Stroke has a massive and sudden impact. Often people are left with complex physical and emotional needs. Even if someone makes a good recovery in hospital, the growing numbers of people being readmitted within 30 days demonstrate that re-adjusting to normal life can be difficult without the right support.

How can our Early Integration Service (EIS) help? We offer intensive coordinated support to stroke survivors and their carers seven days a week for the first 30 days following transfer from hospital. We facilitate earlier discharge and prevent readmissions by working closely with both the client and health, social and community care to ensure integrated working and a rapid response to any issues as they arise.

Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, a dedicated EIS Coordinator will assess the support needs of each stroke survivor prior to discharge to develop a tailored post-hospital care plan. Following discharge, the EIS Coordinator takes an active role in identifying and meeting support needs.

Who is the Early Integration Service suitable for? This service is specifically designed for stroke survivors whose needs require personalised intensive and coordinated support to aid self-management and prevent readmission.

At the end of the 30 day period stroke survivors will normally move on to our Information, Advice and Support service which provides on-going information, emotional advice and practical support for up to a year.

How can this help you? With stroke survivor readmissions rates currently at 9% and rising, the Early Integration Service has been proven to address 21 of the national outcomes including reducing time spent in hospital, emergency readmissions and improving recovery.

The service was piloted in County Durham over a six month period where the readmission rate was reduced from 12% to 7%1. These findings were supported by an independent evaluation the same year.

1 Northern Neurological Alliance, Evaluation of the Early Stroke Support Service 2013, September 2013

“The Early Integration Service offers an invaluable service to people being discharged. Without this support they may not have not have been able to return home at that time or may have been at higher risk of readmission.”Occupational TherapistUniversity Hospital North Durham

Further informationWe would be happy to discuss how we can help you. Please contact your local representative or email your details to services@stroke.org.uk and we will put you in touch with your local lead.

The Stroke Association is registered as a charity in England an d Wales (No 211015) and in Scotland (SC037789). Also registered in Nort hern Ireland (XT33805), Isle of Man (No 945) and Jersey (NPO 369).

stroke.org.uk

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