devastating condition, and improved access to care by specialist stroke teams. Professor Roger Boyle was subsequently asked to add stroke to his existing responsibilities as National Director for Heart Disease.

The Stroke Specialist Library team has drawn on the expertise of a steering group comprising representatives from a wide range of stakeholders including the Department of Health, Stroke Association, British Association of Stroke Physicians, UK Stroke Nurses' Forum and NHS Institute, together with colleagues from the Neurological Conditions and Later Life Specialist Libraries, to produce a detailed collection development strategy to bring together key, high quality resources that will help NHS staff and patients work together to improve care, complementing the new Stroke Strategy.

Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/stroke