Barking and Dagenham residents are facing a lack of stroke-specific support, particularly in communication, exercise, and return-to-work programmes, compared to other areas in North East London (NEL). This was highlighted at the Health Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, where an update on life after stroke services in the borough was presented.
The committee heard that while Barking and Dagenham offers a range of generic support services, there's a notable gap in specialised assistance for stroke survivors. Charlotte Stone, System Programme Director for Long-Term Conditions, acknowledged the variations in stroke service provision across NEL and the need for a more consistent and equitable approach.
One of the key challenges identified was the variable uptake of the six-month stroke review, which is a crucial opportunity for a structured conversation between a person living with stroke and a health professional. Stone noted the need to communicate more clearly and concisely to patients about the importance of these reviews.
We recognise that with the literacy challenges that we have, that we have to do more with communicating to our patients clearly and more concisely regarding how they uptake the six-month stroke review,
Stone said.
Another issue raised was the absence of a clearly defined referral process from acute care to the Community Rehabilitation Service (CRS), potentially leading to eligible residents not being offered a six-month review. The committee also heard concerns about potential capacity constraints within CRS if referral or uptake levels increase.
Councillor Irma Freeborn, Chair of the Assembly, questioned whether six months was the right time period for the review, suggesting it should be considered more frequently depending on individual risk factors, especially for women going through perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
Councillor Paul Robinson, Deputy Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, emphasised the importance of preventative work, given the borough's low healthy life expectancy and high rates of high blood pressure, a significant risk factor for stroke. He also highlighted the need to support patients, particularly those of working age, in returning to the workforce.
To address these issues, the NEL Long-Term Conditions (LTC) Team is working to develop a Core–Enhanced–Aspirational offer for community stroke and neuro rehabilitation, aiming to ensure consistent care across the region by 2027/28. In the meantime, initiatives are underway, including a NEL Six-Month Review Task and Finish Group to design a standardised referral pathway by December 2025 and a review of Stroke Association services by April 2026.
Matthew Cole, Director of Public Health, advised members that hypertension is one of the biggest issues in the borough, and that co-producing programmes with residents is critically important. Sharon, from a place partnership perspective, added that they have agreed as a partnership that prevention and management of long-term conditions is one of the outcomes that they want to work on together.
Councillor Donna Lumsden, Deputy Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, asked how to ensure all residents who have had a stroke and their carers are provided with the information they need in accessible formats when they leave hospital, along with support to understand and use it.
The Health Scrutiny Committee will continue to monitor the progress of these initiatives to ensure that residents of Barking and Dagenham receive the support they need to recover and live well after a stroke. Further updates are expected at future meetings, as outlined in the Work Programme 2025-26.
