Almost 60,000 Australians have signed a petition urging the government to provide stroke patients an access to vital ongoing care in aid of their recovery. Albury stroke survivor Alison Armstrong presented the petition on Wednesday at the Parliament House in Canberra.

The petition, signed by health professionals, stroke survivors, carers, as well as their families, friends and colleagues across the country, appeals for funding to roll out the National Stroke Foundation’s StrokeConnect Follow Up program nationwide. Armstrong presented the petition during a Parliamentary Friends of the Heart and Stroke Foundations event.

The StrokeConnect Follow Up is a service where stroke survivors and carers will be followed up after discharge from hospital to connect them to the services, people and resources they need to improve quality of life after suffering from stroke.

“I know that this program would have made a huge difference for me if it was funded when I had my stroke,” Armstrong said in an interview with the International Business Times Australia through the National Stroke Foundation.

The 47-year old, who suffered her stroke just over two years ago, explained that while she was able to access quality treatment quickly to reduce visible impact, the condition still left its mark. Her stroke resulted to hidden disabilities including fatigue, anxiety, depression and mood issues. She is doing well today, after a lot of work and a range of services with the help of the foundation.

However, not all stroke survivors are fortunate enough to access this support, she said. Many stroke survivors and carers, according to Armstrong, do not have adequate information and are left to suffer in silence.

“Despite knowing that early intervention and support gives people the best opportunity for a strong recovery, post-stroke care and follow up for stroke survivors after being discharged from hospital is severely lacking, and in some instances non-existent,” Armstrong said in the interview.

She explained this is the reason why she has been working closely with the National Stroke Foundation. Together, they hope to ensure that the burden of a stroke survivor’s recovery is eased, and that access to quality care and support continues after survivors are discharged from acute care in hospital.

According to the National Stroke Foundation, Armstrong’s story is reflective of many stroke survivors. “There are more than 440,000 stroke survivors in Australia and 65 percent need ongoing assistance carrying out day to day activities such as washing and dressing,” National Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Erin Lalor said in a statement.

In support of Armstrong’s statement, Lalor said that quality post-stroke care and support makes all the difference to recovery, and will contribute to lessening the burden on Australia’s already stressed health system.

“The Federal Government must act now to stem the tide of this disease and better support stroke survivors in our community, ensuring they have access to the services and support they need for quality of life. It must fund a tailored stroke follow-up program to support both survivors and their families,” she said.

In 2004, Australia’s health department published a national strategy for heart, stroke and vascular health. It provides a blueprint for improving the cardiovascular health of Australians and reducing the prevalence of heart, stroke and vascular disease. The strategy identified areas for which there is evidence for potential gains in health outcomes, such as: prevention of heart, stroke and vascular disease for; cardiac emergency treatment and acute care; stroke emergency treatment and acute care; heart failure; and rehabilitation for patients with heart, stroke and vascular disease.

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