A clinical neuropsychologist must be in every integrated community stroke service
We're urging commissioners to include a clinical neuropsychologist in every community stroke team, to help people in stroke rehabilitation achieve the best possible quality of life.
18 April 2023
We're urging commissioners of integrated community stroke services to include a clinical neuropsychologist in every community stroke team, to help people in stroke rehabilitation achieve the best possible quality of life.
A new briefing paper 'Recommendations for Integrated Community Stroke Services', from the BPS Division of Neuropsychology, highlights the vital role of clinical neuropsychologists in detecting the neuropsychological and neurocognitive impairments that are common after a stroke, and the treatment plans that can make a huge difference to people's recovery.
The paper's recommendations are fully supported by the Stroke Association, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, British and Irish Orthoptic Society, the British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians, and the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum.
Despite the National Stroke Service model highlighting the vital role of psychology and neuropsychology in patient recovery, access to a clinical neuropsychologist is far from guaranteed. Most multi-disciplinary stroke teams don't include a clinical neuropsychologist, meaning patients commonly don't receive the help they need to achieve their best possible recovery.
This is despite stroke survivors and their families rating cognitive and psychological issues as the biggest areas of unmet needs, highlighting why this they must be addressed.
Dr Mark Griffiths, Consultant Clinical Psychologist from the BPS Division of Neuropsychology, and lead author of the briefing paper, said:
"We were pleased to see the National Stroke Service Model recognise the vital role clinical neuropsychology plays in supporting stroke patients' recovery. Every stroke patient deserves the care and support that gives them the best possible quality of life in the future.
"The evidence is clear that embedding a neuropsychological team within every stroke multidisciplinary team is key to achieving better patient outcomes. But sadly, access to neuropsychological support remains scarce, and it's unacceptable that patients are subject to a postcode lottery for the level of support they need.
"We urge commissioners to invest in a sufficient psychological workforce – with necessary clinical neuropsychological leadership - for every community stroke team, as part of their service development and workforce planning."
Juliet Bouverie, CEO of the Stroke Association, endorses the BPS's recommendations, and says:
"Clinical neuropsychology makes saved lives worth living for people after stroke.
"At present, the availability of clinical neuropsychology is poor and out of reach for a lot of stroke survivors.
"We must bolster availability of clinical neuropsychology and improve staffing numbers to recognise the enormous cognitive, psychological and emotional burden of stroke.
"Realising the BPS's recommendations would go a long way to improve the current state of services, supporting many more stroke survivors to rebuild their lives after stroke and making life worth living again."
The recommendations are also supported by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, whose CEO, Karen Middleton, said:
"We welcome the British Psychological Society's recommendations for psychologists to be included in multidisciplinary stroke rehabilitation teams. Impaired cognition and mental health can have a profound effect on a person's ability to optimise all aspects of their rehabilitation.
"Ensuring timely access to psychological support can only enhance physical recovery following a stroke."
Dr Lauren Hepworth, academic lead for British and Irish Orthoptic Society Stroke and Neuro Rehab Clinical Advisory Group, added:
"This briefing paper and recommendations from British Psychological Society are welcomed to address a current unmet need.
"The importance of clinical neuropsychology teams being embedded within stroke multi-disciplinary teams across the whole stroke pathway is clearly outlined.
"Access to psychological support provided in a timely manner is crucial for all stroke survivors and will optimise rehabilitation and life after stroke."