New charity aims to help islanders with post-stroke recovery

Thursday 12 May 2022

A new charity has been set up to support stroke survivors and their families in Jersey.

Jersey Stroke Support Ltd has been set up after its founders identified a gap in the provision of stroke services in Jersey.

Its aims are to provide post-stroke reviews to islanders as well as to help stroke survivors and their families after a stroke, help keep them safe and to raise the profile in Jersey about stroke and stroke prevention.

More than 130 people each year in Jersey are known to suffer a stroke with many more, including family members, affected by a diagnosis of stroke.

JSSL Director and Coordinator Tracy O’Regan said that the new organisation would also advocate on behalf of stroke survivors, and work with the Government and other partners to ensure the best outcomes for people affected by stroke.

She said: “Many of us involved in JSSL have personal experience of the impact of stroke, and we are passionate about promoting and influencing effective support for stroke survivors in Jersey. 

“The organisation was born initially from a need which we identified to offer post-stroke reviews and support to people diagnosed with stroke here in Jersey.

“That’s our main focus and as part of that we will seek to work and partner with all relevant government, health, social and other agencies and charitable organisations to ensure that stroke survivors get all the help that they can to support, where possible, their recovery or to be fully involved in life after their stroke, even if there are some longer-term effects.”

Mrs O’Regan has previously worked with stroke survivors and local stroke health professionals for more than a decade.

She added: “We know that when people suffer a stroke, the quicker they are treated the more chances of a greater recovery; however, post-stroke care and support is also vital to helping people in recovery. Therefore, JSSL will use data collected from post-stroke reviews to participate in the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme, which will help improve stroke services locally.”

JSSL says it will fundraise and work with Health throughout 2022 in order to employ a coordinator early next year to deliver post-stroke reviews.