World Stroke Day 2025: Supporting Recovery
29 October is World Stroke Day, led by the Stroke Association. Strokes affect 240 people in the UK every day, and if medical care is delayed, strokes can lead to lifechanging injuries.
Nick O’Neill, Director in the Medical Negligence team at JCP Solicitors, explains how compensation could support your recovery if you suffered delayed medical care due to misdiagnosis.
What Is A Stroke?
A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly blocked or reduced. This kills blood cells and causes damage to the brain within a matter of minutes. This can affect how the body works. It can also change how you think and feel. The effects of a stroke depend on where it takes place in the brain, and how big the damaged area is.
A stroke is a serious medical emergency. If you spot the signs of a stroke – including facial weakness, arm weakness and slurred speech - you should call 999 immediately.
What If Treatment Was Delayed Or Missed?
When treated quickly, a patient who suffers a stroke can make a full recovery. Timely treatment and extensive rehabilitation can allow the body to restore neurological pathways impacted by a stroke.
However, there are occasions when strokes go undetected or treatment is delayed by medical teams. If this occurs, it is vital to speak to a Solicitor and find out if you have a case: compensation can become a lifeline for accessing private rehabilitation to support your recovery.
Why Rehabilitation Matters
After suffering a stroke – and especially if that stroke has been misdiagnosed or treatment has been delayed – survivors face complex physical and emotional difficulties. Accessing long-term, tailored rehabilitation programmes allow you to focus on regaining lost function and achieve independence as the brain learns to form new connections again.
Early rehabilitation is crucial to improve your long-term recovery. Private rehabilitation means you do not face delays to be treated, providing you with access to physiotherapy, speech therapy, cognitive therapy and emotional support.
Compensation from a medical negligence claim can also go towards home modifications and necessary equipment, such as mobility aids, dressing aids and wheelchairs.
Recovery from stroke is a long process, but there are many organisations which support survivors every step of the way. At JCP Solicitors we can support you to understand if you may have a claim for medical negligence, and if so, can provide expert legal advice and guidance on how to use your compensation to ensure your needs are met for the long-term and to assist with rehabilitation.
If you or a loved one has concerns about medical negligence, JCP Solicitors can help. For tailored, specialist legal advice, contact Nick O’Neill, Director in the Medical Negligence team, by emailing nick.o'neill@jcpsolicitors.co.uk or calling 02920 391917.