Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they plan to ensure the sustainability of the stroke rehabilitation innovations developed through the Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) projects to ensure that every stroke survivor has the best chance of recovery.

NHS England is prioritising implementation of the National Service Model for an Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS), which includes delivery of specialist stroke rehabilitation at home and in care homes, improving life after stroke support, and six month follow-up reviews, by working closely with the voluntary sector. The ICSS model is vital to support physical, cognitive, and psychological recovery, return to work, and quality of life.

The ICSS model includes provision of tailored and patient centred reablement care, through joint work between the National Health Service and social care. Provision of peer support and six months reviews, information, and longer-term support in the community is also achieved through integrated and collaborative working with the voluntary sector.

The National Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) programme is driving implementation of the ICSS model in England. NHS England funds SQuIRe posts in each NHS region, to work with integrated care boards (ICBs) in improving provision of community-based stroke rehabilitation, promoting stroke recovery, and improving patient outcomes. ICBs also receive a separate funding allocation to support prevention services, which include stroke rehabilitation.