‘Better stroke services would save millions’

If half of stroke patients were released from hospital earlier with greater support in the community, millions of euro could be saved annually as there would be up to 24,000 less overnight stays.

Up to 3,000 stroke patients, with mild or moderate disability, could benefit from an early supported discharge (ESD) programme, according to research from the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Royal College of Surgeons.

But such a project would require a substantial increase in physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists and community nurses.