STROKE patients across West Fife are set to be affected after Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland are to stop their support services across the Kingdom.

The charity (CHSS) says a failure to secure funding for its support work means groups will close although they will continue to provide support for stroke patients on their discharge from hospital through their stroke nurse service.

They also said patients would be able to use stroke groups across Fife which are affiliated to CHSS.

Margaret Somerville, director of services at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said they were disappointed to have to make the cuts.

“We have made repeated attempts over the years to secure funding for our communication support work in Fife, the most recent being over the past few months,” she explained.

“Regrettably, CHSS is no longer in a position to continue to support this model of service delivery without external funding, so we are having to look at new ways to support this group of people living with a stroke.

“We recognise the challenges faced by the new integrated health and social care joint board in Fife and the fact that many more people in Fife are living for longer with a stroke or other similar long-term conditions. 

“We are therefore looking at options to develop a new Rehabilitation Support Service in Fife which will work with people living with heart and lung health conditions as well as stroke.”

Ms Somerville said that although early discussions were ongoing, it was likely to be at least a year before any other service could be launched.

“Such a service would be able to effectively support people with post-stroke communications difficulties, in the context of a broader range of rehabilitation support,”  she said.

The charity hopes that a new model for supporting people across Fife with cardiac, respiratory or stroke conditions in their rehabilitation goals will prove to be both more cost-effective and more responsive to the needs of people living with multiple conditions.

“CHSS would like to recognise and thank all our enthusiastic and committed service users, staff and volunteers. 

“They have made a real difference to people in Fife with post-stroke communications difficulties over the past 13 years and we wish to thank all those involved in making this happen,” added Ms Somerville. 

“We will be working with current service users, their families and our trained stroke and communications volunteers to identify other support options.

"Sadly, as a result of the changes to the services in Fife, there will be job losses in the new year. 

“We have tried to find alternative employment for the excellent staff who have contributed an amazing amount of work towards the service, however, we have unfortunately been unable to find job matches at this time.”

One Press reader, who didn’t want to be named, was devastated by the loss. “Four stroke groups have ceased to exist and in-reach and outreach services will end shortly,” they said. 

“These groups are essential for patients who have suffered a stroke and help to prevent isolation. In-reach services visit patients in hospital and outreach service visits patients at home with a view to to them joining a group later in their recovery. 

“The group members are devastated by this loss which came very quickly.”