September 2007

Last week I visited the Stroke Unit at Rake Lane hospital to see the excellent work being done by staff there.  I officially opened the brand new unit last year and I wanted to return to see the progress being made.

The unit is highly innovative in that it brings together all the necessary services – consultants, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and others – under one roof.
Many families including mine are affected by stroke at sometime or another and I was also keen to highlight the Department of Health’s consultation on improving stroke services.  Incidentally you can give your view either by writing to the Department of Health; Stroke Team, Vascular Programme, 133- 155 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG or by accessing the Department’s website.  But it’s the personal stories which say so much about the care being delivered.
 

During my visit, two ladies – sisters – made a point of coming up to me to tell me how appreciative they were of the staff who had cared for their mother, who had sadly passed away the night before.  In the midst of the concern and often sadness it’s those examples of care which serve as an inspiration and underline again how good our NHS can be.

I was further inspired last weekend when I met participants on the annual Memory Walk organised by the Alzheimer’s Society.  More than 3000 people in North Tyneside are affected by Alzheimer’s and it was moving to meet people wearing badges with the names of loved ones, who were giving up their blustery Sunday afternoon to highlight an important issue.
We know that hardworking families have concerns and face struggles in their lives.  We need, as politicians, to make sure that public services like the NHS address those concerns and lessen those struggles.  But with the inspiration of people like the staff at the Stroke Unit, the volunteers and staff of the Alzheimer’s Society and with improvements already happening and changes being made I believe we should be optimistic about our future not pessimistic.