Working Life: Every year in Ireland, about 7,000 people experience a stroke
Sinéad Coleman, programme manager, HSE national clinical programme for stroke.
“I grew up on a sheep farm in Wicklow before moving to Dublin to study physiotherapy at UCD. After graduating, I spent two years working in Australia before returning home. I’ve been based in Dublin for over 20 years.
“I’ve worked as a physiotherapist for 25 years, most of it in St James’s Hospital. My career has taken me through many areas, including four years as a clinical specialist in older person rehabilitation and nine years as a clinical specialist in acute stroke.
"What I’ve loved most is the privilege of using my knowledge and skills to make a real difference for patients. I’m a people person, and getting to know patients and families is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
“My decision to specialise in stroke care comes from a deep passion for helping people through one of the most challenging times in their lives.
“Since 2022, I’ve had the opportunity to extend that passion into my role as programme manager with the HSE national clinical programme for stroke. In this role, I work to ensure stroke services are well-coordinated, high-quality, patient-centred, and always improving. It’s about connecting clinical teams, policymakers, and health commissioners to deliver the best possible care across the entire stroke pathway.
“Recovery after a stroke can be overwhelming, but with the right support, patients can rebuild their independence, confidence, and sense of hope. Being part of that journey is an incredible privilege.
Today, I continue to work part-time as a physiotherapist in St James’s Hospital, where I care directly for stroke patients, and part-time as programme manager, where I advocate for and progress stroke services nationally. It feels like the best of both worlds — hands-on clinical work alongside shaping the future of stroke care.
“Every year in Ireland, about 7,000 people experience a stroke. While care and outcomes have improved greatly, it remains the leading cause of adult neurological disability in Ireland. For survivors and their loved ones, it’s often a life-changing event.
- The HSE has launched the ‘Every Second Counts’ stroke campaign to raise awareness of the signs of stroke and highlight the importance of timely intervention to improve survival and outcomes. The message is simple but vital: time is everything. The very second you suspect a stroke, you need to call 999 or 112.
- See www.hse.ie/stroke for more information
