My husband and son suffered strokes, 30 years apart. Shockingly little had changed
Jun 30, 2025•31 min
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Summary
Comparing her husband's stroke care in the 90s to her son's 30 years later, the author reveals shockingly little progress in rehabilitation despite advances in acute treatment. She recounts their personal battles against dismissive doctors and inadequate hospital care, highlighting the critical difference intensive physiotherapy made for her son and critiquing the NHS's failure to provide sufficient long-term support for stroke survivors.Episode description
I was told my husband would never talk again, while physiotherapy was dismissed entirely. My son was failed in similar ways, but for the brilliance of some medical staff who refuse to believe a stroke is the end By Sheila Hale. Read by Phyllida Nash. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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