Health: Stroke

Lord Imbert Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd July 2014 Grand Committee

[Lord Imbert (CB)]

My Lords, I was so glad when I saw that the noble Baroness, Lady Wheeler, had secured this debate. Since becoming the victim of a rather nasty disabling stroke some years ago, just a few months after being introduced in your Lordships’ House, I have, for very apparent reasons, taken a close interest in this country’s progress on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of stroke. The Government, the National Health Service and charitable groups such as the Stroke Association deserve congratulations on the improvements that we have seen in recent times in adult stroke diagnosis. I also acknowledge the improvement in later treatment, especially the use of the clot-busting thrombolysis drugs and rehabilitative support for adult victims but, wretchedly, this has not been matched in the area of childhood stroke. Too many parents of stroke-damaged children report that they have a constant fight so that their child can receive the essential care and treatment that they need.

Many people believe that strokes happen only to old people; tragically this is not so. Dr Anne Gordon of the Evelina London Children’s Hospital recently told a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Stroke that as many as 1,500 children a year could be affected by stroke in the UK. Inevitably and tragically, a number of those die very soon after or during their stroke—and this brain attack, as it is sometimes called, is one of the top 10 causes of death in children. Of those who survive, can one imagine the enormous difficulties they have to overcome if they are to have a reasonable and fulfilling life to which all children should be entitled? But life is not fair and far too many of these young victims are not receiving the help and attention that they need.

I recall the feeling of dejection when I was first told, and understood, what had happened to me after my brain attack. Would I ever walk again? Would I get rid of that great wodge of cotton wool and glue which seemed to block my mouth and prevent me talking? Yet I was, and am, one of the more fortunate ones. I was in my mid-60s when I experienced this life-changing incident so, unlike young people in their early or formative years, I had already enjoyed a full, active and rewarding life.

Some days after that incident-filled and painful day, I stopped my selfish and self-centred thoughts about my own plight and the challenge which I now faced because I witnessed and was told of the difficulties and challenging times ahead for children. There were even some toddlers and babies who had suffered a stroke. How did they learn to speak and think in their native language when they had never known or experienced the joy of speech? If they are just toddlers, how do they learn to walk with one leg failing to play its part and simply getting in the way? Much more needs to be done to assist young people and children to cope with their dysfunctional limbs, brain and tongue, so what can be done to help these young people?

First, the improvements that we have seen in recent times in adult stroke care and support must be matched in the area of childhood stroke. There needs to be more work done to raise public and professional awareness of the risk factors, signs, progress and outcome of childhood stroke. The noble Lord, Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank, mentioned the lack of understanding and knowledge among GPs. That applies in hospitals, certainly in accident and emergency departments. When I was taken in there, the colleague who was with me told the doctor what he thought had happened to me. I was conscious enough to understand that two doctors were standing by my bed saying, “What shall we do with him? Let’s put him in Elizabeth ward, as there is a spare bed there”. But did they attend the stroke or do something about it? No, of course not, so professionals must know more about the diagnosis and understanding of stroke—and I mean doctors and nurses.

There must be a particular and strong focus on improving specialist rehabilitation and long-term services and support for childhood stroke survivors and their families. Childhood stroke, as with that of adults, has an impact on the whole family but that impact and shock, it must be acknowledged, is greater when it is children who have suffered a fatal or permanently disabling stroke. Re-integrating a severely disabled child into the family not only affects the parents but has an adverse effect on the emotional and physical health of siblings, and even grandparents.

There is an urgent need to provide research into a more detailed understanding of childhood stroke and I hope that the Minister will assure us that financial provision will be made to tackle this problem. This should be government or public money and not left to charitable organisations such as the Stroke Association, which provided funding of more than £140,000 to a team at the University of Bristol for the biggest ever UK study into childhood stroke. It is simply disgraceful that the Government were able to find £100 million two years ago to introduce the farcical police and crime commissioner scheme, which the public said that they did not want. It will cost another £100 million to keep this highly discredited and increasingly laughable system going for the next 18 months. I plead with the Government to find an equivalent sum to save children’s lives and survive the devastation of a stroke. I look forward to the noble Earl’s answer.